By Isabella Diaz
These days, fitness is a huge subject, especially among High School students. With all that goes on, athletics, classes, and a social life, it can feel kinda impossible to carve out some time to workout and get your heart rate up. But, in some interviews with some students and teachers at Benicia High School, fitness seems, to the people who value it, a pretty simple thing to incorporate into daily life. Here are a few of their tips.
Kaden Fernan, a Junior at Benicia High, believes that nutrition plays a huge role in fitness. He says, “Nutrition is very important because protein makes you gain muscle.” This makes sense because if you want to build muscle, you need to fuel your body with the right foods. Eating enough protein can help you recover after workouts and get stronger. So if you’re going to the gym, don’t forget to eat lots of protein packed foods and snacks.
Kaden also proposes that you “Set your alarm and go with a gym partner.” Having a companion to workout with can make the whole thing much more enjoyable and, arguably, more sustainable. If you go with a gym partner they will be more likely to keep you accountable and you will feel more obligated to go.
Another key tip is to make the most of your time. Mr. Swartz, a teacher at Benicia High, states, “Everybody’s got the same 24 hours, so get up out of bed and work when everybody else is sleeping.” This serves as a straightforward reminder that one has to put forth effort to achieve the dreams of a fit and healthy life. Mr. Swartz expands on his thoughts, saying, “…spend an hour, whether you’re exercising, mastering AI, or figuring out whatever is going to make you better than the other people who are sleeping. Early mornings are a game changer.” It is so motivational to know that you could wake up before the world and be ahead by working out or doing whatever it is that you need to do early in the morning.
On the other hand, Mr. Coyne, a history teacher, emphasizes how sleep plays a huge part in being fit and healthy. He states, “I can hope for no less than seven good hours of sleep and eight would be the best. That really works for me.” Sleep is very important when on a fitness journey. We need sleep to recover from the workouts and the day we put our body through.
Mr. Coyne also reminds us that fitness is a journey. He states, “Just take it one day at a time, know that it is a life journey and it is a lifestyle, as opposed to just trying to achieve certain goals.” This quote is really insightful to the fact that some people think they can just easily achieve their fitness goals without changing their lifestyle. In my lifetime, I have often tried to achieve my fitness goals as fast and easily as possible, when really what I should be doing is focusing on the little things and the kind of existence that Mr. Coyne is illuminating here.
To sum it up, fitness is totally about balance, proper nutrition, vigorous exercise, sufficient sleep, and a methodical approach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re at the gym with a partner or up at 5:00am everyday getting in some workout time, every little bit counts. Let’s make fitness our collective priority and support one another in this journey.
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