Healthy Habits with Heather Gaunt

August 16, 2018

Written By: Marissa Kusayanagi

Before I left for college I always heard of the infamous “Freshman Fifteen” and carried the fear of gaining weight into my first year at Liberty. The college years are known to create unhealthy habits and we all hope we will never gain those fifteen pounds, but it is a lot easier said than done. If you are anything like I was as a Freshman, you are searching for the best and easiest ways to stay healthy as you survive your four years of college. You will always have late nights cramming for an exam, or you might join your friends for a 1 AM Cook Out run but I hope these tips can help you on your journey.

I am not a professional in the health and fitness world, but I have a close friend that is – her name is Heather Gaunt, and she is the Associate Director of Fitness and Programming at Liberty’s Rec Centers. Heather is an incredible woman that knows more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle than anybody else I know.  I decided to interview her and I hope you all find it extremely helpful!

Marissa Kusayanagi: Explain a little bit about who you are and what do on campus.

Heather Gaunt: I am Heather Gaunt, the Associate Director of Fitness and Programming. My undergraduate degree is in exercise science. I am a registered yoga instructor, NASM certified trainer, ACE group fitness instructor, ACSM exercise physiologist, certified Barre above ™, certified cycling, TRX level one trainer, certified Zumba, turbo kick live instructor. I have been teaching group exercise since 2011 and teaching yoga since 2010.

MK: What is some advice you would give an incoming Freshman to stay healthy?

HG: Find friends to stay active with, because the most important part about coming to college is building relationships with people. The best advice I have is to build relationships while staying active or going outside. You will want to exercise more if you are doing it with a friend.

MK: How did you maintain a healthy lifestyle as a college student?

HG: I fell in love with group exercise classes when I was a college student. I saw the benefit of group ex classes for someone who doesn’t want to organize a workout on their own. The classes build community among like-minded people and keep students coming back for more. My exercise science classes helped me understand the developmental side of health and exercise.

MK: Give some simple tips for a college student with a job.

HG: First, you need to list out your priorities and make sure you maintain them each day. Always take care of yourself and give your body the time it needs for relaxation and physical movement.

  • Sacrifice time in the morning to go attend a group exercise class or go on a run.
  • Dedicate 20-30 minutes of your day to physical activity.
  • Learn yoga, because you can practice it anywhere.
  • Find someone that is in the same stage of life as you and keep each other accountable through your health journey.
  • You can hire a personal trainer at the gym where you will create a specific time to work out each week.

MK: What are some ways to eat healthy on campus?

HG:

Off-Campus

If you are off campus, the best way to eat healthy is to meal prep! Make sure you include lean fats, protein and vegetables of course. Meal prepping can save you a ton of money and time. There are so many options in Lynchburg where you can grab a sweet treat and avoid the extra refined sugars. My personal favorite is Millie’s, you can grab a smoothie bowl and enjoy a sweet but healthy treat!

On Campus

Liberty Dining offers a variety of foods and healthy meals. Try to avoid processed foods and refined sugars. Aim to eat whole foods. The Rot offers whole foods, greens, and healthy fats. Stay away from fried foods!

MK: How important is physical activity? How much should we be doing? How much is too much? And what do you suggest for busy college students that don’t work out on a regular basis?

HG: Exercising every day is important, but you should limit your high-intensity workouts to 2-3 times a week. The most important tip is to make sure you are physically moving every single day and not sitting for too much of the day.

MK: Explain a little more about what your department offers!

HG: Rec Centers offers:

  1. Exercise
    1. We offer group fitness that caters to anyone’s need.
    2. There are classes for recovery, strength, yoga, mind-body and connection.
    3. There are cardio classes – cycling, kickboxing, Zumba, Step, and hip-hop.
    4. We have High Intensity classes – Boot Camp, Kettlebells, Power Pump, Total Body Tone, Crossfit.
    5. Personal trainers are always useful.
    6. We offer a rock wall – a place where you can build strength and community.
    7. Pool – a great place for cardiovascular exercise!
  2. Workshops
    1. The workshops this year are going to focus on stress and anxiety relief, so there will be classes on aromatherapy, breathing and meditation.

Creating healthy habits during college will help you become a more successful student and maintain a balanced life. I hope that Heather’s tips help you decrease your stress and increase your joy throughout your time at Liberty. There are so many options to choose from, so grab a friend and sign-up for a group ex class!

You can find more information on Rec Centers’ website – https://www.liberty.edu/campusrec/reccenters/group-exercise/.