A popular New Year’s resolution is to get fit and lose
weight. With so many people resolving to get fit and lose weight
with the start of each new year, there is the common danger that
college students will resort to unhealthy means to attain their
goals. This pattern has spurred a whole market of health advice in
the form of books, gyms, videos, programs and even pills marketed
to entice the resolution-maker with an easy way to get fit
quick.
As a result, many students may find it hard to fit these New
Year’s resolutions in and around their hectic class schedule
and collegiate commitments, and may resort to unhealthy shortcuts
to reach their goals.
Healthy diet combined with smart exercise has always been the
most successful way to lose weight and become healthier, according
to R. James Barnard, a UCLA physiological professor.
However, this takes time and may not produce the immediate
results a fast-moving college student is looking for in his fitness
regimen.
UCLA diet and exercise experts, as well as the recreation
department, have made their advice available in order to help
students make healthy choices.
A common mistake is setting unrealistic goals. By setting goals
that are not attainable, students are faced with failure and lose
motivation, according to Elisa Terry, fitness director for UCLA
Recreation.
“Students tend to misjudge their readiness to change. They
haven’t really assessed their ability to change and their
motivation to maintain a behavior modification necessary for
change,” Terry said.
“Reaching goals really requires contemplation, thought
processes and putting those into action. Health habits take a while
to form,” she said.
Student often are too eager to get results and can injure
themselves if they start exercising too fast, Barnard said.
“It is important students do not overexert themselves,
especially if they have been inactive for a while,” Barnard
said.
A health exercise regimen should include one hour of daily
aerobic exercise such as swimming, jogging, or one of the aerobic
machines offered at the Wooden Recreation center, Barnard said. He
also advised lifting weights at least twice a week.
Barnard also advised students to be wary of marketed programs
since these programs do not always follow a balanced diet.
“The South Beach Diet, for example, is extremely high in
protein and fat,” he said.
Barnard recommends a diet high in whole grains, fruits and
vegetables and with limited meat products and fat.
“College students should not really need to diet. But they
should strive for 7-9 servings of fruit and vegetable a day and not
more than 3.5 oz. of meat. The meat should be limited to white meat
like chicken or turkey, or cold-water fish which are a good source
of omega-3 fatty acids,” Barnard said.
There are programs and products, however, that are aimed at
helping students reach their goals in a safe and healthy way.
Some of these programs are marketed to fit a student’s
schedule, such as the half-hour exercise regimen offered by Curves
of Westwood.
“The key is starting early before students have health
problems and finding a fitness schedule they can follow,”
Susan Laramie, owner of Curves Westwood, said.
“Curves has worked with Baylor University and found that
resistance training early in life can help avoid later health
problems such as cardiovascular disease by increasing metabolism,
bone density and improving blood pressure.”
On campus, there are many opportunities to exercise and get
personal advice on fitness and exercise.
“The John Wooden Center is a resource; it is a place to
try out things and offers personal trainers that give advice and
help set realistic goals,” Terry said.
The Fitness Quarterly, a magazine available to students from
UCLA Recreation, lists the many classes and activities available to
students. Articles this quarter include advice about getting
educated about fitness and enjoying the activities students choose
to reach their goals.