Free Workout Guides

Ack! Finals week. Two words that send dread throughout campus. That often spawns two horrible reactions. One is to STOP going to the gym. The second is to START eating junk food. And that can, nay, will lead to excess weight--AKA body fat, let's be honest.

Seriously, what's going on such that final exams cause us to abandon habits that are good for us?!?

Ok, I'm a 19 yo male. I've been working out hard for about a year and developed some really good habits that have helped me build hard muscle and cut fat. My abs are ripped and rock hard. I do NOT want final exams to derail my gains.

What's GREAT about final exam period is that you don't have to go to class! In fact, if you do go to class, well you'll be the only one.

What I've done is to take a sheet of paper and schedule out every day through the last final exam and when I'll leave for home. Instead of being in a perpetual state of panic--and stress hormones will help your body gain fat--making a schedule will keep YOU in control. No surprises and you get done what needs getting done.

Your schedule should be graphically helpful to you--turn the page sideways and put the hours on the y-axis and the days as the x-axis. Then put down when your finals. Consider what you need to do for each exam and put down on the schedule what you will do when to prepare for each exam. Simple.

NOW put into your schedule--
(1) When you will go to sleep and when you will rise. Yes, I know. When you don't have an 8 am class it's tempting to sleep until noon. Schedule a good time to sleep and a good rise time to get things done. Sleep is essential to doing well on your exams AND to building muscle.
(2) When you will work out. I split my workouts into lifting weights and into working my abs. I've come to do abs workouts as a study break and it's been great grabbing a buddy to work abs with. Write down your workouts.

Working out WILL help you reduce stress and keep you pumped for getting through your exams.

Finally, throw out the junk food you've been storing. We have a tiny fridge in our dorm room and I've stocked it with healthy munchies--bags of baby carrots, smallish apples, bananas, celery (washed, cut into smaller pieces and in plastic bag), etc. No breads, crackers, etc. YOU KNOW WHAT JUNK FOOD IS!

I'm fortunate to have my finals end 3 days before the last final AND plan to put in some extra body time. One of my inspirations--in the classroom and in the weightroom--is a guy named Andy. He and I have been increasing our abs workouts during finals. It's been great pushing each other (and he let's me punch him as part of his abs workout) so I encourage you to find a partner and help each other.

I wish you a great finals outcome. AND if you've been a slackard in working out, finals week can be a great time to start new workout habits.

Your motivator, Cam.