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It can be hard to keep fit at uni. For most students, university life is synonymous with too much alcohol, not enough fresh fruit and veg and far, far too many meals from Efe’s. Many students having to cook for themselves for the first time, (myself included) have struggled to produce a healthy, nutritious meal that includes all the food groups and isn’t too heavy on the saturated fat. And this unhealthy lifestyle doesn’t only affect the food students eat. It was a sad moment last year when I realised that my weekly exercise consisted of the 3am stagger from Ziggy’s to Willow.
A lot of students, caught up in the busy lifestyle of lectures and reading, drinking and dancing don’t appreciate that exercise can be a cheap and fun way to combat the effects of the more unhealthy aspects of uni life, and that it doesn’t have to be time consuming or boring. Here are five ways that can hopefully make your student life healthier.
1. Go for a run
It sounds boring. It sounds hard, and it sounds potentially humiliating, but I have found that running is one of the best ways to keep fit at uni. It is easy, accessible and best of all, it doesn’t cost a thing. Creeping down to the running track with my flatmates used to be a lowlight of my week, but over time I have found that cracking out twelve laps on an afternoon is incredibly rewarding, and not as boring as I first thought. Running is so good for you, and running round the track makes it so easy to mark your progress that you really get a sense of achievement as you improve.
2. Cycle
Cycling to and from lectures is a brilliant way for second and third years to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. Admittedly if you live on campus, chances are you’re never going to venture more than a five minute walk from your bed at any time, therefore it may not be worth investing in a bike, but for those of us who live a good twenty minutes away from our departments, cycling makes the trip a lot quicker and is surprisingly hard work!
3. Aerobics
Although aerobics is unlikely to appeal to many guys, the aerobics classes that the university offers are generally packed out. Going to an aerobics class is fun, requires no previous sporting skill or experience and is an ideal activity to do in a group. Even try doing an exercise video with your housemates. If nothing else, it’ll be hysterical.
4. Join the gym
Admittedly not the cheapest way to get fit, but the campus gym can seem a lot more appealing than braving the cold outdoors in the harsh winter months. Prices are very reasonable and this year some membership packages include York Sport, which is compulsory to have if you play for any uni sports teams. The gym has good facilities for aerobic and weight training and membership includes discount on hire of other sports facilities at the centre.
5. Sports societies
York offers so many sports societies that it is possible for even the most physically inept person to find something to suit them. A lot of societies welcome complete beginners and provide clubs that allow you to progress at your own level rather than taking it very seriously. Taking up a more unusual sport as a hobby, for example pole exercise or trampolining can be so much fun and I think it is really important to make the most of clubs and societies available to us as students!
At York there is something for everyone and you don’t have to be the sportiest person in the world to benefit from these ideas. Everyone needs exercise in their lives and university provides a perfect opportunity to broaden your fitness horizons.
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