If you talk to my family and friends, they'll tell you I'm the super athlete - the one who has always been the ultra-competitive and sport-loving tomboy.
I was the kid who spent more time outside than inside. I was the kid constantly on the move. I grew up playing baseball, golf, soccer, basketball, and running cross country, indoor and outdoor track. I can dribble a ball, throw a spiral and shoot a puck better than most girls I know.
But I have to say college got the best of me.
I'm not saying I fell into the group of kids who left high school and gained the dreaded freshman 15 - though I did fall into the college routine of waking up, going to class and being completely overwhelmed and consumed with my schoolwork. I could barely keep my eyes open most mornings, felt sleepy all day and never felt truly energized. I missed my high school days, when I could wake up with plenty of energy and could always be my normal, active self.
When I came back for this semester, I really wanted to make a change so I could feel better doing my day-to-day activities.
While I didn't make a New Year's resolution to lose weight or give up my beloved chocolate, I am trying to be a healthier version of myself. But I'm not unrealistic. I know that I have some days where I will be too busy to fit in a work out.
My real goal is to see how well I can incorporate exercise into my weekly schedule. My time is limited. I take a full course load and spend most of my time in an office with a bunch of journalists.
So I - along with a few of my coworkers at The Spectrum, like Senior Arts Editor Elva Aguilar and Life Editor Lyzi White - will be trying to put the fun back into working out.
I'm no longer part of an athletic team, which is OK with me, but the gym sometimes gets monotonous. I want to find something new and exciting that I've never done before.
Throughout the semester, we want to try out the classes and groups that UB and the Western New York area have to offer. We'll search the area and the Internet to find fun workouts like SkyZone fitness classes, Bikram yoga classes and perhaps outdoor activities.
There are a lot of struggles that go along with being a college student and motivation is often my biggest issue when it comes to keeping in shape. But trying to find different ways of exercising might turn out to be half the fun.
There's no need to run on a treadmill for hours on end if that isn't your style. There are different ways to break a sweat, and I'm determined to find the ones that work the best for people with different ability levels and interests.
Email: lisa.epstein@ubspectrum.com
