Sophomore integrative physiology major Alison Dunford teaches a cardio kick-boxing class in the CU recreation center on Sept. 10, 2009. (CU Independent file/Lee Pruitt)
After spending a long day sitting in class, a few hours on homework and attending an extracurricular meeting, the last thing a student wants to do is head over to the gym and run two miles. Nothing seems more appealing than spending time sitting around with friends, watching TV and snacking on junk food.
Staying healthy in college can be a huge challenge with a tight budget, limited food choices in the dining halls and lack of time for exercising. However, maintaining a well-balanced diet and participating in regular exercise are crucial aspects to living a healthy lifestyle, and it is important to form habits now that will help students continue to be healthy for the rest of their lives.
Donna Louie, a CU nutrition professor, said nutritional habits need to be developed early to be effective.
“[Learning to be healthy] is very important,” Louie said. “We should even start teaching it at the elementary school level where [kids] can form habits, not only nutritionally but also learning to be more active.”
College can be instrumental for developing healthy habits as well because for the first time, students are truly forced to choose the food they eat on their own instead of eating what their parents provide for them. College students are also faced with the challenge of learning good time management; trying to add exercise to one’s schedule can seem to make everything more stressful and hectic.
“We worry about over-nutrition [in the U.S.] and being overweight or obese, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes and higher risk for cardiovascular disease,” Louie said.
Physical activity produces endorphins which improve one’s mood, Louie said. Additionally, a healthy lifestyle can help prevent future diseases.
One of the best ways to learn how to eat healthier is to take the nutrition class offered at CU.
“For my nutrition class we did a practical where we got to help little kids with their P.E. class and teach them how to make healthier choices in the lunch line,” said Lindsey Schumer, 19-year-old sophomore broadcast major.
Not only is the class hands-on and fun, Schumer said, it qualifies as one of those many required science credits.
There are practical ways for a college-aged kid to eat healthy. The best thing to do is cook as much as possible so none of the ingredients going into the food are unknown.
Fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are an essential component to a healthy diet. Unfortunately, buying a lot of fresh food can cause some significant damage to a college student’s limited budget. Try shopping at Sunflower Market and Sprouts, which are cheaper alternatives to Whole Foods for organic groceries.
“When deciding what to eat, think what meat can go with these vegetables rather than what vegetables can go with my meat,” Louie said. “Stay away from butter, oil, fried foods and an overabundance of meat.”
Cutting back on alcohol is also a key tip for those who want to become healthier college students. As tempting and as fun as it may be, drinking all of the time can be detrimental to one’s health. Alcohol is high in calories and lacks any nutritional value whatsoever. Alcohol can not only cause weight gain, but it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb B1, which is important for cell health, Louie said.
Eating healthy is only half the battle. Regular exercise is the second component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
When the word “exercise” is mentioned, people seem to always have an excuse to avoid it, whether it is fatigue, homework or they would just rather hang out with their friends. That is why finding ways to make exercise fun is key.
The first step is to find something enjoyable that is also active.
“Do things that you like to do,” Louie said. “Some people love to ski or skateboard. If you like to walk, you can hike instead of just walking around. Some people like to bike.”
Boulder is beautiful and teeming with fun outdoor activities. Living in Colorado is something that should be taken advantage of. Students can ski, snowboard, hike, mountain-bike, kayak, canoe, go white-water rafting and both snow and water tubing. Spring has finally arrived in Boulder, providing a great opportunity for students to go outside and enjoy the nice weather.
“I run outside instead of on the track,” said Will Myers, a 20-year-old junior engineering major.
The image that initially pops into one’s head when working out is the gym. Although lifting weights and running on machines can be tedious there are ways to make it more fun.
“I have to watch TV while on the elliptical, or else 30 minutes feels like an eternity,” Schumer said.
Listening to music is a fantastic way to take one’s mind off the machines. Also, going with a group of friends is great because friends can push each other to work out harder.
A lot of times playing sports is a great way to get exercise, spend time with friends and have fun, whether it is just a game of pick-up basketball or an actual team competition.
Steve Streeter, a 20-year-old sophomore open-option major, said he only exercises for fun.
“I only do it when I play a sport,” Streeter said. “I don’t just run or anything like that.”
The school offers many sports opportunities through more competitive club sports such as lacrosse, hockey and soccer, as well as through intramural sports such as flag football, basketball and inner tube water polo.
If sports are too much of a commitment, the Rec Center offers a wide array of fitness classes for students to choose from ranging from yoga, pilates and aerobics to dance and muscle-sculpting classes. Classes are affordable as well, only costing $35 to $44 per semester and are held two to three times a week.
Mimi Olin, a 20-year-old sophomore international affairs major, teaches four classes at the Rec Center: Butt and gut, interval training, absolutely abs and cardio blast.
“I love helping people choose healthy lifestyles, and have fun while working out,” Olin said. “When you’re in a class it’s more competitive, and it makes you work harder. [People] should always change their [athletic] routine, and should work out as much as possible, but not overdo it.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Nicole Zimbelman at Nicole.zimbelman@colorado.edu.
