Getting fit at GSU

With the summer season upon us, many students may be facing the dilemma of how they can make a change in their health and fitness. Newly elected Student Senate Vice President, Shawnta Young, tells GSU students that everything they need to make that change is right here on the university's campus.

Since November of 2012, Young has lost 58 pounds with the help of a trainer at GSU's Recreation and Fitness Center. Feeling energetic, confident, and motivated, Young urges students to take advantage of the facilities on hand and make the changes that they have wanted to make.

After her brother pushed her to make a change this past fall, Young cut carbs and red meat out of her diet and began working out 5-6 days a week during winter break. Upon resuming classes for the spring semester, she met GSU trainer Welicia Whitelaw at a
holistic health conference. "She invited me down to the fitness department and informed me of the great student rates that are offered," said Young.

For only $100, students can purchase five one hour training sessions with a male or female trainer. After completing just those five sessions with Whitelaw, Young says she was amazed at her transformation. "She told me that I have lost more weight than all her clients did in a month in the 2 weeks we were working together," said Young "I told her everything she was teaching me, I was doing outside in my own life."

Now, Young has completed about 15 sessions with her trainer, and feels fantastic. "When I first started I could run for no more than 10 seconds," she says "Now I'm running on the treadmill for 25-30 minutes straight. I never once doubted myself, because if Welicia told me to do it that mean she knew I could"

Not only do the trainers work with you physically, but they also work on all around fitness. Young was told to increase her water intake, as well as to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night in order to prevent her metabolism from slowing down. She was also provided with articles about getting fit, staying fit, and nutrition.

This physical transformation also gave her the confidence to run for Student Senate in the March 2013 elections. "I was losing weight and gaining confidence in myself. I decided to go for Student Senate Vice President, and I got it!" enthused Young.

As Vice President, Young's platform is to help students. She wants to inform the student body of all the university offers for them to change their lifestyle at a low cost. Along with personal training, the Recreation and Fitness Center offers affordable classes in yoga, zumba, and even aquatic fitness. Students may also use basketball courts, as well as a swimming pool.

"My platform has just been for the students this entire time, because we need to change," says Young. "We need to help each other; we need to be united. If I can do anything to let them know that they have resources here at the school, that's what I'm here for."

Young states that if it wasn't for her brother and Whitelaw, she wouldn't be where she is today. By changing her diet and mixing cardio and weight training, she is making the changes that she wanted to make.

"Don't be afraid," says Young "A lot of people put a lot of stress on weight loss because they feel they have to change everything so fast, and I wouldn't recommend it. You have to first be committed to yourself, committed to change, and then everything else will follow."

To get involved and sign up for your own personal training sessions, visit the fitness department to notify a trainer and discuss a plan to fit your individual needs.