Posts Tagged ‘fitness’

How To Exercise When You Don’t Want to

Thursday, July 25th, 2024

One of the most challenging things I’ve faced as a working-class college student is sedentarism. Although my body is in constant motion between my five courses and thirty-two-hour work week, none is deliberate enough to constitute exercise—although the exhaustion my body feels every day would make one think otherwise. Additionally, with each passing semester, I have less free time to work out. As I ventured into my fitness journey last year during summer break, I learned that my mental health also affected my body on a physical level. On one hand, lacking the will to move my body was a sign of mental exhaustion, while on the other, not moving my body because of said mental state made me stiff and weak, affecting my physical health. It is a hard-to-break cycle I’ve been dealing with my whole life, but its effects have intensified since the start of my college journey. 

It doesn’t help that I really dislike exercising. Many say that it’s an enjoyable activity, and perhaps it is for them. For me, it is dreadful and annoying from beginning to end. Last year I worked out rigorously for four months and it never got better. Sure, I loved how my body felt after the fact but while I was doing it? I don’t think so. Again, this is just my experience because I know many people who love exercising. I really wish I was like them, but I am not, so we must work with what we have. Thus, for us lazy folks (and maybe a bit neuro-spicy folks), I have put together a guide to exercise when we don’t want to because, well—I’m sorry to break it to you—we need to move our bodies to maintain physical and mental health. So, here it goes:

Image Credit: https://www.thenortherner.com/news/2020/02/25/balancing-a-healthy-diet-as-a-college-student/
  1. When you wake up, before leaving your bed, stretch your muscles. There are plenty of stretches one can do in bed and it is important to develop flexibility to avoid muscle injury. The activity can last as much time as you have available, but it should be for a minimum of ten minutes. 
  2. When you are reading class materials, don’t sit down. Adults should take at least 10,000 steps each day. So, use your reading time to walk around your home, neighborhood, or campus to get them in without even thinking about it–audiobooks are also great for this. The activity is not exhaustive, and it is beneficial to boost your stamina. Even I, who hates exercise, enjoyed this one. 
  3. Similarly, when you are typing tirelessly on your computer, spend some time standing up. Find a place to put your laptop or monitor higher up so you can work while on your feet. This one is trickier because you may not have the space to do this, so if you don’t, try to do seated stretches to release shoulders and lower back tension. 
  4. Find an activity that requires you to move your body and that you enjoy. Here is where you must have slightly more discipline to try different things. Yoga, dancing, martial arts, hiking, biking, and many others are activities that do not necessarily feel like exercise, but they are. If you hate every single one of them, that’s okay. You can try the previous steps. 
  5. Lastly, surround yourself with people who love exercising. I hate to admit that it can work. They can be good motivators, and since they have your well-being at heart, they usually hold you accountable when you don’t move your body enough. And if you are a bit competitive, they might inspire you to train more! It is always nurturing to surround yourself with different perspectives.
As you can see, some days it is harder than others to just walk enough.

And there you have it: five simple steps to improve your energy and flexibility. Although moving your body is essential, the most important thing to practice during your college journey is compassion. We are often so hard on ourselves because college takes our time to do things we enjoy, but we need to accept that our careers are demanding and try our best anyway. There are weeks where I don’t follow any of the steps and my body surely pays the price, but I don’t beat myself too hard on it because I must also protect my mind. I hope you do as well.


Talking about surrounding yourself with motivating people, use this discount for training packages! Remember the importance of moving your body.

