Get fit tips

High school students are often stereotyped as “lazy” and “unhealthy”. Apparently our habits of staying up late watching Tosh.0 or eating an entire bag of potato chips chased down with a two liter of coke are not considered very healthy. It is time we break the mold of what people consider the typical high schooler to be. We need to take a stand, mostly because we have been on the couch all day, but also because we need to change the world’s view of us. We will show everyone that we can be a fit and active generation. Here are some tips on how:

· The first tip is to get off the couch! Go outside and do something. Go for a jog, play basketball or soccer, jump on the trampoline, throw a stick for your dog. (It probably needs a workout too.) Just get out and get active.

· Cut back on snacks and remember to eat a big breakfast. Studies show that it is actually better to eat a healthy breakfast because it helps start up your metabolism and gives you energy to burn calories throughout the day.

· Take up a hobby that will help you get in shape, like rock wall climbing, hiking, running etc. These are fun and great ways to get a workout.

· Pack a lunch to bring to school. We all know that school food is not always the most nutritious, so bring a lunch with healthy food like apples, cheese, and yogurt.

· If you are lazy, then you could purchase a pair of shape up shoes. One of the cutest pairs are the Reebok Easy Tones ($99.99) If you want a more cost friendly pair, check out the Danskin Shape Ups ($20).

· If you are serious about sports, then an easy way to get fit is to join a school sport. Our school offers a wide variety of sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, swim, and track that are starting up soon.

· Another tip for Creekview students would be to take advantage of the fitness classes that are offered here at school. There is Body Sculpting, P.E., Weightlifting, and Team Sports.

· If you subscribe to or buy a magazine like Seventeen, then a great way to get workout tips is to cut out the exercise section found in the magazine. Inside are easy exercises and healthy eating tips.

· A popular workout craze that has swept the nation is yoga. You can buy a yoga video to exercise and relax along with the smooth talking lady on your T.V. screen. Your mom might even have a spare DVD lying around you can borrow.

· If you are really serious about eating right, but you still enjoy going out to a nice dinner, then look online or at restaurant guides. By checking out the meals and finding the healthiest one before you get there, you can be prepared to make healthy decisions.

· Try cutting back on time spent on the computer or in front of the TV. Walk around and keep busy. Clean your room, go outside and make a garden, play on the Wii, or get on a stationary bike and go, go, go! If your working on an extra long school assignment then take a short break and spend 15 minutes doing one of these activities.

· For some of us the only things we lift all day are our heavy books that we lug around school. While this may be considered a strenuous exercise for many of us, we should step it up a notch and try lifting weights (little dumbbells for starters) when we get home. Take them on a walk with you and voila! You can burn over 200 calories.

· Get a friend to work with you! You will have so much more fun if there is someone to talk to and share the pains of workout cramps with.

· Join a gym. Some gyms only ask for an annual fee in exchange for you being able to use all of their high end equipment. Once there you can also get a personal trainer, join classes, or work out solo if you choose. Some gyms in the Canton area include Bally Total Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Anytime Fitness, and Curves.

· Take up a creative hobby like martial arts, Tae Kwon Do, or dancing. These are all major calorie burners and will help build up muscle.

· No matter what you choose to do for your exercise, make sure it is something you enjoy. If not, you will not be motivated to work hard.

· If all else fails, then just try sleeping. For every hour you sleep, you can burn up to 45 calories.

By: Jordan Gates

Red

In an industry filled with quick-paced action and quirky comedy, Robert Schwenke‘s Red is an oddity, combining both in an over the hill take on the age-old spy theme which appeals to young and old alike. The movie opens with a look into the retired life of Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), in which he spends his days phoning the Office of Pension Services, but the pace quickens as Moses’ house is invaded one night by a team sent to kill him. From there, Moses and three fellow retirees who have been marked “RED” (Retired, Extremely Dangerous) follow a string of murders in search of the truth behind their sudden jolt out of retirement.

Along with Willis, an all-star cast including Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich, brings a somewhat weak script to life on screen. The characters are genuine, relatable, like an old friend you might meet on the street – or perhaps more appropriately, the grandparent you wish you had. The humor feels neither insincere nor overdone. Even Malkovich, known for his exuberant style, once again exhibits his unique ability to play the part of a crazy person with almost disturbing sincerity. But then, one has to wonder how much acting really enters the equation.

As much as the characters are a credit to the movie, the plot, while not detracting from anything, adds little. The end in particular, leaves much to be desired. Although nothing should complete a movie like a shot of Helen Mirren in an evening gown wielding a machine gun, the result is ultimately unsatisfying.

Red preys on that inborn fear which affects even the youngest and most virile of its audience – the fear of old age. But rather than leaving the audience to simply wallow in visions of lackluster retirement, the film shows us that getting old can be cool too.

By: Emily Smoke

The Mysteries of Creekview's Vending Machines

It is not a surprise when you see students crowded at every vending machine in the school. When the bell rings signaling the class change, students’ race to the vending machine to obtain their favorite treats. Some adults question the addiction, but only students usually know why the treats are so important and lame. The big question is this: is the food in the vending machine even healthy, or are students devouring junk food that will have appalling affects on them in the near future?

The vending machines of Creekview High School include a large variety of snacks. Some of these include Planter’s Peanuts, Elf’n Animal Crackers, Powdered Dolly Donut Gems, Poptarts, Mrs. Freshley’s Original Jumbo Honey Bun, Rice Krispie Treats Original, Multigrain Granola Bar, Kellogg’s Fruit Snacks, Sweet n’ Salty packs, and Nature Valley Oats n’ Honey granola bars.

When asked what snack was a student’s favorite, many varied responses were given. The snacks with the highest praise consisted of Poptarts, Powdered Dolly Donuts Gems, and Mrs. Freshley’s Original Jumbo Honey Bun. Ironically, these three choices also contain the highest fat content and the most amount of calories. Poptarts contain 190 calories, from which 50 calories are from fat. Also, Powdered Dolly Donut Gems consist of 230 calories, with 11 grams from fat. If these nutritional facts do not make you sick, then listen to this: Mrs. Freshley’s Original Jumbo Honey Bun, a snack highly rate by students, contains 590 calories! So why is it that nothing healthy, like a granola bar, was chosen as a favorite? Is it because it’s not drowning in honey? Or is it because it is not rolled in powdered sugar or covered and stuffed with icing? Many students replied an answer that was not shocking at all.

“It’s good and it keeps me awake. The nutty snacks won’t do that,” one student proudly stated.
So, it is true. Teenagers consume these snacks that are high in sugar content to receive more energy. They are the only things that will keep them from falling asleep in class. Also, they want something that actually tastes good, so they can enjoy it.

So, what snack should you eat that is healthy, tasty, and pleasing to that grumbling stomach? The answer is Nature Valley Oats n’ Honey granola bars. Yes, this snack is not the lowest-containing treat in the vending machine, but with 190 calories and a delicious taste, it will take the hunger out of you. So the next time you visit the vending machine, keep in mind the dozens of snacks that will be pleasing to your mouth, but not so pleasing to your future.

By: Maida Ahmad