College Jolt

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

So maybe you’ve gotten good at your routine. Maybe mild diet and exercise is no biggie to you anymore. But being at school makes it easy to forget all the delicious homemade meals you’ve left behind. So what happens when it’s time to go home for the holidays? If you don’t want to be tipping the scales when you return in the Spring, consider for a moment how you’ll survive this most delicious time of the year.

As if Thanksgiving—with its stuffed turkeys, buttery side dishes, and homemade pies—wasn’t hard enough to survive, the remainder of the holiday season usually means big family dinners, plates upon plates of treats, and non-stop snacking during your time off from school. It certainly is tempting to break off a piece of fudge every time you pass by the fragrant kitchen (I know it is for me!), but if you’ve been health-conscious all semester long, it shouldn’t be too hard to stay in control.

But let’s talk about the other side of the story for a second. Forget the rules for ruling out junk this season; let’s talk about how we can enjoy the holidays, and all its wonderful flavors, without feeling guilty all December.

• You’ve heard of training in the gym, but have you heard of training your stomach? Doctors warn that tales of limiting food intake to shrink one’s stomach are mythical. However, getting in the habit of eating less per meal can essentially “train” your body (more…)

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

Okay, not all of them are strange, but I’ve thought of a few, we’ll say non-traditional, ways of fitting your daily workout into your schedule. And the best part is, finding little ways to stay fit can be as easy as plopping down during your busy schedule for 5 minutes. You’ve got that kind of time, right?

One of the strategies I find to be not only effective, but quite a good way to break a sweat is TV exercise. Sounds just about as cheesy as TV Dinner, I know, but you might be surprised. Nowadays, cable companies include the on-demand feature in some packages, which allows users to watch shows and clips from several categories with the push of a button. If you, a neighbor, or a friend has access to these types of fancy upgrades, search for “workouts”, “Exercise TV” or “sports” in the on-demand section. I’ve found several 10-minute quickies that don’t require equipment or hand weights (and their free if you’re watching your friend’s cable!)

Some of my favorites from these quick clips help to get your buns, thighs and abs in shape (the focus of many women in particular). You and a friend could simply (more…)

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

I’m no runner. But my experience with exercise and fitness in general has taught me that cardio-vascular health is important. No matter how much weight you lift in the gym, if you don’t get your blood pumping with a little cardio now and again, you’ll be wheezing at any long-distance foot race. So, what’s one of the simplest ways to boost your heart health without killing yourself with sprints off the bat? Power walking.

Now, don’t be stressed about the term. Guys, power walking doesn’t denote some 1980’s fad suggesting the use of sweatbands and neon short-shorts. And ladies, no, it isn’t anything frantic or flailing. In fact, power walks care like any other daily walk you might take around campus, maybe just a little faster. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your power walk has to be too rushed, but you should keep a good, challenging pace, as if trying to get somewhere quickly. That’s all they mean by the “power” in power walking.

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When I was quite younger, my dad taught me about fitness by granting me privileged use of his exercise equipment, and inviting me on walks, beach runs, and trips to the gym. But most of all, he and I got into a social routine of talking over a brisk, nightly walk, that we promised we’d do together every day. 2.5 miles total, there and back—ending at that certain crack in the sidewalk, to the left of the skinny tree. And for a whole year we stuck to it

At first he really had to urge me to keep up with him. I was by no means in marathon shape, so I got cramps easily and let myself lag behind my quick-footed dad. He isn’t the type to slow down out of sympathy, either. He wanted the full workout experience, too. So he coached me to pick up the pace, but if I couldn’t, I’d finish the route slow and alone. (more…)

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

College students are notorious for their taste in food—whether they follow the heat-and-eat noodle fad, or simply choose strange combinations at the campus cafeteria (“That’s right, Mom. Today I had a hot dog, a waffle, and eggplant Parmesan!”). It’s no wonder, then, that more than a few of us disregarded Mom’s plea for us to eat our veggies every meal, and instead opted for the quick and easy choices that get us through our busy days.

But did you know that you can still eat right on a never-ending schedule? It takes a quick lesson in “the facts” to get started, but by the end of today’s crash course in nutrition labels, one quick glance can determine which meal will do your mother proud, and which should be avoided all-together.

Tip #1: Check the serving size. If you’ve ever prepared, say, a box of pasta, you may have noticed that the Nutrition Facts give the approximate number of servings per box. A serving is simply the unit used to portion meals, but doesn’t necessarily indicate that a single serving is the maximum amount that should be eaten by one person. It all depends on context.

