As the holiday season winds down, many students are left with the remnants of December – unwanted pounds and a sweet tooth that won’t seem to go away.  The days of feasting on reindeer sugar cookies and mom’s holiday comfort meals are now over and students are rushing to the Beckerman Recreation Center to keep New Year resolutions and shed those holiday pounds.

A New Year is a time for a new start; here are some tips to shed that extra weight.  First, ditch the monotony of the treadmill.  Sure, the treadmill is a great source of cardio, but don’t get trapped into the same daily routine.  Trick your body a little bit.  Rather than running at the same pace for 30 minutes, change it up.

Try jogging to start and then burst into 30-60 second sprints, followed by a brief cool down – then repeat.  This will rev up your heart rate and speed up weight loss.  And hey, if you’re feeling brave enough, why not set the treadmill on an incline and run uphill.  Add some weight-bearing activity in between cardio sessions, and you’ll forget all about those reindeer cookies in no time!

And let’s not forget about nutrition either.  Physical activity and proper nutrition come hand in hand, and both are essential to stay fit.  Instead of scouring vending machines for snacks, students can eat snacks like Greek yogurt, raw almonds, fresh fruit, or healthy snack bars.

Eating healthy on campus can be very simple for students, if they know where to look.  The Rec Center sells healthy smoothies featuring fresh fruits, which are a great pre or post-workout snack.  Students can also purchase fresh fruit cups, protein bars, hard-boiled eggs, and even sandwiches at the Rec Center.

Healthy snacking options can be found all around campus.  The bookstore sells delicious KIND bars and trail mixes.  Jazzman’s Café sells salads with grilled chicken or other meats, sandwiches, protein bars, fruit smoothies, fresh fruit, soups, and even sushi!  Jazzman’s features a fantastic salad bar where students can choose which ingredients go into their salads; an assortment of proteins, vegetables and cheeses are available.

So next time you’re in a rush, skip the vending machines and try one of these healthy alternatives instead.  You’ll feel fit and energized right away!