32 SPORTS & WELLNESS THE CHEAT SHEET: HOW TO BALANCE LIFE AT UTSC WITH THE GYM Bogdan Stanciu, Contributor It’s hard enough dealing with school, let alone juggling a social life, a part time job, or a significant other. So how is a student supposed to find the time and keep committed to working out without going crazy? I interviewed three dedicated students who’ve made going to the gym a habit that they’ve sustained for years. Even when their lives have been at their most stressful, they’ve still found the time to squeeze in a great workout. Gaby Zhou is a fourth-year psychology student who has been lifting for two and a half years and has become a successful powerlifter. In the past, Zhou also competed and placed at several competitions. Her journey started at the end of her first year. She shares, “I knew I was paying for the membership, and I thought that I might as well use the services, so I went to the gym. At first it was really intimidating but I started seeing progress and ever since, I’ve continued lifting” Consistency, and sticking to it can be hard. For some people, they rely on friends and gym buddies to motivate them, but for Zhou, it was the opposite which resulted in her finding a good rhythm. She shares, “I wasn’t relying on anybody else to go to the gym, I just went by myself and told myself ‘I have to work out [for] x amount of time every single day.’ “ Consistency also means striking a balance. Ike Anudu, a fifth-year human biology and psychology student, has been working out for three years. “It’s about balance. Everyone has their hobbies and things they consider fun. I’m in my zen mode when I’m at the gym.” Anudu started working out in the summer of his second-year with a friend. After his friend moved back home at the end of the summer, he started to find his own groove, and make each workout his own. “[My friend] was like the training wheels, and when he left for the summer, I had the knowledge to start going on my own and start discovering what works for me.” Commitment to the gym doesn’t mean having to set aside a huge chunk of your day just to work out. For Zhou, making time is about setting a schedule. She says, “I plan everything ahead of time. I know I have an X amount of time to put towards working out, so I know I’m going to lose two hours a day, so with the rest of my hours I focus on school and work. I try to make those three things my focus.” A training schedule doesn’t have to be structured and planned out. Adam Darrah is a fourth-year journalism student, who works 30-40 hours per week as a personal trainer at TPASC. Darrah still finds time to get in his three to four workouts each week. “We all have the same 24 hours. I don’t care how busy you say you are, we all have things in our lives, and if you choose to make it a priority, you will find time for it.” says Darrah. You will also find that exercising will help you put more more quality effort in your school work. For Zhou, it’s usually school work that makes her tired mentioning, “I escape my assignments and work by going to the gym. It clears my mind, and it helps relieve stress.” Burning out is a problem, and that’s why balance is so important, not just with working out, but with everything from school to dieting.“I’m human -- sometimes I crave something with a little more sugar, so a small pack of sour patch kids or cherry blasters. You don’t have to be perfect. That’s why many people get burnt out. They think, ‘I have to do this seven days a week for three hours a day, but it gets overwhelming and stressful. Don’t strive for perfection, strive for consistency,” says Darrah. The biggest step is always commitment, and Anudu has one piece of advice for those who are struggling to commit: “If you want to make a difference in your life, then my advice to you is to be patient. People stop coming to the gym after a month because they’re not seeing results. And I feel that’s because they’re not patient.” In other words, be kind to yourself. Take the time you need to do what you have to and schedule yourself accordingly. You’ll find your rhythm in no time. www. the-underground.ca NOVEMBER 3 - NOVEMBER 30, 2016 VOLUME 36, ISSUE <strong>03</strong>
SPORTS & WELLNESS 33 IDIL DJAFAR / THE UNDERGROUND www. the-underground.ca NOVEMBER 3 - NOVEMBER 30, 2016 VOLUME 36, ISSUE <strong>03</strong>
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