We're down to the wire, y'all.
T-5 days until it is officially "Spring Break 2017." Whether you're going on a quaint family beach trip, or letting loose on a tropical island, attaining beach-bod status after several months of winter hibernation is certainly on everyone's mind this week.
So put down the cheeseburger and start making better choices. I like to think about "getting ready" for spring break as something that you should do for yourself and less so for others around you. If you go about it in the right way, making improvements in your lifestyle, amping up your physical activity, and switching to healthier options can lead you to feeling refreshed with higher energy. Nothing beats a good endorphin-high after a long run or HIIT class at the gym, and the beautiful thing about working out is that once you start, you just want to keep coming back for more.
I love to see people increasing the number of times they make it to gym this time of year because it not only gets more people out and about, but also changes people's relationships with their bodies and you can see a gradual shift towards more health-conscious choices. Overall, Wake Forest has a fairly physically-fit student body, and lately there has been an increased availability of healthy dining options for students to achieve wellness in all realms of their lives.
Especially with the beautiful, warm, Spring weather we've been having lately, students have no excuse not to get outside and be active (even if it's just for a brief study break during midterms).
Personally, spring break for me has never been a boozy affair, but rather a time for some long-overdue rest & recovery. Knowing what your body needs and spending some time to tune-in with yourself is invaluable, especially when we have such busy academic semesters.
Regardless of whether you are booze-cruising with your friends, or kicking back to enjoy some more tame fun in the sun, keep these last minute fit-tips in mind this week as the clock ticks down to your last class on Friday.
1. Rise & Grind: Having trouble fitting a workout into your schedule? Try waking up with the sun and getting to the gym early. It's less crowded, and despite what you might think when your alarm clock initially goes off, an early morning workout will give you even more energy for the rest of the day.
2. Village Juice: You can't go wrong with the menu at VJ. Pretty much everything there is packed with vitamins and bursting with nutrients that your body will thank you for later.
3. Reynolda & Graylyn Trails: Lace up your running shoes and charge that FitBit! If you're looking for a way to make it to your 10,000 steps/day these are the trails for you! Walk, jog, run, or all three; the Reynolda and Graylyn loops are just what you need to get in your daily cardio.
4. Smoothie King: I was recently introduced to this establishment and I've been hooked ever since. With a huge variety of smoothies to choose from, you can't go wrong.
5. "8-minute Abs" or "Ab-Ripper X": These are easy videos that you can find on YouTube and you can conveniently do in the morning when you wake up, at night before bed, during a study break, or all of the above. Abs are an easy muscle group to target to see results fast.
6. Stretching: This is a necessity when it comes to keeping your muscles healthy and preventing injuries. There are few things more frustrating than seeing your gym time tick by on the clock when you're sitting-out of a workout due to an injury, so do all things in your power to prevent that from happening. Pro Tip: Invest in a foam roller to to roll-out after workouts, too.
7. Stay Away from Alcohol: If I told you a world existed where hangovers and bloating didn't exist, would you be the first one to sign up for a one-way ticket? Alcohol is not your friend when it comes to trying to be healthy. So skip that glass of wine at dinner and try switching to a sober social scene before spring break to get your body into peak physical shape.
8. Skip the Dessert: You know what they say, abs are made in the kitchen. So ditch the sugary treats for a week and see how you feel! Your body might even stop craving sugar once you detox from it for a while-- but always remember to occasionally treat yourself.
9. Rest: Getting a little extra sleep will work wonders for your muscle recovery and it even helps regulate your metabolism!
10. Catch Some Rays: The sun is your friend when it comes to spring break preparation. Try moving your studies outside to a picnic table, or doing a workout outside instead of in the gym to get a healthy glow going before you're in full sun.
