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Fighting the flab of frosty times By
Bethany Allen Winter sets in, temperatures fall (and fall), and you want nothing more than to stay in bed eating cold cereal or Ramen Noodles until the climate doesn't make your nose freeze together when you breathe in. But what does that mean for your body? With the frost on the trees comes flab on the body. Winter and obesity go almost hand in hand, especially in Logan. Everyone at every age benefits from exercise, and any risks involved are worth it, even the risk of falling down on all the ice. From helping you enjoy life more to helping you live longer, staying active increases your quality of life. It's part of being healthy and feeling good. And who doesn't want to feel better? But why exercise? What if you feel fine where you are? You might be saying "My quality of life is great with my remote and my Ramen." Why get out of your lazy chair and move when it is so cold outside? Well, if you have too much fat on you body you are at a greater risk for heart disease and other health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even diabetes. But you're saying, "Hey, I'm not fat." Right? You might be right! Your body composition is made of not only fat, but water, protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates. Knowing your body composition is an important part of staying healthy. The best way to know your composition is to take a body mass index test. Your body mass index is a good indicator as to whether or not you have an obesity problem. Of course, most people can just pinch an inch (or grab a flab) from their upper arm to figure out that they need some exercise. When you start exercising, you take care of that excess fat by burning extra calories. You can figure out how many calories you are kicking during exercise by consulting the physical activity calorie use chart provided by the American Heart Association. Even if you are convinced that exercise is great and you want to do it, there are still problems. Remember the weather? You'd rather die than go back outside and frankly, the idea of running up and down Old Main Hill doesn't thrill you at all. Not only that, there is a severe and disgusting shortage of workout options at Utah State University lately. Steve Palmer, ASUSU president, says that one of the biggest complaints from students is the lack of exercise equipment. "As of right now, there is no cardio equipment in the fieldhouse and only two cardio machines in the HPER building," says Palmer. Kristen Stokes, a dietetics major at USU feels that the situation is "just crazy. It's ridiculous for a campus of over 15,000 [students] to have so few options." Of course, the ASUSU Student Activities Board (STAB) tries to help by offering free aerobics classes in the fieldhouse throughout the week. "The classes are great, and the instructors are as good as at any club," says Becky Oman, a regular student at the STAB aerobics classes. Private clubs or gyms are a good option, and Logan has many to choose from. Academy Fitness is a popular place offering lots of different workout options including swimming, weight-lifting, a myriad of cardio equipment, racquetball, basketball and more. A little smaller but just as varied, Spring Creek Fitness has lots of new, very nice equipment and offers many different types of classes. Speaking of equipment, ICON Health and Fitness is a leader in exercise equipment and offers many different ways of staying in shape. If you're a student, you're probably frustrated at this point. Students eat ramen noodles because they have no money, and joining a gym or buying a treadmill just isn't an option. And what if aerobics just isn't your thing? Ah-ha! Now we're getting into the hard part. How do you stay active in cold weather when you have no money? There is no excuse not to be active today because of the exciting new ways to exercise. For instance, kickboxing has made its way into the fitness limelight. Not only is it fun, but aerobic kickboxing burns almost as many calories as running! The now legendary Billy Blanks has made Taebo a national trend. You can buy a video online or at any video store, but that brings the money issue into fitness again. You can also put on some loud music and kickbox in your room for 40 minutes. Add some good old push-ups and sit-ups, and you've got a great workout. If kickboxing is a little too high-intensity for you, yoga might be your answer. Yoga combines stretches, balancing exercises and working your muscles at the same time. You don't have to be a contortionist to do it, either. There are yoga videos that cater to the average non-limber person, up to advanced videos for people who can already put their feet behind their head. A trendy new way to keep sculpted is called Pilates. Based on the techniques of Joseph Pilates (puh-LAH-teez), this is a type of stretching combined with isometric muscle training that keeps your body tight and strong. You can find out more about how to do Pilates by getting a book at any local book store, or check the official Pilates website. In addition, Cache Valley has a plethora of ways to stay active. Often attracting the outdoorsy type, USU's location is perfect for mountain biking, hiking, cave exploration, and skiing. If you're not familiar with these activities or don't have the equipment, you can contact the USU Outdoor Recreation Center. Or, you could take advanatge of the cold weather by simplply playing in the snow. Build a snowman with your roommates, or go sledding. Snow activities burn calories and make you forget the cold! But no matter what you do or what temperature it is, be sure to drink a lot of water. Many beginners are dehydrated and don't even know it. To avoid becoming dizzy, tired, or increase your appetite, be sure to keep plenty of water near you before, during, and after exercising! Whether you're feelin' flabby, sick of sitcoms, or just ready to get movin' there are plenty of options for staying active and fit, even if you live in sub-zero tempratures.
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