As the semester comes to a close, it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to work out when finals are the only thing that inhabit your mind.  For those of you who fear sitting around countless hours full of anxiety and stress leading to packing on pounds, don’t fear, there’s hope!  If you allow yourself a 30-40 minute study break per day, you can work out in the comfort of your own home or an easily accessible gym with these helpful tips:

Contrary to popular belief, there are many college students who have a predisposition that they will find their “true love” at college.  Hearing stories of their parents meeting as undergrads or friends who have found their carbon copy during their school years puts a subconscious mental strain on the college brain.

Most students mask the thought of wanting to find Mr. or Mrs. Right in front of their peers, but it can't be argued that the thought hasn't passed through almost every student’s mind. If you are a firm believer that the right person is awaiting you in school, here are some things to keep in mind when you think someone may actually show potential:

• Remember to stay true to who you are.  Pretending to be someone you aren't with hopes of impressing somebody is only masking your real personality.  You will find the right person doing the things YOU like to do.

•  Be happy with where you are presently.  If you are overwhelmed with past relationship memories, schoolwork or any other personal issues, and think focusing on making a relationship with someone will drive those feelings away, you’re wrong.  All it does is build up more emotion you don’t need.  A relationship should be an added bonus to your life, not a stress factor.

•  Everybody has flaws, including YOU.  It comes down to a matter of which flaws you can tolerate and which you cannot. Be aware of the double standard; criticism not only comes from you, but can also be directed your way.  As long as you and your significant other can compromise and accept each others' pet peeves, you'll be fine.

•  Remember the “Golden Rule” we learned as children; treat others the way you would like to be treated.  In terms of relationships, the person you want to invest your admiration in must treat you with the same respect that you entrust in them.  A strong relationship has equal dedication coming from both sides.

Keep in mind that all relationships are different, but every person deserves the best with what they are willing to offer.  As cliché as it is, listen to your heart.  If you don’t feel happiness in a department that is important to you, be strong enough to let go.  There are more opportunities out of college, don’t lose hope.  Settle for the best, not less.

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Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of healthy options in Russell House for students trying to avoid the infamous “Freshman 15.” For those of you that find it difficult to choose something appetizing that isn’t coated in grease or butter on campus, here are some suggestions:

On the main floor, the salad bar and sushi cases for leafy lovers can satisfy a vegetarian craving.  If you would rather go with something a little more filling, the Horseshoe Deli offers plenty of sandwich options that you can custom order to fit your appetite.  If a fruity option is what you’re searching for, Freshens offers several smoothies that include boosters of your choice, ranging from Focus to Energy.

Although the upstairs can appear to be a fast food paradise, there are healthy options hiding amongst the fluorescent Burger King and Chick-Fil-A signs.  Santorini’s gives students the cultural option of Greek salads and entrees, including grilled chicken wraps, pita chips with hummus and steamed vegetables.  Over at Einstein Bagels, flat bread and lower calorie sandwiches can also prove to be satisfying meals.

If you happen to live off campus, enjoy cooking and have access to a kitchen with an oven or stove, I recommend you check out this site for simple, quick dishes and this link for the more advanced chef. Sally Kerr-Dineen, a culinary artist and mother of two college students, created these sites for beginners and more advanced cuisiniers. Her inspiration stemmed from wanting to teach her children simple recipes so they would not go off to school and be left to survive on fast food.  These recipes are sure to spice up your kitchen and your palate, and may even have you expanding your culinary talent.

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Walk into Strom Thurmond Fitness Center and you’ll see students and faculty on all different machines, determined to stay in shape.  As we all know, it is not easy to follow a strict schedule at the gym, and when we do go, it’s common to practice improper workout techniques.  Some mistakes include working out while wearing makeup, working out on an empty stomach and not stretching before cardio.  These faux pas are considered unhealthy but new studies show that these practices don’t damage the body as much as we have believed them to.

Starting With a Clean Slate

For ladies trying to keep their bodies toned, squeezing in a visit to the gym amidst classes, meetings and a social life can be difficult.  That’s why some women workout with full makeup on, even if they are going to sweat it off.  Any dermatologist or health professional will say this is bad because, not only can foundation clog the pores, but physical activity increases the risk of breakouts because pores are more exposed.  While it is beneficial to remove makeup prior to working out, this is unrealistic with a busy college lifestyle.  Think of it this way, it is far better to exercise for 45 minutes in full makeup than to not exercise at all due to fearing the sudden appearance of a pimple.  As long as you wash your face after the workout, you should be fine.

