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.

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.

2. Go on an eco-date. Eco-friendly living can spice up more than just your fitness routine. Suggest an eco-date with your significant other. This means instead of a wasteful evening filled with appetizers and ice cream, get to know your guy or girl with a nice jog or stroll. Do your part to avoid giant movie theaters that are kept chilled and booming with expensive effects. Instead, you could get in shape with a friend or your date and enjoy the romantic, natural scenery. Have light snacks afterward or circle campus to cool down together.

3. Get green gear. Organic products are a little pricier, but are incredibly healthy for the planet. Clothing made of organic materials doesn’t have synthetic add-ins, meaning they are completely natural. If organic isn’t an option, do some research and find out which fitness gear companies have sustainable production practices. This would mean that they try to minimize further harm by reducing excess waste, and making sure it is not hazardous. Among other things, they also have fair business practices that care for both the people and the resources they need to be successful. Support the effort in other ways by buying from second-hand shops, or use your own old shirts as exercise tops.

4. Need less, take less. Be aware of the waste you generate when you cook. If you are pretty good about eating leftovers and storing your perishables, then you’re probably less wasteful than a restaurant already. Know your own limits so you purchase and prepare less food every time. I know, some meals are so delicious that we just can’t stop, so regulate portion size by buying only what you need. Also, buy fresher, naturally-produced foods like fruits and vegetables. Some college-town marketplaces support local growers, so your area’s economy benefits from its fresh produce. And, when you buy fresh greenery, you don’t have to pay for the cost of packaging your product, and you don’t support the environmentally-harmful manner in which it was assembled.

5. Support natural sites. Be a part of the green movement by visiting a nearby nature center. This could be any park, preserve, or other natural attraction, many of which are overlooked in favor a more exciting attractions in town. Take jogs, walks, or quiet yoga sessions in a public place of nature. Encourage your friends, classmates, and professors to get in on the movement. Not only will you get a good workout, but you’ll make others more aware of how important our local habitats are. Just observing some of the nearby wildlife can be both stress-relieving and humbling.

6. Reuse, reuse, reuse! Avoid disposable beverage bottles, and exercise supplements with excessive packaging. Why waste your money on a new plastic container every time? Water fountains found across campus are free, so just buy one durable bottle and fill up. Another great strategy to combat wasteful drinking practices is to buy powder mixes of your favorite drinks and mix them with water yourself. That way you can avoid buying many individual plastic bottles. Plus, this way you can choose no-sugar and no-calorie sweeteners that you stir into water, without the consequences of calorie-rich protein drinks or soda.

Got the idea yet? It is easy to incorporate your love for the planet into your body’s daily regiment, as long as you find ways to save resources, time, and energy. What are your favorite ways to maintain yourself and your environment at the same time?

Photos courtesy of Google Images.