Out with the old, in with the new!

How many of you out there used to be able to eat and drink anything you wanted and were still able to stay fit? If you were anything like some of my old college buddies, your college meals consisted of fast food, unhealthy sodium-packed microwave dinners, and (don’t tell the kids) beer. Yet, with a minimum amount of working out, and that crazy metabolism we’d all kill for now, we managed to maintain our weight. Our parents warned us that they, too, had the same ‘diet’ in college, (and I use that word VERY loosely) and told us that old habits die hard. Many may have laughed in their parents’ faces; well laughed as much as they could with a mouth full of McDonalds. I bet we all wish we had taken heed to their warnings. However, hind sight is 20/20, and looking back, it’s true when they say, “Your parents know best”.  About 5 years after college I began gaining weight, and lots of it even though I hadn’t changed my eating or exercise habits, which turned out to be the problem. That’s when I realized that something had to give; it was time to change my old ways. 


At Phix, we always keep an open mind and like to explore the lifestyles of people on all ends of the spectrum, from the raw vegans, to those sharing a lifestyle similar to one seen on “Supersize Me”. Last week, we took our talents to South Beach—well, Coral Gables, to check in with some current college students at the University of Miami. What we noticed was extremely encouraging, and proved that perhaps our parents’ pleas may not have fallen upon deaf ears after all! Within moments of stepping foot on campus, we realized that perhaps times have been changing. Everywhere we looked, both students and faculty were running, playing sports, eating salads, sushi, and other good foods, and looking overall very healthy. Let’s not kid ourselves though, we’ve all been that age, and we know the other end of the spectrum does exist. However, we wanted to see if this healthy utopia was real, or just a façade. We talked with a few students who were able to fill us in a little more on some of the questions (and doubts) we had. 


We spoke with John, a 22 year old senior. He graciously agreed to answer a few questions, and because of his generosity we even threw a box of Phix his way! John told us that he doesn’t ‘count calories’ or limit his portion sizes, but is careful when choosing which types of foods to eat. He almost always eats what would be considered healthy by most; tuna, turkey, sushi, salads, lots of fruits, lean steak, and he even said when he makes pasta he uses whole grain pasta—you make us proud Johnny boy! He does not have a set workout schedule but says he goes to the gym regularly when he has time between classes, studying, and balancing a social life; probably kicking it at the on-campus pool!  We asked him why he chooses to be so healthy when given so much freedom to make whatever choices he wants. Mom’s not here to force that broccoli down your throat, or scream “no dessert until after dinner!” so what motivates him to be healthy and active? What John told us was wise, way beyond his years, and an attitude I wish I had at his age! He said, “College may be the best 4 years of your life, but they are not the only 4 years.” Meaning if you don’t take care of your body and health at all times, it will catch up with you at some point. He said that he also needs to stay in peak physical shape because intramural sports are highly competitive on campus. Also, he believes (as do we) if you stay in good physical shape, it helps your mental psyche as well, and in his case, it helps him stay focused on his studies. As we were finishing up our quick interview, he smirked at us and devilishly added, “staying in shape doesn’t hurt with the ladies either.” And just when we began to think he was too mature to really be in college…Only kidding John!


After spending a few more hours on campus, and speaking with a few more students, we came to the consensus that obviously some things in college remain the same, but there is a very evident positive shift in the health and fitness department. With the advancement of technology, as well as the expanded access to research and information, the younger (generally more technologically savvy) generation, is able to reach a seemingly unlimited amount of information. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons the younger generation seems to be more health-oriented, but I say years of ‘preaching to the choir’ by concerned parents all over the world has paid off! Keep up the good work!


Your friends,
Phix