Tag Archives: spring break

Bryce Romig, Features

Tips lead to better spring break fitness

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By Bryce Romig

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where everyone hits the tanning salon, buys a gym membership, and gears up for spring break.  With all of the fitness and health myths out there, it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Are you ready to look great and be in the best shape of your life? Follow these tips and you’ll be beach ready in no time.

  • Stay Hydrated. The human body is composed 80 percent water, and it’s no surprise that staying hydrated is extremely important. The rule of thumb most people go by is eight glasses of water a day, but according to MayoClinc, the average human needs about 12 cups of water a day. Water also helps clear the skin of any blemishes or pimples and give you energy when you’re tired. If you don’t like water, try drinking tea or coconut water. They both have many antioxidants that help you stay hydrated.
  • Get Active. Ditch the computer and cell phone, and get moving. If you have a gym membership try to go at least three times a week and focus on different muscle groups each time.  No gym? No problem.  There are many free and effective exercise programs on the internet and each will help whip you into shape. Exercise tones and trims body fat, along with releasing endorphins that boost your mood and fight depression. My suggestion is POP Pilates with abs for a fun way to get active.
  • Eat clean. We’ve all heard those scary words before, cut out all junk food. Try making small changes such as not using condiments, not drinking sodas, and not eating chips and then work your way up to the big stuff. Try to steer clear of all high sodium, high sugar foods. Think organic and not processed foods. Don’t forget the rule of thumb; moderation not deprivation. Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean cutting out your favorite foods, it simply means knowing when and how much you eat. Your skin replaces itself every 30 days out of the food you eat, what you eat literally becomes you.
  • Get adequate sleep. Our parents bug us all the time to turn the computer off and go to bed, but for some reason we can’t get off and end up staying up past midnight sleep deprived the next morning. Sleep is just as important as exercise, as it helps replenish muscles and help with weight loss. Try to go to bed before ten, as falling asleep afterwards can slow your metabolism and lower your energy. Aim to get eight to nine hours of sleep each night, and feel the wonderful benefits of a good night’s rest.
  • Rid of stress. That big test coming up, your boyfriend flirting with other girls, and your parents grounding you over the C you received in your worst subject even after you studied hard. We’ve all dealt with it for years, stress.  If you feel like you have less energy, can’t sleep at night, or have a hard time concentrating you may be dealing with stress. Try joining a local yoga class or buying an at home DVD and doing it three to four times a week. Yoga helps calm and clear the mind due to strict focusing on inner breathing. Yoga also helps clear acne caused by stress, and improves your flexibility enabling you to work out more effectively. Yoga is a great way to relax, and is easily accessible online. 
  • Workout with a friend. Working out with a friend helps keep you motivated to keep working out and have fun doing so. You are less likely to forget exercising if you have plans to do so with a friend. Working out with a friend also helps you push yourself harder as you naturally don’t want to look like a weakling in front of your friends. It also keeps working out fun and gives you something to look forward too. If you’re not ready to work out with a friend, try various exercise videos for all the encouragement of working out with a friend, but in the privacy of your own home.
  • Stay Motivated.  Staying motivated can be a serious challenge. Try making a fitspiration board with your favorite athletes and sayings. Place it next to your bed so you see it often.  Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go. Remember to always love your body, and be proud of who you are. Nourish your body well and stay active, and watch your body change rapidly. This is the most motivating part, and seeing the changes will keep you on your toes.
Claire DeFrancisci, Columns

Helpful tips relieve spring break packing stress

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By Bekah Landers and Claire DeFrancisci

With spring break approaching today, many have plans to travel and escape their every day routine and monotony of southern Indiana.

Packing can be stressful and sometimes last minute. Toothbrushes and chargers can be left at home so a packer would need to make a list of essentials. Here are some tips that will make packing more efficient and stress-free.

  • Make a list of everything you need to bring; this is a crucial step in packing. If a complete list isn’t made, things will probably be forgotten. A list will help a traveler stay on track and avoid packing extra and unneeded items. Make a list of the clothes, toiletries, and accessories you will be bringing. Read through the list when you are finished and get rid of any items that seem unnecessary. While packing, check the items off as you pack.
  • Once you have a general idea of what you’re going to wear, lay all of your things out before packing them. This will guarantee that you aren’t missing anything, and it will help gauge how much suitcase room you will need.
  • Next choose a suitcase that will fit the amount of things you are packing, but also has a little room for items you might purchase while traveling. When flying somewhere baggage can be expensive. Get the most out of a piece of luggage by rolling clothing. After you fold a T-shirt or pair of jeans, roll it up like a burrito and tightly tuck it into the luggage. This technique makes more room for clothing and less room for holes and gaps in between clothes. Rolling clothes also prevents wrinkling. After packing the big items, slip small essentials like socks and undergarments into the empty slots.
  • For girls, traveling with necklaces can be a pain. To avoid tangles either wrap necklaces in washcloths or put them in a gallon sized storage bag with a half inch of the necklace or bracelet sticking out of the bag. Seal around the chains and the jewelry should stay in place without tangling.
  • Don’t over pack.

If making a list doesn’t relieve traveling stress, lay a day’s outfit out. Make sure to only pack enough items for the duration of your trip.

Packing for spring break is something many students at FC will be doing in the next few days. Follow these simple steps to keep traveling stress free. Stay safe this spring break.

Claire DeFrancisci, Features

Many faculty members stay local for spring break

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By Claire DeFrancisci

When March comes around not only does it bring warm weather, but it also brings a constant buzz of spring break plans and excitement. Students are usually preoccupied with their own plans and do not consider what their teachers’ vacation getaways are.

“I’ll be going to see family in South Carolina, then coming back through Biltmore. It’s a 10-hour drive though, so I’ll still be grading papers,” said math teacher Melissa Neal.

Many teachers will be staying in the area and focusing on preparing for the rest of the school year. Math teacher Chris Street will be attending class, working on projects, and getting things done at school.

Staying local for spring break does not mean that spring break will not be fun, according to student teacher Jessica Bolduc.

“I’ll be staying home but you can do a lot of things to have fun around here. You can get with friends and just enjoy the time off. Just because you aren’t going on vacation doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself,” said Bolduc.