LET’S GET PHYSICAL

→ By Marissa Watanabe (‘23) FEATURE

All our lives, we have been told to take care of our bodies. And, growing up, the notion of exercising and eating our greens felt more like a grudging obligation rather than an enjoyment. However, in the past year, as COVID restrictions have lifted, more and more students have been enticed to try new things. Whether it be subscribing to gym memberships, dieting, or playing a sport, many students have ultimately turned health into a hobby. By this, the high school campus is filled with students who lead healthy lifestyles and take pride in their fitness with hopes of changing themselves for the better.

For the past year, senior Jak Kim has been powerlifting at the gym four days a week, three to four hours a day. “Everyone has different goals going into the gym,” he said. “Some people go to get healthier, others go because they want to look better. Personally, I just want to get stronger.” Kim initially began weightlifting because he enjoyed working out for sports and desired to grow physically stronger. However, as he continued going to the gym and began powerlifting, Kim fell in love with the sport, enjoying “the competitive aspect of it,” as it constantly challenged him to “better [himself], get stronger, and beat old PRs (personal records).”

Kim trains for powerlifting meets two to three times a year. “At these meets, you have three attempts to put up the heaviest weight you can on each of the three main lifts, squat, bench, and deadlift,” he said. However, similar to wrestling and boxing, powerlifting is divided into different weight classes, and Kim currently finds himself stuck between two classes. Because of this, his powerlifting coach has advised him to gain weight in order to compete in the class above him, requiring Kim to make dramatic changes to his diet. “I essentially have to force myself to eat more than I am comfortable with, so I can be as strong as possible in my division,” he said.

Because powerlifting demands him to push himself beyond his limits and commit to things outside of his comfort zone, Kim finds that “motivation is by far the hardest thing to maintain when it comes to the gym.” On days when he feels unmotivated, Kim tries to regain determination by reminding himself of the progress he’s made and his genuine love for the sport. “I’ve found that it’s easiest to stay motivated when you love what you’re doing, rather than just focusing on the outcome,” he remarked. In addition to discovering his love for powerlifting, Kim has also found community at the gym. “I’ve met people who have been there for me at my lowest and highest moments. They push me to not only be the strongest I can physically be, but also mentally and emotionally,” he said.

With each challenge he faces at the gym, Kim discovers something new about himself. “I’ve learned about my limits, mentally and physically, and how to motivate myself when I don’t feel confident in my strength,” he reflected. Furthermore, Kim has also realized the importance of patience for progression, saying that his “progression has been principally dependent on the effort [he’s] put in and the commitment [he] has to the process.”

In addition to persevering through strenuous physical activity, many students chose to face the challenge of dieting in order to become healthier individuals. Senior Caley Chun, who initially started off as a vegan, has been on a vegetarian diet since June of 2020. Bored at home during the pandemic, Chun wanted to experiment with something new. “I have a passion for baking and sometimes cooking, and I wanted to see if [altering my diet] would change my fitness for the better,” she said. However, dieting proved to be more difficult than it seemed. By cutting out meat from her diet, Chun struggled to regulate her protein intake, which took a physical toll on her, especially since she is a varsity athlete. Even so, Chun persisted through this obstacle by researching meat substitutes, and finding whole foods like tofu, tempeh, quinoa, and soybeans. “Over time, my body began to adapt,” she said, “and knowing that I was eating a lot cleaner overall put me in a good mindset.” One of the main concerns people have when it comes to dieting is whether it is good or bad to have “cheat days,” a day where one can loosen their belt, stray from their set diet, and eat whatever their heart desires. Although vegetarianism proves to be a tough routine to keep, Chun doesn’t necessarily believe in cheat days. Instead, she believes that “every day should be a good balance of nutritious and delicious foods.” In order to keep this balance, Chun follows the 80/20 rule, “where you eat whole and nutrient dense foods for 80% of the time and whatever food you want for 20% of the time.”

Committing to restrictive diets and demanding exercise plans takes determination and a willingness to change one’s mental and physical health for the better. However, oftentimes, people, especially adolescents and young adults, go into these diets and exercise regimens with only the desire to lose weight or improve their body image. In this way, beginning a diet or new workout plan with the mere expectation to “look better” can often result in unhealthy eating habits. Physical Education teacher Austen Roumbos states that these unhealthy eating habits can lead to low body fat levels and that “for good health and normal functioning, [our bodies] must maintain a certain amount of body fat.” In order to circumvent unhealthy habits, Roumbos recommends one to do what makes them the most comfortable and practice a good balance between exercising and eating well. “The only safe and effective way to reduce body fat and lose weight is to combine physical activity with eating fewer calories,” he said.