Stretching

Another gym myth is the danger of not stretching before exercising, especially running.  Stretching warms up the muscles and increases flexibility to reduce the chance of cramping.  Some people, including me, skip “warming up” in favor of claiming a treadmill before they’re all taken.  According to some doctors, stretching before running won’t prevent injury, but it won’t cause it either.  If you know your leg might cramp up without stretching prior to exercise, by all means do your routine, but if you don’t feel like warming up, it isn’t a problem.

Eating Right

When it comes to meals and exercise, there are two food trends that could damage your workout.  Working out after eating a full meal or working out on an empty stomach could cause cramping or symptoms of illness.  Nutritionists recommend quality carbohydrates, lean protein, heart-healthy fats and fluids prior to working out.  Light meals or protein bars are the best option before participating in physical activity.

Making the effort to exercise regularly is a huge step towards a healthy lifestyle.  There’s no such thing as a perfect workout so as long as you’re getting some form of physical activity, minor mistakes won’t affect your stride.

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Beauty routines are truly hard to maintain nowadays.  There’s nails, haircuts, highlights, skin treatments, makeup routines and we can’t forget about eyebrow waxing.  In an attempt to cut costs in upkeep, many college women opt for DIY manicures at home.  Even more surprisingly, so do college guys.

While some Gamecocks manage to find the time and funds to go to the nail salon every two weeks, this is unrealistic for most women on campus.  Personal nail polish collections and manicure kits keep ladies looking put-together on campus without taking a toll on their pockets every week.

So what comes in these manicure kits?  Usually starter kits include nail clippers, emory boards, cuticle pushers, tweezers and scissors.  These tools do keep nails well groomed, but here’s a secret your manicurist might not want you to know: the importance of cuticle oil.

Cuticle oil not only improves the health of your cuticles (the skin at the base of your nails), but it helps prolong your manicure.  Like most oils, cuticle oil makes the skin and nails smoother, allowing polish to glide over nails fluidly.  That dull look you get after two coats of polish?  Consider that problem solved.  Most problems with nail care can be linked to dry, damaged cuticles (hence man hands), so moisturizing the skin surrounding nails surrounding skin is a plausible solution.

There is an abundance of brands and formulas available for consumers at several different retail locations.  Essie, OPI and Sally Hansen are just a few brands available in local drugstores, and prices range anywhere from $2-$15.  More luxurious, expensive ( and, in my opinion, not worth it) brands are available in upscale retail stores, as well.

So the next time you’re bored and decide to give yourself a mani/pedi, don’t forget the cuticle oil!  You’ll see a visible, huge improvement in the health and overall appearance of your nails. Trust me, they’ll thank you.

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On a recent grocery trip, I walked down the milk aisle and found myself overwhelmed by the abundance of options. Numerous shiny labels seemed to scream out at me, “Whole milk, fat free milk, lactose-free and milk alternative!” Confused by the choices, I grabbed the jug of 2% and got out of there before I had a meltdown.

In this age of advertisement overload, lines have started to blur between milk fads and actual nutritional value. I miss the days when they told us milk does the body good and the main choices were “red cap” or “blue cap.”  The time has come to address which milk products are building strong bones and which ones are just making our cereal taste good.  Here’s the low down on the white stuff you’re putting in your body.

First off, here’s a list of popular milk choices in grocery stores and super markets:

Whole milk: fortified with calcium, vitamin D, protein, potassium and magnesium.

2% milk: has less fat than whole milk and is lower in lactose as well.  It also has all of the nutrients and minerals of whole milk. 

1% milk: also known as low-fat, lactose-free milk.  Has all of the nutrients and minerals of whole milk.

Milk alternatives: Lactose-free, low in fat.  Nutrient and mineral-fortified beverages.

Just in case you’ve forgotten, milk is important because it strengthens bones, supports muscle growth, aids in weight loss and provides other health benefits. Doctors recommend people get three servings of milk or milk products, like cheese and yogurt, daily.

One reason people switch to milk alternatives like soy milk, almond milk and rice milk are because of lactose intolerance. Other reasons include worries about pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. According to the USDA and the FDA, the U.S. Dairy industry tests all milk entering dairy plants to ensure the utmost health requirements are met.

According to research, those who drink calcium-fortified beverages like soy drinks are not meeting their bones’ requirements. Research concluded that 75 percent of calcium added to popular beverages gets left at the bottom of the carton. Nutritionists say milk remains the best way to get daily bone-building doses of calcium.

To incorporate more milk in your diet, try hot or cold chocolate milk, milk-based smoothies, mozzarella cheese on veggies or creamy-milk based soups for lunch. Not only do these options taste great, but they also add a healthy dose of calcium into your diet the smart way.