Sports Keeping Fit: A Cake Walk Colin Brown , OP Fitness Guru March, a Greek word loosely defined as “the time at which people stop caring about their resolutions,” is usually the time we see the numbers in gyms start to decline. It’s the time when people start realizing that not only will it take more than four weeks to drop their 20 pounds, but they actually have to keep the weight off. The biggest problem I encounter with the weight-loss/get fit resolutionists is the fact that for the first four weeks they push themselves to an absolute breaking point. That goal of losing 20 pounds is their only goal; they starve themselves of the food they like, and begin an unrealistic exercise regime that will be, for other than the select few, impossible to keep up the other 48 weeks of the year. January is the month that gym memberships increase ten-fold. It’s at this time that most new people coming into the gym environment get intimidated; lots of new people, lots of new faces. Not only are they out of their “element” but they have to deal with the “gym tension.” Unrealistic expectations, too difficult a schedule, negative perceptions of the gym environment or exercise in general, and poor eating habits are the primary reasons people abandon their goal. To avoid this, take a few things into consideration: Most of the people in the gym are in the same situation as you do, so while you think they’re all staring at you, they think you’re staring at them. Most gyms aren’t competitions; nobody goes there to compare arm size or to balk at all the fresh meat (and the ones that do are usually the ones that quit first anyway). Don’t set yourself any unrealistic expectations. Set a long-term goal, but make yourself lots of realistic short-term goals. Example: “I want to try and hit the gym three times this week” versus the “I’m going to lose 30 pounds in a month.” This is usually the killer. Money can be a real killer so many gyms offer student discounts; if they don’t, either find one that does or find yourself and activity that you can do out of the gym. It’s hard to find this kind of thing during the winter, but they’re out there. The trick is to find out what you like and stick with it. In terms of eating, remember that it usually isn’t the meal that adds the weight; it’s the snacking and type of snacking done in between. Don’t condemn yourself with any ridiculous diets. The most realistic diet is an 80/20 diet. 80 per cent healthy and nutritious food, and if you feel the need, give yourself a maximum 20 per cent “other” category. If anything, don’t obsess over the foods that you know you won’t be able to let go of. If you constantly tell yourself that you want a cheeseburger and starve yourself of it, when you do finally give in, you’ll binge. Ice cream every once in a while is still okay! Make this your new lifestyle. Once you take the weight off (or put on that extra muscle), you’re only going to sustain it if you routinely eat properly and exercise. Don’t rush into any crazy workout that leaves you exhausted and hopeless. Start yourself off slow and work your way up. Nobody expects you to be able to be a bodybuilder or marathoner on the first day. This is the whole point of healthy living, always working your way up and constantly improving. A marathon only begins after you take the first step, but is never finished if you quit after the second. Stick with it, challenge yourself, but most of all, keep fit and have fun. Douglas Badminton Has Their Cake And Eats it Too! Douglas College Athletics The Douglas College Badminton team completed back to back Provincial titles this past weekend. Despite having wrapped up the Provincial team title last week in Kamloops (TRU); the Douglas hosts came to play and compiled an impressive 30 wins against 0 losses record. The second time this year the Royals have gone undefeated in a tournament. The team finished first with a record 230 points followed by Langara with 127 points, and Malaspina with 120 points. It’s been an amazing season for the Douglas team with six members of the squad named to the 2007 Canada Winter Games team that travels to Whitehorse next week. Royals head coach, Al Mawani, was clearly pleased with the team’s performance and professional attitude throughout the season. “The squad was brilliant with 16 the pressures of the collegiate season & preparing for the Canada Winter Games,” commented Mawani, who is also the BC team coach for the Canada Games next week. Mawani also felt the support he received from Douglas College Athletic Director Lou Rene Legge was instrumental in the team’s success this year. “We would not have been able to accomplish what we did this season without her help in assembling this team and the support she gave us throughout the season.” Team captain, Lyndsay Thomson was named the Female Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive year. Lyndsay finished the season undefeated in Singles and doubles play. Alvin Lau finished in second place in the voting for male athlete of the year. In the individual competition, Douglas once again led the way by winning 4 of the 5 events and placing 7 of 8 players on the BC Team to compete in the national event three weeks from now. Lyndsay Thomson started things off by winning the Women’s Singles and will try for a second consecutive national title. The all-rookie Women’s Doubles team of Melody Liang and Jessy Sung won the gold after dominating the event. Another all-rookie team won the Men’s Doubles event. Chris Lee & Andy Cheong went undefeated in winning the doubles event. Andy now follows in the footsteps of team manager and sister, Tiffany Cheong, who won silver at the national event. The two most-exciting matches of the day saw Richard Liang of Douglas fall just short against last years national champion, Kiran Bogavelli of Capilano. Kiran won a tight match by scores of 24-22 and 21- 19. Mawani was very pleased by the effort put forth by Richard. “I’m very very proud of Richard’s effort today. This will give him confidence for the national championships.” In the Mixed Doubles event, last years national champions Alvin Lau and Charmagne Yeung played a wonderful match to defeat an excellent Langara team of Toby Ng and Monica Mui. Despite twisting her ankle the previous day, Charmagne fought for every point and complimented Alvin, who was outstanding in the match. The second game saw Alvin and Charmagne come back from a 0-11 deficit to win 21-19 to wrap up the gold medal. “This was the biggest comeback I have made in a match of this importance,” commented Lau. Team captain, Lyndsay Thomson only had one thing to say to her teammates, “you guys are awesome”. Most of the players will have little time to celebrate as they now prepare for the Canada Games followed by the Collegiate Nationals hosted by Douglas College, March 7-10. Mawani closed by saying, “The team was excellent this weekend, but we haven’t achieved our season goals yet.”