We have reached the middle of April. As we begin pulling out the books for some final review, many would say that our original New Year’s resolutions with goals like “going to the gym and getting a six-pack” slowly begin to diminish.

Instead, the only six-pack we’re getting is the one sitting in our stomach from last night and the replacement pack in our fridge. 

All jokes aside, I cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain a nutritionally balanced and healthy level of physical activity on a daily routine. Exercise can have real positive effects and results on an individual’s well being. 

For adults and adolescences, setting up a schedule for regular physical activity is proven to help improve personal strength, endurance and reduces anxiety related stress levels.

It doesn’t just benefit your bone and muscle growth, but it helps control and maintain a healthy weight providing a healthy level of blood pressure and cholesterol, with the added benefit of increasing self-esteem. 

I shouldn’t have to rehash the abundant amount of benefits that can be obtained from living a well-balanced, consistent physical and active lifestyle. 

Yet it’s only been a mere few weeks since I started a self-planned 12-week workout program, with a simple end goal of improving my overall heath and have already mentally and physically accrued from its benefits. Plus, why wouldn’t I reward myself by taking a trip to Las Vegas post-program completion? 

I am not only feeling healthier, but my bones and muscles are thanking me as well. And it’s funny because you don’t really know what you’re missing out on until you’re checking yourself out in front of the mirror at the gym with a surprised look on your face because of how much you’ve changed; congratulating yourself because you can see the progress you’ve made. 

Gain your confidence back, not because you need too but because you deserve it. 

Especially with all the chaos currently wrapping itself around me, implementing “gym time” stops the chaos in its tracks by reducing the overkill feeling of depression and anxiety that comes from the stressful predicaments that life has to offer.

With three gyms in my vicinity I really don’t have an excuse to pass up the gym, especially when I have full access to the SSU Recreation Center every day.

In addition to my psychological well-being, an active regiment has prompted me to become more successful with academic behavior and performance, such as timeliness, concentration and attentiveness, all factors that can be influenced through simple daily workouts. And though results may vary from person to person, why not give it a shot while we’re still young?   

The scary thought is knowing that participation in physical activity continually declines as young adults begin to age and risks of long term consequences begin to become a reality, an epidemic really. 

Becoming overweight or obese by poor diet or physical inactivity can increase one’s risk for psychological issues and multiple physiological issues such as those listed on the Center for Disease Control website: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, etc.

“Less than five percent of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day; only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week,” according to fitness.gov.

Preferably I’d rather not become a governmental statistic, so why not take it into my own hands and control my own physical health.

As students we always make time for things like crazy adventures, never-ending Netflix marathons and beer pong, which are all great in moderation. So why can’t we make time for physical activity?

Like I always say, if I can do it, so can you. We have no excuses and deep down we all know that this is true. 

For more information and resources on increasing your physical activity level, visit the Center of Disease Control and Prevention’s website at cdc.org.