By Roxanna Cardenas

Roxanna is a Venezuelan writer living in New York City. Her works include essays, poetry, screenplays, and short stories. She explores fiction and non-fiction genres, with a special interest in horror and sci-fi. She has an A.A. in Writing and Literature and is working on her B.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Fit in to Fitness

Monday, July 11th, 2022

I’ve been in some sort of sport for as long as I can remember. When I was little, it was tennis, soccer, and softball. As I got older, basketball and volleyball were added to the mix. I’ve also been doing all forms of dance my entire life – from ballet and tap at the age of five to hip hop and musical theater at the age of twenty-one with plenty of jazz and swing dancing in between. Being active has always been a huge part of my life and I’m planning on keeping it that way. On top of sports, I started working out and getting into fitness in my junior year of high school. I originally started to try to help my mental health but soon found out that I enjoyed working out just for the fun of it as well!I started with home workouts and gradually built until I was lifting almost every day my freshman year of college.

My fitness was at an all time high when COVID-19 started. I had to move back home and suddenly, I went from having 24/7 access to a full gym to competing with my family for the few free weights we had in the basement. I wish I could say that being home got me even more motivated and that I kept up with working out and dancing. That was not the case. 

I fell off my workout schedule very quickly, causing me to lose a lot of my progress. I lost most of my strength, flexibility, and even some mobility from weight gain. The worst part of it all, though, was that my mental health took a serious hit. While lockdown was enough to raise my anxiety on its own, the lack of activity that I suddenly experienced only made it worse. It became even easier to fall into a depressive episode. 

It’s no surprise that failing to be active had a negative impact on my mental health. According to an article written by BetterHealth, exercise can improve energy levels, feelings of control and self esteem, sleep, and distract from negative thoughts. It also helps the brain produce chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins, which can boost mood. In my experience, exercise helps me feel accomplished, confident, and clears my head so I can focus better. Activity has several mental health benefits and, for me, approaching it from that perspective allows me to remove it from negative thoughts about my body. By focusing on the way exercise shifts my brain chemistry, I find it easier to avoid dangerous mindsets around my health. 

For all that fitness does for peoples’ health, the fitness industry itself does not always promote the ideal standard of living. The fitness industry often promotes an unobtainable body standard, pushing people into an unhealthy mindset. On one hand, big fitness brands rarely show people outside of the ideal body type wearing their workout gear. This sends a message that only a certain type of person is “fit” or “healthy,” and causes people to perceive those without that body type as “unhealthy.” In an example in an article by Rejuvage, Gymshark posted a picture of someone outside this unobtainable standard in their gear, prompting many people to criticize them for promoting an “unhealthy lifestyle”. Another byproduct of the fitness industry, is the unhealthy example some fitness influencers set for the general public. Many fitness influencers are praised for having a very slim, muscly figure – few people stop to think about whether or not that figure is obtained by healthy means. Between this, the countless products meant to help people slim down as fast as possible, and diets that restrict calories to obscenely low amounts, the health and fitness industry has become somewhat dangerous to people who are just starting on their fitness journey. It can also be damaging to the self esteem of industry veterans, even though they know that certain standards may be unobtainable. 

Over the past year, I have slowly started to become active again. Dancing in person again with my team has helped a lot. It has allowed me to ease back into activity in a way that I enjoy and with people I enjoy being around. I have also taken time to assess my mental health this past year, which has allowed me to listen to my body and what it needs. I am learning how to work around my own mental barriers by focusing on moving how and when I want to. On days where I have more energy, I can get up and go to the gym. However, on days where I am struggling to get out of bed, I focus on low energy activities like going on a walk. No matter how I feel, I make sure to give myself space, time, and forgiveness for how I’m feeling and what I’m able to accomplish. Fitness isn’t just about how much activity you do but how you treat yourself while you’re working out.

Takeaway: Fitness is important but taking care of yourself in the best way you can is a bigger priority.

One of my favorite snacks after a hard workout is a smoothie. Use this coupon to save 20% off at Serotonin Smoothies with your student ID!

Nothing is better than a smoothie after the gym…or anytime!

