Summer has officially ended and your summer clothes will soon take a back seat in the closet, if they haven't already. The rainy weather and cooler mornings have forced students to layer up and reach for comfort foods like pizza, chicken strips and mac and cheese. But the weather shouldn't be an excuse not to stay fit this fall.
Head over to the expanded Stewart Fitness Center.
The gym was redone this summer and it has ample space to accommodate newer equipment and more students. Equipped with cardio machines, a larger weight-lifting area and more room to stretch, Stewart Fitness Center should be the No. 1 place to get your adrenaline pumping. The center also has studios where you can take group exercise classes ranging from cycling to kickboxing to zumba. Keep an eye out for free classes advertised on E-Net or Campus Rec's website.
Take advantage of the changing weather.
On the days that allow for cool-weather clothing, grab some friends and throw a Frisbee on the lawn or kick a soccer ball around. Or clear your mind on a 15-minute bike ride that follows the bike trails on campus. You can burn between 250 and 400 calories on an hour-long bike ride. That's just about enough exercise to burn the calories consumed from a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. Warm days in the fall come often in North Carolina, so take full advantage of them.
Walk.
It's pretty straightforward, unless you're following the crooked paths on campus. Walking is one of the easiest things you can do to stay fit. If you live off-campus and your daily commute is between 10 and 15 minutes, leave your car at home twice a week and walk. If you live in places like Danieley, ditch the BioBus and admire Elon's changing landscape as you walk to class.
Join an intramural or club sports team.
So you're not a varsity athlete. Big deal. Join an intramural or club sports team. It's not difficult to grab some friends and create a team, whether your interest is no-broom Quidditch or dodgeball played with a volleyball outdoors. Intramural and club teams keep you active, and they're a great way to meet other people on campus or from other colleges in the area.
Make space in your room.
If you prefer being indoors, there are ways to stay active without leaving home. Make space in your dorm room or apartment to do a 10-minute Pilates workout. There are instructional videos online for you to follow along with, or you can check out fitness DVDs from Belk Library.