HALEY HALL Contributing Writer
For some college students, it is very hard to maintain the weight that they came in with due to the endless supply of food at the dining hall and lack of exercise, many gain weight.
However, there are ways to avoid packing on the pounds by making smart food choices and sticking with an easy exercise program. Amie Hoff, New York Sports Clubs Master Trainer, has developed an exercise program that can be done without even stepping out of your dorm room.
Exercise routine #1: Put furniture to use. Learn to shape your arms with a challenging variation of the standard push-up. With your desk up against a wall, place your hands on the edge a little wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet on the ground, back flat and chest in line with the edge of the desk. Slowly lower your chest down, bending at the elbows until you’re about six inches from the desk. Push your body back up to the starting position. Try to work your way up to three sets of 15.
Exercise routine #2: Burn off that late-night snack. Need an energy boost? Instead of reaching for food, opt for a quick cardio blast by alternating three sets of 20 stadium runs and 20 jumping jacks. For stadium runs, start with hands on the floor and feet shoulder-width apart. Use a thrusting motion to bring your right knee into the chest. As the right foot goes back to starting position, raise your left knee. Be sure to have a slight bend in the elbow and keep your abs tight.
Exercise routine #3: Get six-pack abs. Tone your tummy with the help of your textbooks. Lay face up on a mat or towel with knees bent and feet on the floor. Hold your heaviest course book directly over your head with both hands. Keeping your abs tight, slowly lift your head and shoulder blades off the towel, lifting the book in the air. Hold for one second then slowly release, working your way up to three sets of 20.
Exercise routine #4: Use your bed for more than sleeping. Sculpt your arms from the comfort of your bed by doing dips. Sit on the edge of the bed with your hands next to hips. Move your hips in front of the bed, bend your elbows and lower a few inches while keeping your butt close to the bed. Don’t sink into the shoulders or lower past 90 degrees. Push back up and repeat for three sets of 15.
Exercise routine #5: Get moving! Use your desk chair as a prop for shaping your backside with squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and squat down slowly as you sit back on your heels. Lower as far as you can while keeping your knees even to your toes and not going below 90 degrees, then return to starting position. Try putting a chair behind you and act like you’re about to sit down, pulling up before actually sitting down. Do three sets of 10. Want an extra challenge? Use an explosive jump to get up from the bent position and you’ll burn more calories.
I find these exercises really help me when there is little time to go to the gym. They are easy, fun and prevent me from packing on the pounds. Give it a try today and get started with a better-fit life!
For questions about any of the exercises, contact Haley Hall at [email protected]
