Hey, Badgers! I hope you’re enjoying your semester at the world’s best university, as ranked by yours truly. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Brett, the guy who’s looking to add health and fitness to The Daily Cardinal’s Life & Style. I’m here to answer your questions and add anecdotal advice for ways to stay happy, healthy and fit in today’s fast-paced and stressful world.
Now, I said anecdotal advice. At this point in time, I’m taking a class to get my Personal Trainer’s certification, but until I pass that test I’m just a regular guy with a passion for exercise and eating right. I am not a professional, and my advice is to be taken with a grain of salt—as if I were any of your other crazy friends who wake up early before class to sweat and occasionally walk around bow-legged because squats hurt so good. I’ve competed in football, baseball, basketball, marathons, triathlons, Crossfit and most any sport you can think of, but I have no scientific designation, which means I can give you ideas, not prescriptions.
Moving on, I thought I’d use my first column to give my two signature tips for people looking to improve their health:
Substitution
I’ve never heard this come from a professional’s mouth, but I firmly believe that the best way to eat healthier is simple substitution of better options in your current diet. Changing white to whole-wheat grains is the first thing I would do, if you haven’t already. Eat low or non-fat dairy products. Buy leaner cuts of the meats you’d eat anyway, like lean hamburger (or even better, ground turkey or chicken). Drink water instead of soda. Examples are everywhere. You don’t have to drastically change your diet, just use simple substitutes for the foods you’re already eating.
For example, if you’re strapped for time and only possess the cooking skills to make hamburger helper, it’s not the end of the world. Using your substitution skills, buy the whole-wheat version and use lean meat. Now you’ve got a fairly healthy meal that’s easy and fast to make. One thing that substitution can’t solve is the fact that almost nobody is eating enough vegetables. I may sound like your mother, but buy some veggies every once in a while. And by every once in a while, I mean at least a couple times a day. You’ll be glad you did.
Figure out what you enjoy
One of the hardest things to do when starting a workout regimen is staying on track once you get back on the horse. I would first determine what sorts of exercise you enjoy. If running drives you nuts but you enjoy playing basketball, base your training plan around that. Play pick-up games a few times a week and lift with an emphasis on improving speed and jumping height. If you like to swim, go to the SERF pool (a beautiful facility, by the way) and, if you can, use your gym work to develop shoulder strength and mobility, among other things.
By doing this, you’ll have a good reason, no matter how small, to hit the gym, and you’ll also be able to see the progress that you’re making in tangible ways. Being able to actually witness your own development is a huge motivator that will help you stay on track, even when the gym is packed and you’re stressed out about midterms.
That’s all for this week, but stay-tuned for advice, workouts and tips on staying fit. Send your questions pertaining to health and/or fitness to bbachman@dailycardinal.com.
