Life&Style. The call of summer By Dominique Leclair, Contributor he winter semester has been over for a couple months and most of us are now fully immersed in our summer routine. Living the summer lifestyle can involve lots of time with friends you have neglected for the past eight months; late nights enjoying every minute of sunshine; participating in all the activities that you reluctantly declined during the school year because an essay was due or an exam was looming; or just laying back and taking it easy because you know come September you'll be back in the hectic routine of huge projects and deadlines. Whatever summer means to you, it has now completely evaporated every memory of what you had to do over the last eight months to get to this point. Summer can be filled with unexpected moments and experiences. It is a time of relaxation and playing in the sun. Of letting go of responsibility, even if for a moment or two, before the whisper of falling leaves that not only signify the advent of fall, but of obligation and meeting expectations, our own and those of our instructors. But for now, all of that is left behind and we get to relish in a lightness that is mirrored in later days and bluer, clearer skies. This time last summer I was juggling my full-time work experience job and taking nine credits of class at school. It was a lot of work, but there is something about summer that even when there is still lots to do, it just doesn’t feel as heavy as it does during the other months of the year. This season is also about beginnings and ends. For me, this summer marked an end to school with my April graduation, and the beginning of a career in the field that I have spent the past two years working towards. Maybe it’s a good thing that the weather hasn’t been the most conducive to my usual favourite outdoor activities. There has been enough going on with starting this new journey to keep me distracted from missing my summer fun. Whether this was your last semester and you are off to brave the real world, or this is a much- needed break before September returns, or if you are one of the few taking summer courses, this season has its moment. It’s a moment when you can stop and decide where you want to go from here. Are you going in the direction that you want to? Are you close to finishing your program? If you are, what lies ahead? This time next year will you too be looking for employment? Will you be prepared for it? Right now—when everything feels relaxed and everything more manageable—is the best time to ponder these questions. It’s the time to plan how to achieve the goals you've set for yourself by going to school and completing your education. So, soak it up. Experience everything this season offers. Let this laid back, unfettered moment help you make the most of your education and your life. Before you know it, the call of school will be here and all that free time will go as quickly as the fading sun. Indulge to battle bulge! Adopt an avant-garde attitude to get bikini ready By Stephanie Trembath, Public Relations Manager ate nights with clear skies, smoky barbequed meat, sand stuck between toes, and bikini-bottomed girls riding bicycles down English bay. Yup, summer is here, the only thing missing is the constant heat. Regardless of the lack of tan lines and burnt flesh, there are still plenty of reminders that it is bikini season and time to jog off those flabby thighs. Rather than spend your sweet summer months like a hamster in a gym (picture: bay side with cold drink in hand) try to adopt a bit of an avant-garde attitude and ditch the traditional methods of flaunting your stuff in the sand. Indulge to battle bulge— the philosophy French femmes follow to stay slim and stylish—is the one method North American ladies have neglected in exchange for fad diets. Known for effortless style and rich cuisine, these European dames dine on wine at almost every meal, and don’t turn down a buttered croissant. Creamy cheeses, fresh fruits, and warm lattes are staple foods served at nearly every meal, which is much more appetizing than plain chicken breast and salad. North American women who seek European style guides typically follow a strict diet of lean meats, raw veggies, and allow themselves 10 one special day to overindulge— which causes the body to crave those sweet and salty foods it is denied. Telling your body it cannot eat something causes a reverse effect on the brain so these foods are more desirable than the healthy foods you should eat. It also creates a cycle of binging and purging— eating extremely fresh and healthy for a few days and then binging on sweets when will-power gives out, which is really hard on the body’s metabolism. Drinking alcoholic beverages is treated much the same in North America, where many women prefer to steer clear of the extra calories during the weekday, and consume alcoholic drinks high in sugar to the point of being way to drunk on the weekend. Rather than play the “diet game” like most North American girls, French women have settled the battle with their bod and opted for a more desirable way to nourish their bodies: eat what they please in moderation. Balance is essential— and by eating small portions of the foods you enjoy, you do not feel the need to binge on your “off day” or while out on the weekend. The main reason these lavish lasses stay so slim and styled is not in what they eat, it is at what point during the day they eat. What time you consume certain amounts of foods is critical in achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, and more importantly, keeping your metabolic rate in check. The biggest meal of the day should be consumed between twelve and five in the afternoon, this is so your body has time to digest the food and absorb the nutrients. The largest meal consumed by North Americans is dinner, and usually around five to eight at night. However, eating closer to the time you are going to bed means your body is not burning any of the additional calories, and, you are making your body work twice as hard to digest. Trying this fabulous French secret on for size (hopefully one | will still fit as I indulge all summer) Ihave spent the last month enjoying backyard barbeques, picnics in the park, and wine on the weekdays— regardless of the extra calories and the extra cloud cover! My overall mindset towards food has completely transformed as I happily dig into guacamole dip and salmon for lunch (chocolate almonds or popsicles for desert), while my coworkers pick at veggie salads and low-cal pita crisps. Our society has infused itself with a “thin is in” mentality, and enjoying certain food groups will result in immediate weight gain. Really, the sad truth is that a large portion of North Americans are classified either as Obese or overweight, or with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Not to say our French friends do not have the same health issues, however, the International Journal of Medicine shows North America as the leading continent for such health concerns. The surest way to enjoy your summer—regardless of rain, since dreary weather is faithful to Vancouver the same way women are faithful to chocolate—is to indulge in your cravings, satisfy your sweet tooth, and treat dining with the fervour it deserves! Balanced meals, smaller portions, and consuming earlier on in the day will ensure mouth-watering summer barbeque does not stick to your love handles—and that itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini will look a lot sexier if you’ve got some curves to fill it!