If you were preparing the box of pasta as a side dish for you and three friends, the recommended serving size might be a reasonable portion for each of you to consume. On the other hand, if you (more…)

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

If you think it’s impossible to watch what you eat as a college student, well, you just might be right. Aren’t we the group best known for its ability to single-handedly fund pizza joints and ramen noodle companies around the world? But—as much as I hesitate to admit that it’s true—you actually can maintain a healthy diet as an on-the-go student. Even campus dwellers can make the cut with just their microwaves.

This update of Shape U is all about food. So if you’re looking for fast food and campus cafeteria alternatives, you’re in the right place. Below are several tips that I’ve discovered over the years. Some are quick meals that don’t come with all the fat of fast food; some are homemade dinner ideas that’ll fill you up (but are good for you, too).

Veggie Pasta: I go nuts for noodles, but pastas with heavy cream sauces are not only unhealthy, but expensive. For a few bucks you can bag your favorite produce, a box of whole wheat linguine, and you’ll have a belly filling classic. What makes this pasta such a quick and healthy alternative is the sauce replacement: olive oil. You won’t waste time waiting for cream sauce to thicken, and you can feel good about nixing all the butter and fat. I like to sauté zucchini, yellow squash, tomato chunks, and roasted red peppers in olive oil until warm, (more…)

I imagine most people, at one point in their lives, have wondered about basic philosophical questions.  I hope to reflect on some of the most important philosophical questions concerning college students today.  I will draw these questions from famous philosophers, but also from my own life experiences.  While I may not provide many concrete answers, I will certainly provide a lot to think about.

With more and more youth attending college in today’s floundering economy, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is, What am I going to do after college?  The options are seemingly endless, but instead of granting opportunity this can be overwhelming.

The trend now is to specialize and focus, making it difficult to try out various different career paths.  Another struggle is how to match your major to a job.  Many people say it isn’t necessary to choose a career within your major, but chances are your major matches up with your interests.  Even if we ignore America’s incredibly competitive environment and current lack of jobs, the question remains: How do we decide which job is right for us? (more…)

Hey, my name’s Sam and I love scouring the web for interesting sites and useful applications. In this blog series, I will show you how to do things on your computer that you did not even know were possible.

This past summer was my first summer back from college and naturally I wanted a way to keep in touch with all of my friends from school. I, being the lover of Google that I am, searched for an application whose sole purpose was video chatting. There are many programs out there, and I’ve used a portion of them, but the winners are: Skype, Tokbox, Google Voice and Video, and ooVoo.

With Skype, you can video-chat with one other person, or if you buy credit (or a plan) you can call any land line in the world! And that’s not all! You also get voicemail and call-forwarding if you’re not online. Useful? Definitely! You can also use it from your computer, iPod Touch, iPhone, PSP, mobile phone, or any of the Skype phones listed on their website. One is their video phone, which allows you to video chat without a computer! Of course, like most services online, if you’re willing to pay, you can also get a Skype number and calling time. But, one thing I find really frustrating about Skype is that you can only talk to one person at a time, unlike Tokbox and ooVoo.

(more…)

The true definition of networking – according to one of my close companions, dictionary.com – reads: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.  Networking varies from a Facebook friend request to establishing a connection on LinkedIn.  My series will explore the abundant ways to network.

Today’s the day.  You open your eyes feeling refreshed and accomplished.  Your arms and legs extend and tighten as you stretch, slowly getting out of your almost too comfortable bed.  You cannot help but have a glorious smile on your face as you walk from your bed to your curtain covered window.  The curtains are drawn back and the delicate, warm sun greets your face.  *Smile.*  You plunge into your morning rituals, eager to get going.

30 minutes after the commencement of your morning rituals, your hair is commendable, your face is soft, you are sharply dressed, and your smile is still gleaming just as it was when you first woke up.  You are too excited to eat, you are too nervous to eat, and you are too giddy to sit in one place.  Don’t forget your camera!

You have been pondering the last three years of your college career.  This reminiscence is overwhelming, but this feeling of being overwhelmed is just the right amount to not make you cry, but to make you still wear that unforgettable, gleaming smile.  This day, is your Aggie Ring Day. (more…)

Your college years are best spent busy. So where does that leave room for keeping up with your personal fitness? It’s hard work staying healthy with all of the unlimited junk food, parties, and lazy weekends that the college experience provides. That’s why in my series, Shape U, we’re gearing up for a semester of fitness 101, featuring tips and tricks to maintaining your shape this season.

Need an extra kick in the pants when it comes to staying in shape? Too many of us get bored with everyday routines and restrictive diets, and need a change of pace. I recently discussed how your natural surroundings are a great place to re-invigorate your fitness regiment and improve the overall quality of your experience. Now, for an even greater change, spend some time planning a “greener” way to get going again. Giving back to the planet could be the motivation you need to stay on track!