By Callie Hedtke

Callie is going to be a senior at DePaul University in Chicago and is studying Graphic Design. She loves dancing and can usually be found at her school’s gym rehearsing for her next dance show. If she’s not there, she can be found at her computer playing video or out exploring.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Chapter Three: Exercise & Mental Health in the Big Picture

Sunday, August 29th, 2021

I have had a complicated relationship with exercise since I was a child. I began swimming when I was six years old at the behest of my mother. I am not a competitive person, and being forced to competitively swim through elementary, middle, and high school wore significantly on my mental health, past even the point of depression. My mother had no sympathy for me when I explained to her how horrible competitive swimming made me feel, and accused me of “laziness” among other things. I quit the day I turned 18 and now, at age 23, I still have not stepped in a pool since.

Seeing Simone Biles’ journey during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics has been incredibly validating because she respects the seriousness of mental health and recognizes how difficult it is to maintain as a serious athlete. Simone withdrew from part of it because of the physical danger her mental health posed toward her ability to complete her routine without becoming injured. When the (potential) injury is physical, it is often easier for others (not speaking for Piers Morgan) to understand the implications of poor mental health. When there are simply ambiguous ideas of depression or anxiety, one’s mother or coach can thoughtlessly reply: “Stop being so negative.” This gaslighting is incredibly infuriating, but mostly hurtful. 

These days, I crave a routine, when I used to detest it. The book Nausea by John Paul Sartre gave me the words to describe how I had previously felt in a creative writing piece: “I felt disgust and disappointment toward myself and toward everyone. Why can’t everyone just do what they want? Why must we play roles and condemn ourselves to routine? I need routine; my need for the right way to live is despicable.” 


My well-used and cherished copy of Nausea.

But now I’m not so weirdy resentful: routine helps me feel more in control of my daily life rather than suffocated by it. In your daily life, as long as you feel, and you are affected by the consequences of your own and others’ actions, everything you do matters. I love that notion because, while it used to make me anxious (since how I exercised was dictated by others), it now bolsters my individual agency. I am not telling you what I think you should do to make your body feel better or stronger or more yours. There is no “secret” to total self-acceptance. All I know is that only you know how you feel; even your therapist does not live in your mind. Neither do your parents, coaches, or teachers. Although ideally these figures should want to help you, sometimes they can’t because they don’t think the same way, and their lives have been informed by different circumstances. 

It’s okay to take your time and experiment with a routine. Mine still changes year to year. With COVID-19, it has been a particularly difficult year of coping, especially after my routine was entirely upended from one day to the next. I had been going to the gym for three days a week consistently over the prior year. I felt confident in my strength and endurance, and I was proud of myself. 


They usually draw a funny comic on the whiteboard at 404 (to get your workout started with a smile?): “Hey, dude, when I said ‘curls might help’ that’s not what I meant.”

Without a gym, I have no desire to exercise. During my year in isolation I lost all of the aforementioned progress and now have to start over. It’s okay, though: day by day. 

If you’re like me, and prefer to work out independently without instruction, colleges usually have a free gym you can attend as a student. My go-to gym at NYU is 404 Fitness, near which you can also find a Rumble boxing studio, and SoulCycle. If you want to be part of a club team in college, you can join intramural sports. If you want to do something more competitive you can look for sports within college divisions. If you don’t feel quite ready to take a class or go to the gym, or you just need a break from building your intensity, taking walks offers a more casual, but effective form of movement. 

 It’s okay to not “seamlessly” transition your lifestyle into going to the gym three times a week instead of none, or toward becoming a vegetarian, for example. Sometimes you will step outside of those goals simply because the world is not currently allowing for it, or you want to do something more, or maybe the transition doesn’t feel good anymore, which is okay. When you cannot control things, that is when it’s fun to simply be along for the ride (a passenger, as I like to say). In the big picture, your mental health should have a mutualistically symbiotic relationship with when and how you exercise. 