So, how much exercise should a person practice each week? According to Roumbos, this amount varies case by case; however, he says that “individuals should participate in moderate physical activity at least 60 minutes every day and vigorous physical activity at least three days a week.” Examples of moderate physical activity include lifestyle activities like housework and yard work and moderate sports like bowling and biclying. Forms of vigorous physical activity include fast swimming, bicycling, and running.

For six days a week and months on end, sophomore Dylan Djou achieves well over the necessary amount of vigorous physical activity, running both cross country and track. Previous to running, Djou participated in judo, wrestling, and jujitsu, but when the pandemic placed contact sports on hiatus in his eighth grade year, he decided to take up cross country. In the beginning, Djou faced some mental obstacles, struggling to “push [himself] to [run] harder, not give up, go all out, and build confidence and consistency.”

In order to become a faster runner, Djou had to discipline himself both physically and mentally. “It’s mainly the days that you don’t want to go out and you don’t want to run–that’s when you have to go out. It’s hard, but you just have to keep going and keep pushing,” he said.

After three seasons of cross country, Djou has worked his way to become one of the fastest boys on the team and led the boys varsity team to take the HHSAA D2 Championship last October. “I’ve improved a lot,” he said. “All the work you put in–it just shows.”

In addition to becoming a faster runner, Djou also noticed physical changes in his body as well, saying that he “got bigger legs and lost a lot of weight.” These breakthroughs in his athleticism and physical health affected the sophomore mentally as well, showing him that he can accomplish big things and conquer the impossible. “I can kind of ask myself, ‘Oh, what else can I do if I can overcome, say, being overweight,” he remarked.

For Djou, the ultimate goal in his athletic journey is to become the best version of himself. And for many student athletes, powerlifters, and vegetarians alike, the desire to become healthier individuals not only reaps physical benefits but mental ones as well. Roumbos finds that “a big correlation between mental health and living a healthy lifestyle comes down to an individual’s mindfulness, one’s state of being characterized by a focus on the present moment.” For Kim, the improvements he makes in the gym allows him the opportunity to “leave [his] life behind and focus on something totally separate.” “Through powerlifting,” he said, “I find enjoyment in staying healthy.”

EDITORIAL “How to Love School Again”

Continued from page 2 an insightful view on the difference between a job and a career from Mrs. Ustare. I’ve received an abundance of information about college, the professional world, and relationships, and I’ve been inspired to keep asking questions wherever I go.

In some ways, school is a microcosm of life. Both journeys center around growth, and along the road, we can achieve greatly, fail miserably, and relentlessly pursue knowledge. Of course, the comparison is limited. Classes and grades can suggest that we are able to reach the pinnacle of a subject, that a perfect and comprehensive grasp of knowledge is attainable. However, one of the most liberating and exhilarating revelations I’ve experienced is the fact that I will never know everything, but I get to spend the remainder of my existence turning onto unexplored roads and unearthing latent wisdom. Once, the impossibility of crossing a clearly marked finish line would have intimidated or frustrated me, but unlike in school, the point of life is not to reach completion, but to stroll down an infinite path, pausing to peer closer at the surrounding scenery.

A sense of breathless wonder towards the world has also augmented my desire to learn more about the people and possible experiences around me. Of course, there are days when excitement and optimism seem distant and faded, but instead of complacently accepting this worldview, I’m slowly attempting to cleanse it from my being, one thoughtful conversation, stimulating class period, or captivating discovery at a time. The ability to grow and expand our understanding of the world and ourselves is a gift. When we dare to be curious instead of complacent, adventurous instead of apathetic, we can become lifelong learners. High school is perhaps the only period in our lives when we’re more or less completely free and encouraged to learn; generally, we don’t need to work or worry about providing basic necessities for ourselves. Unfortunately, instead of opening our eyes and recognizing this four-year stretch as a time for exploration, we aimlessly sleepwalk and stumble through it, allowing cynicism to corrupt us. We should stop seeing the school campus as a prison and start viewing it as the home of boundless opportunities. A love for learning shouldn’t be confined to the classroom, but it can start there.