No protein? No gains. Post workout eating

Have you been hitting the gym, and not seeing any gains? This could be caused from the food you eat, or lack there of after a hard workout at the rec center. A rule of thumb that I have always heard, is that it all comes down to proteins and carbs. If you are trying to build muscle mass, eat at the minimum 30 grams of protein and 35 grams of carbs at least 15 minuets after your workout is finished. These forms of protein and carbs can come from any foods, or drinks you may like. Weather it's a protein shake, Chicken or Eggs, make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs to fully utilize the workout. Head straight over to either dining center after your workout, so you can load up on carbs and protein.

Eating Healthy late at Night? Is it possible?

     

It is so easy for college students to be out late every single night.  When that happens there is always something that occurs.  It is something so devious, so menacing, and so hurtful, HUNGER.  College students always find themselves eating late at night because they are hungry.  That is one of the biggest problems for trying to lose weight or just stay healthy in general.  Eating late at night, especially junk food, lets the food sit in a person's body all night, while a person is the least active, and stores itself as fat immediately.  How can a person stop this from happening? The easy answer is to say do not eat anything past a certain time.  However, that is easier said then done, but there are ways to lose fat, while still eating a late night snack, that all college students are craving.  First, STOP EATING FAST FOOD at night.  That is the worst possible choice.  Second, try limiting the amount of alcohol intake because alcohol allows for weight gain too.  Lastly, look for different options to eat.  Pinterest has great options for ways to make healthy snacks.  Also, if you click here there is a list of what kind of foods are good to snack on.  Late night snacks can be crucial, but they do not have to be detrimental to gaining weight or to your health! 

A helping hand to kick start a healthy life!

Have you ever walked into the rec center and been intimidated by buff men bench pressing a small family?  Do you have little idea how to lift properly when you finally get on a machine? Well Illinois State University offers a very inexpensive personal training program that many students are not aware of. These personal trainers help students reach their fitness goals, and design specific workout programs for all skill levels! You could even bring a partner and train together to help shake off the gym anxiety. If you are interested in working with one of these trainers, you can simply checkout the personal training program here!  

How to Eat Healthy on ISU"s Campus?

The talk/scare of the Freshman fifteen is upon the campus at large.  Every year students are worried about gaining weight, or just not eating healthy at all because they have to buy a meal plan.  There has to be some way to disrupt this idea.  Click here for an article that talks about college students' habits for eating, and how to interact with them. The article talks about how there are ways to disrupt the belief that students can't eat healthy in the dinning cafeterias, however I think that there are a few discussion points that ISU students could do differently.  For example, the article talks about how students should just eat whenever they want if they are hungry, even at night, as long as they are doing it in a "healthy way".  I think that there are better ways to state that, and go about eating healthy.  On this website, there is the Illinois State University's nutrition home page.  On this home page, students can find ways to eat healthy with the dinning center, and still enjoy a good tasting meal.  They also have options for gluten free, dairy free, and/or any other allergy.  Students can also schedule an appointment with a dietitian that can keep them away from their "Freshman 15", or any other unwanted health issue.  Take a look at what ISU has to offer for healthy eating! 

Do you have 30 minutes to spare?

Is your body getting the proper exercise it needs? Exercising at least 30 minutes a day can help control weight, combats health conditions, Improve mood, and even boost energy! More than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Luckily for you, Illinois State University has a state of the art recreation center that is open 7 days a week. If the word exercise seems foreign to you, then check out the campus recreations couch to 5-K program here.

Embrace the SEVEN at Illinois State University

An email was sent out to all Illinois State University students from the Health and Wellness department.  This email talked about a new/fun way to live a healthy lifestyle.  It challenges students to participate in a program called the "SEVEN".  SEVEN includes ways to be healthy.  There are 7 dimensions of being healthy according to the Health and Wellness department at ISU.  The dimensions are emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational.  This program is set out to make students live a happy and healthy lifestyle.  The SEVEN program allows students track what they are doing and get points for certain activities.  With the points they accumulate students can relieve prizes.  This program is an awesome way to get students involved in all ways of healthy living.  Students should participate and enjoy the free prizes they could receive.   Click here to read more about the program and its rules/stipulations.

Are you missing out on nature's refreshment?

Are you drinking enough water to fuel your active lifestyle? Well I have some facts about proper hydration, and a tip for all you active redbirds to properly stay hydrated. The average active adult should be drinking 2/3 ounce of water per pound of body weight, that's 13 to 14 glasses (8 oz.) a day for someone that weighs 160 pounds. Active lifestyles call for at least 32 more ounces of water then the non athletic lifestyles. Luckily, Illinois State University installed water bottle filling stations that are located in the lobbies of West Campus, and on each of the five house breezeways in Watterson. With the addition of these water bottle filling stations, it should be a breeze to keep your water bottle full, and your body properly hydrated!