Healthy Habits

Two editors work toward a healthier lifestyle; Sheridan and St. John reflect on the semester and what the future holds

Healthy+Habits

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this semester, it’s that working out during the school year is actually the hardest thing to accomplish ever.

Overall, I think I did a pretty good job at staying on top of my plans and goals for the semester. I’ve made large changes to my diet and have become more knowledgeable about running than I ever expected in the previous 20 years of my life, although I still feel like there’s so much I don’t know.

I’m glad I was able to see what I was capable of. Exercising has got to be the hardest thing I’ve had to motivate myself to do. It’s not like a paper I have to get to eventually, it’s something I could legitimately stop and never pick up again. But I put myself through the torment and do my best to persevere.

Running this marathon in January still feels like forever away (and it is) but I’m still getting those thoughts that I won’t be ready in time. This is where I plan to take summer by storm and get to the point where people are like “Is that Brian? I couldn’t tell because I’m just looking at a massive pile of muscle rolling down the street. I hope he’s OK. He should seek medical attention.”

Those are the dream goals.

An unfortunate reality is, this is where I leave you all. This is the last edition of this column and has been most of the reason I keep working toward my goals because I can’t stand the thought of disappointing more people than just myself during this.

You also won’t even get to hear how my marathon goes because it’s after next semester and I will be graduating. However, I hope I was able to connect with people who struggled with fitness in college and possibly gave them a reason to start motivating themselves.

It’s hard. I know. But as someone who sat in a computer chair for nearly 10 years straight now able to run almost 8 miles, you should know there’s hope.

Good luck, everyone. I hope to see you next year when I look like the spitting image of John Cena.

— Brian Sheridan, Op/Ed Editor

As school has become a sort of “crunch time,” my willingness to workout has been on the decline. I convinced myself studying is more important than a workout, right?

Honestly, I’m OK with it. The way I look at it, I’m giving myself a well-deserved break before a high intensity, active summer in preparation for the upcoming soccer season.

While I’m not completely looking forward to the grossly thick workout packet I’ll be given by my coach, it’s yet another challenge I’m looking to conquer.

Coach gave us the exciting news we should prepare for not only a Cooper’s test, which is seven laps in under 12 minutes on a normal track, but also multiple other fitness challenges we’ll be tested on at the conclusion of summer.

Oh, happy day. Maybe I’ll be Hulk-like come September.

As a sort of reflection, I’m glad I set out to improve my health at the start of the semester. Not only was it a blast to encourage my close friend and co-worker Brian on his health journey toward completing a marathon, but also great to witness my own health improve over the course of five months of the semester.

If anything, I’ve learned health is holistic. Being healthy encompasses mental, physical and spiritual balance. This excites me to know I don’t’ have to set unrealistic expectations of myself, and rather simply live a balanced, self-fulfilling version of health defined on my terms.

It’s crazy to think at the beginning of the semester I was reassuring myself for quitting soccer after sophomore year, here to find myself only months later stoked and more excited than ever to get back on the field as a senior in the fall.

Even though things didn’t go as I had planned for the semester and summer, I turned the slap in the face into an experience I learned and grew from. Not receiving the internship I thought I deserved revealed to me my true calling.

Adaptability is always present in the ever-changing world we live in. I can say I have learned how to adapt to change and new opportunities this year which I am grateful for as I endeavor on my first mission trip in June.

— Colette St. John, Managing Editor