Rekindling the Flame

The best thing about maintaining an active lifestyle in college is the variety in which one can exercise. When else in your life will you have unlimited access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, baseball, soccer, and softball fields, tennis courts, and a pool at your fingertips? With such a wealth of opportunity at hand, deciding what to do can sometimes be more challenging than actually getting up to do it (notice I said "sometimes").

While the commitment to and execution of an active lifestyle in any way, shape, or form is a major accomplishment, sticking to a monotonous routine can breed frustration and failure. When you find yourself viewing fitness as an obligation, when you lose that lovin' feeling for your daily date with the treadmill, or when you just aren't getting the satisfaction you deserve from your hard work; it's time for a trial separation.

Before drowning your sorrows in a tub of Ben and Jerry's, know that you're normal. Just about everyone who exercises regularly gets tired of the same workout routine. This sense of complacency and boredom is termed in the fitness world as a "fitness plateau." Not only does a daily routine make exercise more boring, but it has negative effects on the benefits of the workout. Boredom tends to put a workout into cruise control and when this happens, the heart rate doesn't rise as much and your breathing slows down.

For all who are struggling to find new meaning in their personal fitness, there's hope. All you need to do to breathe life back into your active lifestyle is to take advantage of your options. Play the field a little; literally.

Changing up your routine, whether it be by increasing intensity, choosing a different form of activity, finding a new workout partner, or even working out at a different time of the day, can revitalize your commitment, enjoyment, and motivation. For example, if you typically (and at this point mindlessly) hop on the elliptical at level ten for thirty minutes, try upping the intensity with a higher resistance. Better yet, try a new machine or -GASP- stay out of the gym and go for a jog outside. Making your body work harder and challenging new muscles not only revs up your metabolism and increases the physical benefits of your workout, but it also brings back that mental fulfillment you get from challenging your body.

While the convenience of digitalized time, heart rate, calorie burn, and distance often keeps many people confined to the gym, taking advantage of those "other facilities" outdoors-especially in these springtime months- is a satisfying and beneficial remedy for a fitness rut. Provided below is a list of alternative exercises and the amount of calories burned per half hour, so you can plan an effective, but fun, new fitness routine (estimate accordingly based on your own weight).

Calories burned/30min

Activity 125 lb 155 lb 185lb

Frisbee 90 112 133

Volleyball 120 149 178

Softball 150 186 222

Golf (no cart) 165 205 244

Hiking 169 209 249

Weight Lifting 175 211 259

Swimming 180 223 266

Racquetball 225 270 315

Soccer 210 252 311

Tennis 210 260 311

Jumping Rope 208 258 308

No matter how you choose to approach your lackluster love affair with fitness, rest assured that a little extra effort goes a long way. Small changes, like varying your activities can play a major role in keeping your own enthusiasm and your body's energy level at a maximum. So next time you catch yourself lazily striding away at the gym- do yourself a favor and spice it up!