Photo By: Melanie Ronquillo | Photographer
Diet and exercise are routinely picked up on Jan. 1 and as many bad jokes or internet memes will tell you, quickly dropped. The gym is oddly much more spacious in the first days of February.
This doesn’t have to be the case, though. A little bit of planning and knowledge makes it much easier to stay on top of any fitness regimen.
“[Fitness] improves your overall being. You are able to do more without being tired and when you are healthy you learn better and retain more information,” criminal justice junior Michael Knapp said.
Ferris hospitality junior Kayla Hryckowian had plenty of helpful tips for those just starting to work out regularly.
“Having a workout buddy I feel is one of the best things when working out,” Hryckowian said. “You are less likely to skip a day because you don’t want to let your partner down. Also, they help to keep you motivated if you’re feeling lazy.”
Even little things can go a long way in keeping a new workout warrior motivated.
“I find that once I have my workouts in my planner I’m more likely to follow though,” Hryckowian said.
Ferris has a number of options for health-savvy students. There are multiple athletic fields, the Racquet and Fitness Center, and the student recreation center. Beyond exercise equipment, basketball courts and a pool, the latter facility also offers intramural sports and classes, including CrossFit.
“CrossFit benefits the students just like any intense workout at the gym would,” CrossFit instructor Vincent Veldink said. “It provides, for some, a way to release any pent up stress.”
“Be practical,” Hryckowian said. “If you’re not a person who goes to the gym, start going two to three days of the week and with time, add more days.”
Being a student means having a busy schedule. This can make it difficult to find time for the gym, even with planning. That’s where diet comes in.
“The rock has a lot of good options,” Knapp said. “You can eat most of what they have as long as you do it in moderation. [The] best after workout thing is chocolate milk, it helps repair the muscles.”
“Self discipline is very important and goes hand in hand with patience,” Veldink said. “Everyone’s body is unique and reacts differently.”
For healthier foods and at-home workouts, many helpful resources can be found online.
“An awesome place to find workout ideas is Pinterest,” Hryckowian said.
Whether it’s Pinterest, Tumblr or a bodybuilding forum, the Internet is full of workouts, healthy recipes of every variety and people who are eager to share their knowledge.
“Do it for yourself,” Hryckowian said, “Because you want to be healthier!”