A brief summary of advice:

  • During college, take advantage of free gym memberships/ collegiate club sports
  • I am not telling you what I think you should do to make your body feel better or stronger or more yours. There is no “secret” to total self-acceptance; it occurs on a rolling basis throughout your life. 
    • Being a “passenger” is my way of describing my most reliable mode of self-preservation; you are not at fault for what you can’t control
  • Check out Jameela Jamil’s social media (Twitter/Instagram) and her podcast “iWeigh” through both of which she deeply and personally discusses a multitude of topics with individuals with personal experiences/experts regarding mental health, eating disorders, working out, feminism, etc. 
    • This has grown to largely inform a lot of my mindset regarding the language I use to discuss exercise, physicality, and nutrition


By: Anna Matefy

Anna Matefy recently graduated from NYU with a Bachelor’s in Media, Culture, and Communication. She has been working in politics for the past few years, and wants to transition into a career in media entertainment/comedy. She will be attending NYU as a graduate student in Media beginning in 2021.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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My Vegetarian Story

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017

Coming to university brings about changes in one’s character as well as in one’s way of thinking. For many, it is the first time we are living by ourselves, the first time we are in charge of every aspect of our everyday lives: from doing homework, to what we eat, to choosing to go to class, to deciding whether we brush our teeth. It is stressful to suddenly make this transition, but in my experience, it has made me all the more conscious of myself as a person, my needs and my desires. People tend to focus on different things, depending on who they are. When I came to university, I found that my focus was my relationship to food.

www.thepcrm.orga

www.thepcrm.orga

I had always enjoyed eating well. “Well” as in healthy and delicious, as my mother had taken up the task of teaching me about the effects of food on my health from a young age. Nonetheless, coming to university was the first time I became truly conscious of what I was putting into my body. I had always known that eating a salad was better than eating a cake, and I was aware of the benefits of each vegetable and food group, but the idea that what I was putting into my body impacted my being in such a strong way hadn’t settled in too much. You could say I was superficially aware of the importance of a good diet.

This all changed when I arrived in New York City and was forced to make all the choices myself. Perhaps this development sprung from having to cope with leaving my mother’s kitchen, where everything was cooked with the freshest Greek ingredients in a healthy way. To go from that to my school’s dining hall, whose salad bar was tasteless and whose prepared dishes all usually contained meat and ten times the amount of oil and/or butter necessary was a rude awakening.

www.oralanswers.com

www.oralanswers.com

I realized that since I was now in charge of myself, I soon had to be more conscious of what was in my disposition. Upon having this epiphany, I started watching documentaries and reading books on health. Soon enough, I realized that for who I am as a person, being healthy and aware of my nutrition meant giving up meat and a lot of dairy. I became convinced that a whole food, plant-based diet was the best thing I could do for myself. And surely enough, all the benefits people from the vegan community boast about became relevant for me too.

http://fattofitwwdiary.tumblr.com/post/71598319865/untitled-via-tumblr-on-we-heart-it

http://fattofitwwdiary.tumblr.com/post/71598319865/untitled-via-tumblr-on-we-heart-it

Most of the documentaries and books I read were targeted at people trying to make the switch to a vegan diet. Though I am not fully vegan, I am fully vegetarian and eat vegan about 70% of the time. I found that what resonated with me was not simply the health benefits of a whole foods diet, rather, the compassion the community argued for when it comes to animals. Adopting a whole food, plant-based diet was not only crucial for my health, as I felt my energy levels rise, my skin clear up, my hair get stronger and my mood improve, but it was also crucial for my sense of wellbeing and self-esteem.

