By Colin Ross
Campus News
With the current state of social distancing and voluntary quarantining, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most college students have returned home to a slew of online classes and hours spent binge watching Netflix. While many at college had access to their campus’ gym, many states are now banning their operation to help slow the spread of the virus. This has left many students wondering how they will stay in shape during this “coronacation.” However, all hope should definitely not be lost, as there are many options to help you stay in shape during this time.
Try Going on Walks, Jogs, or Runs
Although social distancing decrees will prevent you from using the gym’s treadmill, you still have access to the great outdoors! Although it is best to avoid congregating with other runners and joggers, just getting in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate cardiovascular activity can help boost your immune system! Running gives you many other benefits as well, such as the endorphin release known as the “runner’s high” and is an adequate way to burn calories to help lose or maintain weight. Getting in some good runs during this time will not only help you stay in shape, but it will boost your mood as well!
Calisthenics
Another form of exercise you can try at home is calisthenics, also known as bodyweight exercises. The two easiest forms of calisthenics I have found to do are push-ups and ab exercises. Try to make some time in the day, say 30 minutes, to commit yourself to a number of pushups and minutes of ab exercises. Starting off with 30-50 pushups a day and then gradually increasing the amount per day will help train your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Starting off with 2-3 minutes of abs and then establishing a routine up to 10 minutes will help train your abdominal muscles. Common ab exercises include sit-ups, bicycle crunches, and planks.
Work on your Diet
Although you will be leaving the college dining hall, which was home to many unhealthy and buffet-style carb rich foods, it is important to maintain a healthy diet when returning home. With so much time spent inside your house, the temptation may be there to snack on whatever is available in your pantry. During these times, with COVD-19 looming on the radar, it is important to maintain a healthy diet to help boost your immune system. Foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli will provide you with Vitamin C, which helps increase the blood levels and antibodies and white blood cells, helping fight the symptoms of a cold or a flu. Carrots, kale, and apricots can help provide beta carotene, which later gets converted to Vitamin A. The consumption of Vitamin A will also help antibodies respond to toxins. In addition to the positive effects to your immune system, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet will prevent unnecessary weight gain, allowing you to stay in shape during these times at home.
Get Good Sleep
During this epidemic, and for future commitments, it is a good idea to hold yourself to an appropriate sleep cycle. Since you have more free time, and late-night parties are no longer an option, try to aim for that magic number of 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Doing this will make it easier to workout, as you will have the proper level of energy to tackle the day. Not getting enough sleep will slow your body’s metabolism, which will make it harder to convert what you eat into energy and may result in unnecessary weight gain. With regards to COVID-19, getting adequate sleep will boost your T Cell production, which are white blood cells that also boost the immune system’s response to a foreign virus. By getting enough sleep during your time at home, you will not only be supporting a mission to stay in shape but also ward off the possibility of getting sick.
Although we are currently living in scary and tumultuous times, it is important to establish a routine and commit to staying in shape while also adhering to the guidelines that will help stop the spread of COVID-19. By utilizing more at-home workouts and solitary exercise, you will not only play your part in flattening the curve but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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