Fit Fitness into Your Summer Fun

With school out of session for the summer, our regularly tight schedules tend to be more relaxed and forgiving. There’s more time for movie nights with your girlfriends, spontaneous weekend getaways to the beach, and leisurely lunch dates at your favorite outdoor café. Although we may have more free minutes in our day to fill with physical activity, exercise can easily get pushed aside when a friend invites you to an afternoon backyard barbeque, or party at the pool.

It’s alright to forget about school for the summer, but don’t forget about your fitness. Follow my FOUR easy tips to fit fitness into your summer fun.

1. Make goals. Summer is a wonderful time to make new goals for yourself. January 1^st is not the only time to rev up your resolutions. Whether your goal is to complete the annual Fourth of July 5K, tone up your triceps, or shed a few pounds from your study snacks, it’s all possible when you make the commitment. Write down your goals somewhere that you can view them daily, and perhaps share them with others, so you feel more enticed to follow through with them. Recording your daily/weekly progress in a journal will motivate you to keep moving!

2. Stick to a schedule. To avoid excusing another missed workout, add it to your schedule as if it were an important class. Dedicate a chunk of time in your planner for physical exercise by blocking it off with a bright highlighter, and avoid making other plans at that time. ‘Attending’ your workout regularly will pay off, just as consistent class attendance and participation play a significant part in your academic performance.

3. Go with a group. It’s often difficult to motivate yourself to exercise solo, so turn your hang-time with your friends into an hour heart-pumping activity. If your friends are too busy with their own summer itineraries, check out your local gym’s group exercise classes. Between Zumba aerobic dance classes, spin, and pilates, there is some form of physical exercise for everyone. An enthusiastic instructor, bumping tunes, and a group of exercise enthusiasts is a successful recipe for making fitness fun.

4. Pack your ‘tennis’ shoes. Summer is often a time of travel and adventure… but that doesn’t mean exercise can’t come along on the trip too. Whether you’re headed to the coast, the mountains, or a bustling city, pack your exercise gear for fitness anywhere. Add in a 20-minute jog to your time at the beach, explore nature with a hilly hike around your cozy cabin, or take a few minutes in your hotel’s exercise room to strength train before exploring the city.

Hillary is an intern at College Lifestyles and student of Food & Nutrition Communication at California State University, Chico. She is excited about a summer full of long runs in her cute ‘n’ classy running skirt.

Spring Clean Your College Lifestyle Diet

With another school year coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to not only rid your room of anything school related, but also spring clean your diet! Don’t worry if the Freshman 15 crept up on you from frequent late-night dorm dates with your cereal box, or too many trips to frozen yogurt with your girlfriends.

With spring at its peak, and the summer season so near, adding fresh, wholesome foods back into your diet is easy as pie (no pun intended). Try these summer snacks to get you feeling great about your body by the time the sun decides to shine!

Here are my TOP 5 ways to lighten up and brighten up your summer eats:

1. Add strawberries, 0% fat Greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of nuts to frozen (multigrain) waffles for your morning dose of Vitamin C and protein.

Trader Joe’s inexpensive Greek yogurt is perfect for my college lifestyle budget.

2. Add a handful of raw spinach to almost any smoothie for a powerful “Green Monster” to pump up your iron intake and make your skin glow!

3. Homemade hummus and farmers’ market veggies are the definition of a healthy and satisfying pool snack. Check out my simple hummus recipe.

4. Start your morning or energize your afternoon with a zero-calorie cup of antioxidant-rich green tea. Serve it over ice with a splash of pure pomegranate juice for an extra refreshing sip.

5. For something sweet, trade in your sugary double scoop of Haagen Dazs for homemade banana soft serve. Add 1 frozen banana to the blender, puree until creamy and top with a small spoonful of chocolate peanut butter – it’s as simple as that!

Also check out Liz’s tip for snacking on sweet potatoes – yum!

Here’s to a healthy & happy summer!

Hillary is an intern at College Lifestyles and student of Food & Nutrition Communication at California State University, Chico. Her favorite possession is by far her running shoes, and her day isn’t complete without a piece of quality dark chocolate.

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