Healthy tips for busy students

By Haylee Wells
Pulse Staff Reporter

	Irregular class schedules, part-time jobs and variable work loads disrupt college students' normal diet and exercise patterns, leading many to unhealthy habits that are hard to break. The phrase "freshman 15," a slang name for extra pounds gained by students their first year in college, are two words that no college student wants to experience. Some believe stress and a deskbound lifestyle contribute to skipped meals and poor management of weight and food intake. Jeremy Vontur, a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice, has his own unhealthy regimen.
“I down at least four Dr. Pepper’s on nights before a test so I’m able to function long enough to study. I think everyone has their own routine for pulling an all-nighter,” he said. According to KidsHealth website, poor diet and exercise habits begun in college can start you on an unhealthy path that could later lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity and an increased risk for developing certain cancers. Although caffeine is an effective short-term solution, its quick energy boost can have just as quick of a decline, often leaving you more drained than before. Students may take many different approaches to work toward a healthier lifestyle, according to the University of Oregon's website, which offers the following recommendations: • Eat a good breakfast. • Avoid skipping meals. If you must eat fast foods, choose wisely. Limit high fat offerings like french fries or fried chicken and watch out for salad dressing. • Keep healthful snacks on hand. If hungerstrikes during a late night study session, candy, chips or ice cream won’t tempt you. • If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly. Starvation and/or diets that offer a quick fix usually backfire. • Drink lots and lots of water. A strong exercise plan also needs to be put in place. Fortunately for Palo Alto students, classes offered in weight training, strength training, aerobics and well-being can help students get on a healthier path. Palo Alto also offers intramural and extramural recreational sports to all students. Cory Litzner, a former team member of PAC’s extra-mural basketball team, enjoyed the sport and its perks. “Playing on the basketball team really helped me to meet new people and make new friends. Coming to practice, only for a few days out of the week, helped me concentrate on things other than school,” he said. PAC’s open gym hours are from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For strength training, weight room hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Our Olympic-size swimming pool is also open to all students Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Exercise not only helps alleviate stresses in school, but in life as well. Besides eating healthy, put on your swimsuit or pick up a volleyball, basketball or tennis racket, and have some fun!

Irregular class schedules, part-time jobs and variable work loads disrupt college students' normal diet and exercise patterns, leading many to unhealthy habits that are hard to break.

The phrase "freshman 15," a slang name for extra pounds gained by students their first year in college, are two words that no college student wants to experience.

Some believe stress and a deskbound lifestyle contribute to skipped meals and poor management of weight and food intake. Jeremy Vontur, a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice, has his own unhealthy regimen.

“I down at least four Dr. Pepper’s on nights before a test so I’m able to function long enough to study. I think everyone has their own routine for pulling an all-nighter,” he said.

According to KidsHealth website, poor diet and exercise habits begun in college can start you on an unhealthy path that could later lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity and an increased risk for developing certain cancers.

Although caffeine is an effective short-term solution, its quick energy boost can have just as quick of a decline, often leaving you more drained than before.

Students may take many different approaches to work toward a healthier lifestyle, according to the University of Oregon's website, which offers the following recommendations:

• Eat a good breakfast.

• Avoid skipping meals. If you must eat fast foods, choose wisely. Limit high fat offerings like french fries or fried chicken and watch out for salad dressing.

• Keep healthful snacks on hand. If hungerstrikes during a late night study session, candy, chips or ice cream won’t tempt you.

• If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly. Starvation and/or diets that offer a quick fix usually backfire.

• Drink lots and lots of water.

A strong exercise plan also needs to be put in place. Fortunately for Palo Alto students, classes offered in weight training, strength training, aerobics and well-being can help students get on a healthier path.

Palo Alto also offers intramural and extramural recreational sports to all students. Cory Litzner, a former team member of PAC’s extra-mural basketball team, enjoyed the sport and its perks.

“Playing on the basketball team really helped me to meet new people and make new friends. Coming to practice, only for a few days out of the week, helped me concentrate on things other than school,” he said.

PAC’s open gym hours are from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For strength training, weight room hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Our Olympic-size swimming pool is also open to all students Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Exercise not only helps alleviate stresses in school, but in life as well. Besides eating healthy, put on your swimsuit or pick up a volleyball, basketball or tennis racket, and have some fun!

Next Story in this issue...