After being exposed to the atrocity of what is the meat and dairy industry, I felt a lot of guilt when I engaged in activities which contributed to these disastrous causes. That’s when I realized that what I put into my body was not only important for my body’s health in regards to protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, nutrients and minerals but also to my mind for the person I wanted to be. So, I made the choice to try to do my part for our planet and the animals and try to do the least “bad” I could. For me, it meant giving up meat completely and minimizing my dairy intake to only a few times per week (usually weekends).

www.lolwot.com

www.lolwot.com

I struggled with the idea that I wasn’t doing the most good I could. I told myself that my ultimate goal was to be completely vegan and in that way, be “perfect”. However, I soon realized that these thoughts were holding me back, as I was not seeing that what I was doing was already a positive change. What I realized was that there was no one way to eat and that actually, what was needed were people who were aware and determined to make the right choices most of the time. My lifestyle and diet were my way of reacting to the information I was given. Chances are, you will have a different experience, and it will not be better or worse than someone else’s, as long as you remember to show compassion and strive to be aware of your body to make the right choices, whichever they may be.

www.pinterest.com

www.pinterest.com

Interesting reads:

  • Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
  • Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Helpful documentaries:

  • Forks Over Knives
  • Cowspiracy
  • Food Matters
  • Food Choices

 

By Marina Theophanopoulou

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Marina Theophanopoulou is a Campus Clipper publishing intern who is studying Philosophy and Sociology as a junior at NYU. Passionate about healthy, food and wellness, Marina aspires to make others think of food in a more holistic way. For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourage them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing and services. 

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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What to Eat Before and After Working Out (and a fantastic college discount!)

Thursday, July 18th, 2013

When trying to get fit, your diet is just as important as exercise, if not more.  The two go hand in hand.  A great workout routine coupled with a poor diet will not get you very far.  Let’s zoom in and explore the foods you should eat before and after your workout.

www.hfs.washington.edu

Think of your body as a car; food acts as gasoline to keep you going.  By ingesting the right foods, you set your body up for a successful workout.  Timing also plays a role in nutrition.  Avoid eating a full meal directly before a workout.  If you must, eat a light snack 5-10 minutes prior to exercise, something under 100 calories.  Ideally, you should consume a meal an hour and a half to two hours before a workout.  The meal should be light so it doesn’t drag you down during a workout.  Keep in mind that different foods take different amounts of time to digest, so you want foods that will digest rather quickly.  Some suggestions:

-Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas

health.com

-Greek yogurt with granola and cinnamon

-Oatmeal with fresh fruit

After a workout, you have a small window of time to ingest and replenish the proper nutrients.  Between 20 and 60 minutes after your workout is when your meal should be consumed.  Bringing prepared food to the gym in a bag may be a good option.  Also, protein shakes come in handy when you don’t have much time.  It will probably take too long to prepare a meal at home after a workout.  You may miss the time frame.  Here are some suggestions for post-workout meals:

-Grilled chicken and mixed vegetables

-Salmon with sweet potato

-Turkey and white American cheese on 9-grain wheat bread

Changing your diet comes as a challenge to most people, myself included.  I tend to fall in and out of a steady healthy diet.  Sometimes, you only have certain options, especially in a college dining hall.  Make wise choices and think about your goals before everything you eat.  Check out my upcoming post, “the cheat meal,” for more nutrition tips.  With a student ID and Campus Clipper coupon, you can walk into the Garden of Eden Marketplace and receive a special discount on healthy groceries.  Stock up!

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Gym Etiquette (and an appetizing college discount)

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

The gym resembles a small community, and as a member, you must know the rules.  Usually, signs on the gym wall have rules listed, but I compiled a list of do’s and don’ts when you’re training to better yourself.  Displaying proper gym etiquette will keep everyone around you comfortable and safe.

Do’s

Return the weights to where they belong — If you are using dumbbells, put them back on the rack in the designated holder.  If you are using a bar, take all of the weights off when you’re done.

Keep clean and wipe down your machine — Not wiping down a bench or machine that you just used irks everyone around you.  You can usually find a spray bottle and a paper towel very close by.  Keeping clean also means picking up everything you brought with you (i.e. wrappers, bottles, bags, towels, etc.).

www.stellarpath.net

Use deodorant — Working out next to a smelly person is never pleasant.  Smell good, no problems.

Dress appropriately — See my previous post.

Spot someone if they need — Sometimes, you will see a person without a training partner, and they go to lift some heavy weights, but they struggle.  To avoid injury, jump in and offer a spot.  This goes for men and women.

