The Truth about Cardiovascular Exercise

            Cardiovascular, or aerobic, exercise is physical activity that improves the oxygen system, said Heather Kirkes, fitness and outreach coordinator at the University of Oklahoma.

            “Aerobic means ‘with oxygen’ and refers to the use of oxygen in the body’s metabolic or energy generating process," Kirkes said. "Many types of exercise are aerobic, and by definition are performed at moderate levels of intensity for extended periods of time.”

            Cardio exercise takes on many different forms. Kirkes said that the most popular ones with students are running, cycling, elliptical training, and group fitness classes like Zumba and kickboxing.

            To stay healthy or improve your health, Kirkes recommends that students do cardio exercises at least two to three times per week, with 30-60 minutes each session.

Student do elliptical training in the Huston Huffman Fitness Center at OU

             Lindsay Culp, OU human relations junior, does cardio four to five times per week. Her choice of aerobic activity is running.

            “I can think and process everything when I run," Culp said. "I also love to download and listen to podcasts while I run.”

            Culp said she really enjoys doing cardio exercise.

            “I like sweating and feeling healthy," she said. "I really feel like I’m taking care of my body.” 

            In case students can’t or don’t want to go to a gym, there are many options for doing cardio outside. Kirkes said students can walk, jog, or run outside, or even do cardio in their rooms.

            “There are a lot of great fitness DVDs out there," Kirkes said. "I know a lot of students use the Wii for exercise also."

          

Healthy "fast-food" in the Union

         The Laughing Tomato restaurant in the University of Oklahoma student union is a healthy option for busy college students looking to grab a quick lunch or dinner.

            The Laughing Tomato is in its seventh semester of existence on OU’s campus, according to Charles Weaver, Director of Food Services at OU.

            “The Laughing Tomato offers fresh, organic, and healthy food. It’s a new way of thinking that many students are catching on to,” Weaver said.
              He said that the concept of healthy living is becoming more mainstream than ever before, and that The Laughing Tomato was created to fill that niche.

            The Laughing Tomato has options for vegans and meat lovers alike. It offers a variety of soups, salads, wraps and pitas, and uses local produce whenever possible. This year, the Laughing Tomato underwent some renovations including a new electronic menu board and a “create your own pita” option called Pita Palooza. With Pita Palooza, customers can choose what type of meat, veggies, and extras they want in their pita, making it a completely customizable option.

A student checks out the Farmers' Market at the Laughing Tomato

            The Laughing Tomato also hosts a mini Farmers' Market every Friday, featuring local products from farmers and families around Oklahoma. It is imperative to get enough vegetables and fruits in your diet, and it can be hard for college students to have access to fresh, local produce. The Laughing Tomato’s market is somewhere that students can easily go to find fresh fruits and vegetables.

            OU student Riki Sills says that she ate at the Laughing Tomato at least three times a week last year when she was a freshman.

            “I chose it over other options because it’s just so much healthier…I knew the produce in my food was always fresh. I enjoyed it and it wasn’t greasy and carb-y like most fast-food places,” Sills said.

            Sills said that one of her favorite things to get at the Laughing Tomato is the “Best Date Ever” wrap. It’s a wrap filled with all-natural peanut butter, bananas, and dates. Sills also noted that the prices at the Laughing Tomato weren’t any more expensive than other places, which is good for college students on a budget.

            The Laughing Tomato is located in the food court of the OU student union and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m-5 p.m.

Winter Wellness

            Heather Kirkes, fitness and outreach coordinator at the University of Oklahoma, said it is difficult for college students to stay healthy in the winter because they are usually busy with school and tend to eat more and exercise less.

            Rachel Cuaderes, education sophomore at OU, tries to get to get a workout in every day, but, in the winter, it can be difficult because of the weather.

            “I love to run outside, but the wintertime is bad for that," she said. 

            Instead, she goes to the gym. Cuaderes also takes vitamins to stay healthy. 

            Kirkes said that students should utilize the facilities/fitness centers available through the university. They can either use the cardio and strength equipment or even hire a personal trainer to help them stay motivated. They can also join group fitness classes. She also suggests using a buddy system to help them stay accountable for going to the gym.

            Health and exercise science sophomore Alexandra Sampson said that setting goals for yourself helps too, such as wanting to get in shape for Spring Break.  Although students sometimes become more relaxed about getting to the gym in the winter, Sampson said to not take longer than two weeks off from an exercise regimen.

            “You will lose a lot. It’s better to be consistent and stay in shape then to go up and down," Sampson said.

            It can sometimes be difficult to get to the gym with bad weather. In that case, Kirkes said that students can use equipment such as mats, dumbbells, medicine and stability balls to do the same exercises they would at the gym.
           "They can learn a lot from coming to the group classes to do on their own at home. Many exercise do not even require equipment such as push-ups, crunches, squats, lunges, dips etc,” Kirkes said.

            As for nutrition, Kirkes said that students should be eating a balanced diet and follow the food guide pyramid, which can be found on mypyramid.gov. She said that students should stick to eating whole, fresh foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats.