Motion toward independent fitness
Kaiser flexes on vacation with her older brother/ inspiration for getting into fitness. “Well at first I started because I really look to my older brother as a role model and for the past 6 years he’s been building his physique and body building, so I wanted to start lifting and getting stronger too about a year ago. So I played around with it and it became something I like. Then my brother came up with a diet plan for me and explained the macros, all the hard work is really in the kitchen, what you eat is most important. I fell in love with the results I was getting; lost 60 pounds and looking good motivated me to look great. I kept going. Every day is another day to be better than you were the day before. Every day I want to be better and stronger,” said Kaiser.
Fitness is a key aspect of everybody’s life. Staying healthy simply makes people happier and is obviously good for you. Although, fitness tends to come easiest to those who participate in athletic activities such as school sports due to the fact that they are being encouraged by a team and coaches to eat better and to work hard in exercises, there are those who find their own ways to keep in shape without a team pushing them to do it.
“Staying in shape is very important. When I’m not playing volleyball I run on the treadmill and work out regularly. When I watch TV I do sit-ups or ab workouts at the same time, Fitness is definitely important to me and it is definitely a good idea to stay in shape,” said freshman Becky Schultz.
Like Schultz, many people even find that independently working out can prove to be more effective because they get to set their own health goals. They allow themselves to tailor exercises or eating habits specifically for themselves and the results that they wish to see.
“I lift weights five days a week and I do 20 minutes of cardio. I’m also on a diet where I count the marcos of foods. Meaning the carbs, fats, and protein amounts in a food according to my weight and muscle mass,” said junior Gabby Kaiser.
Independent fitness also has the benefit of being able to be done virtually whenever and wherever you want to. People can jog on treadmills at their houses or in their neighborhoods, or lift at their local gym. This flexibility is not only limited to working out either but like in Kaisers case making healthier meal choices as well.
“I run every day after school and try my hardest to make it to a gym at least two times a week,” said junior Sarah Hanisch.
It is not un-common for athletes of one season to feel the need to maintain their muscle and good health habits through the off season to avoid any falling behind. In this way independent work outs are not only limited to non-athletes.
“I do Taekwondo as my source of exercise during my off season, and aside from that I run a lot. It is important to exercise by myself because it prepares me for conditioning during the summer and next season,” said freshman soccer player Nonso Okonji.
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