Don’ts

Don’t occupy a machine for too long — You can be a ‘gym rat’ but don’t be a ‘gym hog’.  Spend 20 to 30 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical for cardio.  Share machines and work in with others.

Don’t drop weights — Not only can a weight bounce and hit something or someone, but it disturbs those around you.  Place the weights back in the designated positions.

Don’t talk too much — The gym is not a social gathering.  You are there to work out, not to chat with friends.

Don’t use your cell phone — Quick texts won’t distract you, but taking phone calls, playing games, and long texts are not for the gym.

www.timhinton.com

Don’t grunt loudly — It is disrespectful to those around you.  People don’t want to hear you screaming to push out one more rep.  Try exhaling; it has a similar effect.

Don’t walk between someone lifting and a mirror — Personally, I like to watch myself in the mirror to make sure I utilize proper form.  It distracts me when someone walks right in front of the mirror, so just be careful of that.

Don’t go to the gym when sick — For the health and safety of those around you, it’s okay to take time off from the gym.

I hope you are able to take something away from this post.  By implementing this etiquette into your gym time, it ensures the safety and comfort of your peers.  After your workout, come by Slane on Macdougal Street for an awesome student discount when you present the Campus Clipper coupon and your student ID.

Disclaimer:  Coupons valid before expiration date and while supplies last.

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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Workout Music (and a super college discount!)

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

Music can have a profound effect on your workout.  When I first started working out, I didn’t listen to music; I preferred the sounds of the iron clinking, and the grunts of people lifting weights.  One day, I decided to bring my iPod to the gym to see what would happen.  I was surprised to find that I easily lifted more weight.  The music energized me.  Below, I have created a short playlist for YOU!  Different people prefer different genres of music, so the list is divided into Rap/R&B, Rock, Heavy Metal, Electronic, and Pop.  I have found that these genres are particularly effective for working out.

www.askmen.com

Rap/R&B

Jay-Z and Kanye West- Power

Hoodie Allen- The Chase is On

Usher- Caught Up

Biggie Smalls- Hypnotize

G.O.O.D. Music- Clique

Rock

Europe- Final Countdown

Journey- Separate Ways

Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit

Rush- Tom Sawyer

Sum 41- Fat Lip

Lit- My Own Worst Enemy

Heavy Metal

Metallica- Enter Sandman

Drowning Pool- Let the Bodies Hit the Floor

Pantera- Walk

A Day to Remember- Downfall of Us All

Avenged Sevenfold- Bat Country

Electronic

Laidback Luke & Steve Aoki- Turbulence

Avicii- Levels

Afrojack & Steve Aoki- No Beef

Ellie Goulding- I Need Your Love

Adrian Lux- Teenage Crime (Tonic Dutch Bootleg)

Pop

Imagine Dragons- Radioactive

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis- Can’t Hold Us

Rihanna- Where Have You Been

Icona Pop- I Love It

Major Lazer- Watch Out

www.womenshealthmag.com

Of course, the genres overlap quite a bit, but I used my best judgement.  Go ahead, download, listen, and get pumped!  After your workout, be sure to replenish your nutrients by taking your tunes over to Bleecker’s Finest Deli with your student ID and Campus Clipper coupon for a special discount.

Disclaimer:  Coupons valid before expiration date and while supplies last.

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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Lifting Weights: The Importance of Proper Form (and a cool college discount!)

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013

Although you can break a sweat during a workout without even touching a weight, this post covers the importance of proper form when lifting weights.  Often, students start lifting weights for the first time in college, but this can be valuable information for experienced lifters or first-timers.