Almost any practice can be modified to be more conservative. And any small effort you make to conserve during your exercise routine contributes to the effort. So what can you actually do to get going, greener?

I’ve got a few suggestions of my own to help you get started, but there is no limit to what you can do to conserve. Besides, if you’ve adopted any of the at-home alternatives I’ve proposed, you’re already contributing to the effort by cutting out the gym. Already that’s saved the gas needed to drive there. Why not try a few more simple changes?

1. Run with a purpose. A classic way to conserve while working your body is to run or walk to destinations that you would normally drive to. You save on gas, stop harmful emissions, and get your heart beating like nothing else! For instance, you might try walking to the recycling center with bagfuls of bottles. Your arms will feel the burn from carrying the added resistance, and you’ll be paying the planet a favor. You could also offer to run messages or items for your friends across town. If you can prevent yet another person from spending the fuel to go back and forth from a destination, you’ve done something good. (more…)

Just as James Dean demonstrates in that classic film of the same name, adolescence is a time of new experiences, good and bad. This series takes a look into those experiments with freedom that we conduct while in college—the little things that parents and teachers call “rebellious.” I will look into the things you should try, the things you shouldn’t, and how to get away with some of them (with an occasional voice of reason, of course).

Well, Fall has officially arrived. Some of us will be singing “Wake Me Up When September Ends” for the next thirty days, but the rest will be looking forward to a change of pace from those lazy summer days. I’ve already covered the back to school wardrobe (see The Rebel Fashionista), but what about a new ’do?

Your hair can be a very strong expression of your style and personality. Plus, a little change (or perhaps a drastic change) in color or cut can help enhance your features and give you that little confidence boost that’s always welcome. Maybe you want an asymmetrical cut with dark blue streaks. Maybe you want to darken your blonde with a couple of jet black streaks. Or maybe you’ll just settle for the classic mohawk. Either way, rock your new style with confidence and meet the new year head on.

If you always wanted to change your style, but your parents or grandparents just didn’t get your desire for some new, purple hair, now is your chance. Just remind them that hair can always be dyed back, and can always grow back. Or, maybe you can compromise with streaks or a less drastic cut.

But before you run for the scissors and dye, make sure you follow a couple of tips:

1. Find the look. Make sure you know what look you’re going for. Go online and print out pictures of people who have the color or cut you’re aiming for. If you’re styling your own hair, then it’s good to have those pictures in front of you for reference. If you’re going to a salon, then you will definitely need those pictures. It doesn’t matter how detailed you are in your instructions; sometimes it’s just difficult for two people to be on the same page without some visual aids. Besides, better safe than sorry, right?

2. Spend some reflection time. No, I don’t mean meditation. Sit yourself in front of the mirror and imagine the hairstyle you want. Pull your hair back and take a good look at your complexion, the shape of your face, your eye color, and your facial features. All of these factors affect how well your new style will look on you. Think about the features you want to accentuate, or the ones you want to draw attention away from. Consider the strength and health of your hair. Cuts will usually help hair to grow faster because the damaged hair is trimmed away. Dyeing hair can be damaging depending on the amount of heat and chemicals regularly applied, and depending on how drastic a change the dyed color is from the natural.

3. Talk it up. Ask your hairdresser, friends, and family for their honest opinions. Even if you are planning to do it yourself, I would still suggest talking to someone who specializes in hair care so you can get a professional opinion. Hairstyles are far from permanent, but you still don’t want to be stuck with something you hate for 3 or 4 months. Make sure you have a good idea of what your new style will look like and how it will be maintained.

4. Time to try it out. Unless you or someone you know is absolutely sure of how to treat and style hair, then I strongly suggest you go to a salon and get it done professionally. It is more expensive, but if you experiment at home, your red hair might turn orange, and that cut may turn out to be more asymmetrical than you wanted. A proper stylist should know how to avoid any follicle tragedies.

Voice of Reason: Just like your clothes, your hair is an expression of you. Think about the image you want your hair to reflect. Bright colors and bold cuts will draw attention, but may also cause problems if you’re looking for an internship or a job. Other colors and cuts may age you or draw attention to problem areas.

Don’t like your cut? Perhaps you styled your hair at home or even went to the salon and it didn’t turn out like you wanted it to. Don’t worry about it. If it’s a problem with color, then you can just dye it again. If it’s a problem with the cut, then you can either chop off some more and settle for a shorter style, or just wait for it to grow out. And I’m also a big advocate for hats on those bad hair days/weeks/months.

Images courtesy of www.adviceby.com, www.hairstylebob.com, www.trendyhaircuts.blogspot.com, www.emohairstylefashion.blogspot.com, www.photobucket.com