By Desirae Gonzales-Moreno
Pulse Staff Writer
With a limited amount of time to spare throughout a chaotic college semester, some students at Palo Alto College still manage to live a healthy lifestyle by finding ways to stay physically active.
“[Students] who exercise, get seven to eight hours of sleep, and have a healthy diet make [their] brain work better and attitude better,” said Alexis Lowe, lead instructor of Kinesiology and Health. “If [students aren’t] sleeping well, [they] are more likely to gain weight, get into an accident, and not do well on [their] tests. Sleeping is extremely important. It is just as important as eating right and exercising.”
According to Dr. Anna Bustamante, professor of Science, Kinesiology and Health, students can gain their exercise on campus by parking further away from classes to walk longer distances and by taking the stairs instead of elevators.
Students may take advantage of the new Fitness Center and workout in between breaks from classes or on their days off. Also, students should take Kinesiology classes, such as Yoga or Cardio Kickboxing, according to Freshman Sierah Solis, a Liberal Arts major.
A lack of time is not an excuse to keep students from staying in shape.
Students have to make time in their schedules to figure out ways to stay active, according to Solis.
“I used to work three jobs and go to school full time. I’d go home, and even though I was tired, I used to walk around the block and come back,” said Solis. “Doing something is better than doing nothing.”
According to Freshman Jonathan Pena, a Kinesiology major, students can run around their neighborhood and do pushups or sit-ups in their room to stay physically active.
These are activities students can pursue on a daily basis without going to the gym.
“Sometimes I try walking while reading, speed walking to class, and [I] don’t buy food on campus. I pre-package my food, write it down and calculate how much I’ve [eaten],” said Freshman Marcy Weaver, a Fine Arts major.
According to Dr. Eleanor B. Skelley, professor of Biology/Chemistry/Science, students have to plan ahead to maintain a healthy diet by going to the grocery store and buying their own food. It’s more nutritious and less expensive than buying fast food or buying a candy bar out of the vending machine.
“It’s more expensive to get sick than to stay well,” said Skelley.
According to Weaver, staying physically active and eating healthy helps her not to worry about getting diabetes, a common disease that runs in her family.
Almost 12 percent of San Antonio population has diabetes. Approximately 95 percent of those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are because of poor diet and lack of exercise.
Students who stay physically active benefit their cardiovascular system, muscular system, flexibility, endurance and strength, according to Bustamante.
For more information on fitness and wellness, contact professor of Science, Kinesiology and Health Dr. Anna Bustamante and Lead Instructor of Kinesiology and Health Alexis Lowe. Also, for more information on nutrition, contact professor of Biology/Chemistry/Science, Dr. Eleanor B. Skelley.
pacpulse.com 