When I was a college freshman, I frequented the gym.  I was a self-proclaimed gym veteran.  Each week, the weights on my bar were increasing.  The more weight I lifted, the better I felt about myself.  At my university, the gym offered a free personal trainer, and being as confident as I was, I knew I could improve with tweaks to my diet and workout regimen.  So, I decided to schedule an appointment with a trainer.  We began our session, but I learned that my lifting technique was way off.  He showed me the proper form for each exercise, forcing me to drop down my weight dramatically.  I was crushed that I had to start all over again, and my self-esteem dropped.  For weeks I felt like a failure every time I went to the gym, but eventually I was able to improve towards the level I previously operated. This time with proper form, the results were evident.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to lift with correct technique.

www.thewellnessnetwork.co.uk

Back squats, also known simply as squats, are one of three big lifts for increasing strength.  Squats target the muscles of your thighs (quadriceps and hamstrings), gluts, lower back, and core.  Basically, with a straight bar resting low on the back of your neck, you squat down, and stand up.  Sounds easy, but there’s a lot to keep in mind.  Feet should be about shoulder-length apart and turned outward very slightly.  Your back should be curved inward or straight, so that your chest sticks out forward, and your rear protrudes backward.  This stance takes some getting used to.  When you’re ready to squat, bend at the hips first, then at the knees.  Try not to let your knees go past your toes (if you were to draw a vertical line down from your knees).  Keep your back in the same curved or straight position, and your hamstrings/quadriceps parallel to the floor. Then stand straight up, pushing off the balls of your feet.

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Flat bench press is another big exercise; it targets the pectoral (chest) region and the triceps.  When lying on the bench, be sure that your feet are planted firmly on the floor, and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.  Your back should also have some curve in it.  Grab the bar a bit wider than shoulder length and lift.  Once the bar is lifted off the rack, bring your shoulder blades together; this puts the emphasis on your chest.  Bring the bar down to the middle of your chest.  Different people say different things about how far down to bring the bar, but I prefer to bring the bar to my chest so it touches but doesn’t bounce off.  Others prefer to bring it down until their arms are bent at a 90-degree angle.  Both are effective techniques.

Deadlift is the third big exercise, and it primarily targets the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back.  With the bar on the floor, the middle of your feet should be directly under the bar, shoulder-length apart, pointing straight.  Bend down to grab the bar right outside your legs.  Your shins should touch the bar.  There are a few different grips for this lift, but I prefer both hands in front of the bar when the weight is low.  Straighten your back, stand up, and thrust your hips upwards and forwards.  Keep your shoulders back so your chest protrudes throughout the whole lift.  When ascending, you want to drag the bar up your shins and over your knees to the upright position.  Bring the bar back down close to your body and drop the

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weight.  Often, you will see people bounce the bar off the floor and go right into the next repetition.  I see this as cheating.  It’s called a deadlift, so the bar should start in a “dead” position for each repetition.

Form will make or break these lifts.  One thing to keep in mind is your breathing pattern.  Make sure you inhale before the lift, and then exhale when you ascend.  Without proper form, you can seriously injure yourself on these lifts.  Protect your body, and make sure your form is correct.  Never be afraid to ask for help, if you have a question.  Always have someone spotting you or have crash racks in case the weight is too heavy.  After your workout, it is important to replenish nutrients, so go to Cafetasia for a hearty meal.  Go to www.campusclipper.org for college discounts.

 

Disclaimer: Coupons valid before expiration date and while supplies last.

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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3 Motivating Reasons to Hit the Gym (and a delicious college discount!)

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

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You want to go to the gym, but you always have an excuse.  “It’s too hot outside.  I’m too tired.  I’ll go tomorrow.”  You need a motivation booster.  Going to the gym has numerous physical and psychological benefits; it will improve your quality of life.

In the past decade, obesity among college students has grown tremendously.  Phillip B. Sparling, a professor of Applied Physiology at Georgia Tech, says, “Food is everywhere, and it is generally inexpensive, flavorful, large-portioned, and high-calorie. In addition, we rely on energy-saving devices and technology throughout the day, and most of our waking hours are spent sitting.”  Making healthy food choices is one of the hardest parts of being a student.  Going to the gym can be a great way to combat our unhealthy eating habits.  Alternatively, drop by Fresh & Co. with your student ID and a coupon from Campus Clipper for 10% off your order.

