A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
By: JV
Cheerleading was my everything in high school. Cheerleading helped me stay in shape. We ran four miles daily, including sprints and "bleachers", we worked on our jumps and did almost two hours of tumbling daily. For competitions, we had to perform a two and a half minute routine, which includes jumps, tumbling and stunting. I used to wake up every morning before school, go for a run and work on my stretches. During my junior year of high school, I took a Fitness class in school. My teacher introduced me to pilates, kickboxing, and my favorite, yoga. I took her class both my Junior and Senior year, because that's what I relied on to keep me in shape when my cheerleading seasons ended.
When I began college, I began working full time at a local hotel and was taking full time classes as well. Within two months of beginning school, I found myself thinking I didn't have time to work out. I had classes 9a-1p daily and worked 3-11. Instead of packing dinner for work, I would either stop somewhere and pick up fast food before work or pick something up after work. Although I did not gain much weight, I was not at the weight I was when I ended high school. I kept thinking to myself that I am only 20 years old and should not be this lazy or continuing to keep putting exercising off on the side. I began dating my boyfriend who is in the US Army later that year, who helped me clean my eating habits and began working out again.
I found a yoga studio near my apartment, and began going Friday-Sunday since those were the day I worked mornings and got out early. Soon after that, my boyfriend and I began taking walks. Our walks soon turned into daily runs, leading to us running at least 3 miles daily. When school was done for the semester, I would wake up early and go for a daily run, and later that evening do at least an hour of yoga.
When it came to cleaning my eating habits, it was very tough. I am a sucker for junk food and soda, and soda was really hard to give up. I would go a week without soda and then found myself buying soda once again. I have always been a picky eater specially when it comes to veggies and meats. I did begin getting into the habit of including either tuna or chicken in my meals. The only vegetables I am able to eat are carrots and broccoli. I even tried a couple of fad diets. I tried the Special K Diet, which simply got boring. I heard about this diet because I used to buy the cereal and on the back of the box, it explains how to begin the diet. Although I did see some results I stopped doing it. I also tried the Lemonade Diet, which one of my coworkers said she had tried. I definitely do not recommend the Lemonade Diet because it is the most unhealthiest thing I have ever tried. It does give you quick results, but I just felt even lazier than I did when I was not eating healthier or exercising, I had no energy and just felt weak.
Nowadays I run about four times a week, usually before class. I try not go out and eat, but I do go out sometimes. I am not the healthiest eater but I do put in some effort into trying to balance my meal out. At my age, I think it is very important to stick to exercising daily and eating healthy.
When I began college, I began working full time at a local hotel and was taking full time classes as well. Within two months of beginning school, I found myself thinking I didn't have time to work out. I had classes 9a-1p daily and worked 3-11. Instead of packing dinner for work, I would either stop somewhere and pick up fast food before work or pick something up after work. Although I did not gain much weight, I was not at the weight I was when I ended high school. I kept thinking to myself that I am only 20 years old and should not be this lazy or continuing to keep putting exercising off on the side. I began dating my boyfriend who is in the US Army later that year, who helped me clean my eating habits and began working out again.
I found a yoga studio near my apartment, and began going Friday-Sunday since those were the day I worked mornings and got out early. Soon after that, my boyfriend and I began taking walks. Our walks soon turned into daily runs, leading to us running at least 3 miles daily. When school was done for the semester, I would wake up early and go for a daily run, and later that evening do at least an hour of yoga.
When it came to cleaning my eating habits, it was very tough. I am a sucker for junk food and soda, and soda was really hard to give up. I would go a week without soda and then found myself buying soda once again. I have always been a picky eater specially when it comes to veggies and meats. I did begin getting into the habit of including either tuna or chicken in my meals. The only vegetables I am able to eat are carrots and broccoli. I even tried a couple of fad diets. I tried the Special K Diet, which simply got boring. I heard about this diet because I used to buy the cereal and on the back of the box, it explains how to begin the diet. Although I did see some results I stopped doing it. I also tried the Lemonade Diet, which one of my coworkers said she had tried. I definitely do not recommend the Lemonade Diet because it is the most unhealthiest thing I have ever tried. It does give you quick results, but I just felt even lazier than I did when I was not eating healthier or exercising, I had no energy and just felt weak.
Nowadays I run about four times a week, usually before class. I try not go out and eat, but I do go out sometimes. I am not the healthiest eater but I do put in some effort into trying to balance my meal out. At my age, I think it is very important to stick to exercising daily and eating healthy.