Life in the dorm is hectic, especially when it comes to eating. The salads, fresh fruits and vegetables of home are replaced with delivery pizzas, potato chips and all-night candy bar binges. This new junk food diet is the reason many new college students gain the dreaded “Freshman 15.” Many college campuses feature gyms, but students don’t always have the time or energy to perform a proper workout. Instead of shrugging your shoulders and purchasing a larger pair of jeans, try a few quick and easy dorm room exercises to keep the extra weight at bay.
Dancing
Want to burn up to 400 calories in about an hour while having a great time? Then dancing is the answer to keeping it fun while burning unwanted fat and calories. Dancing not only raises your heart rate it also improves flexibility and stamina, increases endurance and strengthens your muscle. On top of that, dancing also calms your mood and relieves stress, which is another contributor to your unwanted weight gain. Grab your roommate or a friend from down the hall and have a dance party inside your room for around an hour a day at least three to four times a week. If you’re self-conscious about your dancing abilities, don’t hesitate to plug in your headphones and dance to the music all by yourself.
Cardio
For many haggard college students, the word “cardio” conjures up images of spending hours at the gym, working up a sweat until you drop. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are several inexpensive, and free, cardio workouts that are acceptable in even the smallest, most cluttered dorm room. Start simple by marching in place. This exercise requires little space and no money to get your heart pumping. Take this workout to the next level by jogging or high-knee running in place. Keep the workout from becoming stagnant by adding a few kickboxing moves in with the routine. If you want to escape your room, run up and down the dormitory stairs to keep your heart rate up.
Yoga
Yoga is a low-impact, relaxing way to strengthen your muscles, keep your weight under control and relieve stress. If you’re new to yoga, start out simple with a mountain pose. Sit up straight in a chair, grasp your hands and extend your arms in front of your body. Twist your wrists to turn your palms away from your body and slowly raise your arms until your palms are facing the ceiling. End your yoga routine with a regenerative pose. Sit at your desk and cross your arms. Gently rest your arms on the desk and lower your head onto your arms. Remain in this pose and concentrate on your breathing for at least two to three minutes. This quiet pose allows you to relax and reenergize before your next class.
Making Healthy Choices
All the exercises in the world aren’t totally beneficial unless you begin to make healthier meal choices. This is a difficult prospect when your choices are the items on a cafeteria menu or vending machine junk food. Keep it simple by reading the labels and speaking to a nutritionist about creating an effective meal plan. It’s more time-consuming to eat healthy, but well worth the added effort.
Before performing any dorm room exercises, learn your school’s policy on music and, if necessary, moving furniture in your room to provide an adequate workout space. Also speak to your roommate to set up a workout schedule that is convenient for both your lifestyles. You might even turn your roommate into an exercise and healthy living partner.
This post was written and provided by Chuck Grecola. Chuck graduated with a physical education degree and is dedicated to staying fit. He uses meal replacements and supplements to help fuel his fitness, and encourages others to do the same by using the Nutrisystem discount code.