If you watched the Grammy's last week, I can almost guarantee that at the first glance at Janet Jackson's midsection, you went, "Goddamn, why doesn't mine look like that?" Granted, Janet has the advantage of dedicating half of every day toward keeping her body in tip-top shape, but that doesn't mean the goal is unattainable for all. With the new $14.5 million addition to the athletic center, progress toward that goal is easier for every single Hopkins student. However, walking through the maze of contraptions with weights, levers and pulleys in the weight room and deciding among the various cardio activities may seem like a daunting task.
Yet the overwhelming options available to all serves to prove a point: fitness is for everyone, not only the elite few who dedicate their lives to it. With only an hour per day for three days per week, anyone of any size and shape can transform his or her body and mind. I don't care if you've played college-level sports or never touched a ball in your life, don't tell me you can't pick up a five-pound dumbbell.
Women and men have their own view of their ideal body. A woman may be dreaming of zero bodyfat, being able to look great in a bikini, while a man's dream consists of the ripped six pack and massive chest. Both are very different images but attainable through the same methods: weights, cardio and food. For a woman, zero bodyfat is worthless if there is no muscle to show that off. For a guy, being able to bench press 225 lbs. and have a perfect midsection is also worthless if his bulging muscles are hidden under a thick layer of skin.
You girls out there, you're probably thinking, "I don't want to lift weights, I don't want to get all bulky." To you, I say, Ha! Unless you have freaky genetics, your muscles will never look like a man's. You can attribute this to the different amount of testosterone in the body. A typical female has one-tenth the testosterone of a male. So go ahead, pound the weights.
I mentioned that fitness is good for the body and the mind. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise improves everyday attitude and concentration. If you have difficulty comprehending your measly A- average in Orgo despite nightly treks to the library and all-nighters, perhaps this is your cure. Working out provides a relief from everyday stress, allowing your mind to escape and mellow out.
Why am I talking about fitness in a place like Hopkins, where camp-outs at the HUT happen frequently and a good topic of conversation is how everyone bombed the quiz the day before? That is exactly why I am talking about fitness. Too much emphasis is placed on studying and partying, not enough on taking care of oneself. When the chance does come along to happen by the athletic center, barely anyone knows what to do.
Last week, I was working out in the weight room and I noticed two things. First, a woman on the leg extension machine, with no weight whatsoever, easily finished a set and walked away without a sweat. Second, a guy by the dumbbell rack, held a pair of 40 lb. dumbbells and swung his body to gain momentum in order to perform dumbbell curls. I cringed. What did the woman hope to accomplish by doing what her quads do every day when she gets out of a chair? And how will the guy positively work his biceps if he brings his shoulders, legs and back into the movement?
After seeing this, I recognized the need to help educate exercisers on the proper form and overall training. Questions are welcomed - except the obvious "I can't get any in bed!" I can't help you.
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