Sparling mentions energy-saving devices and technology as a cause for obesity in college students.  Small changes, like walking up the stairs instead of taking the escalator or elevator, make a difference.  Additionally, sitting at your desk or in the library all day is detrimental.  Get up and stroll around Washington Square Park or a park in your area.

Working out provides far more benefits than burning fat to battle obesity.  Physical activity increases oxygen and blood flow in the body.  It improves stamina and flexibility, and prevents lung and heart diseases.  Unfortunately, these things do not happen overnight.  You need to invest time in this process, and you will gradually see results.

The next two motivational reasons to work out go hand-in-hand.  Look better, feel better.  Our bodies are malleable; we can sculpt them, making them solid and chiseled, or perhaps soft and rotund.  You have the power to change the way your body looks.  Of course, we all have genetic limitations, but for the most part, we can control our bodies.

Think of the gym as your workshop.  Each exercise affects your body and causes change.  This gives you a lot of power when it comes to shaping your body.  But, like Uncle Ben shared in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”  We hold responsibility for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying physically fit.  Give your body the respect it deserves.

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Once you attain the body image you aspire to, your self-esteem and confidence will increase.  Insecurities that you may have had about your body will vanish, and you will accomplish more.  I know from personal experience that after a workout, I feel good about the way I look, and it shows.

NOW is the time to be proactive about your physical fitness.  Your body is a temple, and should be treated as such.  Be responsible and take care of your body.  By going to the gym and staying active, you can lead a healthy lifestyle, look the way you want, feel good about it, and have a more positive outlook on life.

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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Why Work Out? Utilize College Discounts While You Can!

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, college students should get at least one hour of physical activity per day.  But for many students, working out feels like an impossible task. Between classes, schoolwork, extracurricular activities, social life, love life, and sleep, it seems that there is simply not enough time in the day.

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However, making time to work out can benefit all students. Physical activity boosts productivity and clears the mind, gives positive energy and instills confidence to take on challenges. It also makes you feel good about yourself, boosting self-esteem, a serious concern for many college students.

A good workout is about balance, no matter your gender. Walking into a college gym, you usually find the women on the treadmills and elliptical machines, while the men lift weights. Oftentimes, men think that they need to lift weights and chug protein shakes in order to stay fit, while women tend to steer clear of the weight room because they fear looking like female bodybuilders. These beliefs are workout myths. Reaching a body type of a bodybuilder is unlikely without intense workouts, extreme dieting, and heavy supplementation. Weight-lifting can boost metabolism, improve posture, and build muscle, which helps burn fat faster; therefore, it can benefit both men and women. However, weight-lifting is not essential to staying fit. Alternative forms of exercise like biking and running benefit the heart and rest of the body in ways that weight-lifting does not.

But you don’t need to become a “gym rat” or a “fitness freak” to stay healthy and fit. There is a myriad of quick and easy ways to work out during your college years. Students can stay fit without even going to the gym through activities like bike rides, yoga, Zumba, swimming, team sports, parkour, or jogging outside with a friend. For those not sure where to start, Tao Yoga, Sacred Sounds Yoga, and Moksha Yoga in New York City are excellent for beginners and yoga masters alike.

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The hardest part is finding the motivation to go out and get moving. It is crucial to get into the habit of working out consistently while in college because once you have a full-time job and a family to support, the motivation is more likely to disappear.

Don’t get accustomed to a lethargic lifestyle, because it only gets harder to change. Go now, while you don’t need to pay for a gym membership. If a trip to the gym consumes too much time, complete a body weight workout in your dorm room or apartment. All it takes is 60 minutes a day to get on the right path.

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Joey Silver, University of Delaware. Check out my Twitter!

Follow the Campus Clipper on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblrand Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

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