Staying Fit and Healthy at University

These 1KG weights are from Primark.  You can buy amazing quality products for such reasonable prices, being a 'poor student' is no longer an excuse for being unhealthy!

Hi Guys!

Having just started my third year, I'd say I'm pretty good at knowing the balance between exercising and staying healthy, but also being able to enjoy myself while at university. So to continue the university series, I thought I would write about my tips on staying fit and healthy on a budget.

• Invest in a gym membership.  Most uni's will have their own gym on campus, making it super convenient and easy to just pop along after a day of lectures.  I've found that paying for my membership yearly is the best way to stay motivated;  many people I know paid by the term and while they enjoy it while they have it, they can often forget to renew the membership at the start of the next term.  Investing in a gym membership may be expensive, but it is always one of my top priorities each time I start a new year at uni.
• Classes!  Classes are an excellent way to exercise with friends.  My personal favourites are Zumba, Legs, Bums and Tums, Spinning and Yoga.  I love going along to these classes 2-3 times a week for a boost of exercise or even just on those days where the motivation to run on a treadmill for half an hour is lacking.  Being with loads of other people all doing exactly the same thing as you is great for staying motivated and pushing yourself harder than what you might do at the gym, and when you find a class you love, you'll forget you're even exercising in the first place.
• Balance.  Don't let yourself get obsessed with exercise and eating healthily.  University is supposed to be the most enjoyable time of your life, and you don't want that to be ruined by saying no to nights out or meals with your friends because it 'goes against your diet'.  Say yes to getting a pizza with friends! Say yes to that night out! As long as takeaways don't turn into a regular thing, a one off wont affect your diet.  Missing Zumba for your night out? Think of it as a different type of exercise as you take to the dance floor!  It is all about balance.
• Nice exercise clothes.  These days, good quality exercise clothing doesn't have to be expensive.  I've bought amazing sports bras and tops from Primark and leggings from H&M.  Nice, fashionable gym clothing always inspires me to hit the gym more often.  The only thing I would recommend investing a little more money into would be trainers.  Cheaper trainers won't support your ankles as well as some of the brands specialising in sports trainers.
• Eating healthily doesn't have to be expensive.  A lot of big cities will have farmers markets once a week where you can get fresh fruit and veg for a lot cheaper than what the supermarkets sell it for. Another tip would be to make big batches of healthy meals that you can freeze and defrost when you're in a rush or don't have anything in the fridge to eat.  This will save you from making unhealthy choices such as ordering a pizza takeaway or snacking on crisps and chocolate.

Do you have any other tips for staying fit and healthy at university? I would love to hear them!

Amour, Ellie xxx