Staying "In Shape"

            “Staying in shape”... The phrase itself assumes that there is one proper shape that everybody must fit. The truth is more complicated. Even though we all have the same organs, bones, and muscles, everyone’s body is shaped differently. What might be a healthy weight for one person would make another seem dangerously skinny. Nutrition and exercise has to be personalized.

            The Percent Daily Values printed on the back of every packaged food product are based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day. Michael Phelps, famous for his Olympic exploits, eats 12,000 calories a day. His training habits allow him to eat 6 times as much as the average person and still have low body fat. Obviously, just following a generic diet or fitness plan won’t work for everyone.

Come on guys, who doesn't wanna look like that?

            We all have different schedules, priorities, and most importantly, budgets. Students busy studying and writing papers for online classes may have little time or energy for working out. The stress of balancing a personal life, schoolwork, and a job to pay the bills can develop poor sleeping and eating habits that make it difficult to start a regimen of any kind.

            All it takes is some discipline to start making better decisions and building a better body. You don’t need a personal trainer to stay fit and trim. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should do it alone. The best weapon against laziness is accountability. No matter what goals you have, sharing them with a friend and working toward them together will encourage amazing results.

            There are a thousand ways to approach your health and fitness, and finding what works for you is the best way to stay motivated. This blog will focus on easy, thrifty ways to stay in shape. We might not all be supermodels or professional athletes, but we can all have healthy bodies. If you focus on healthy choices, you have no choice but to reap the benefits.