Having now survived a full week of fat camp, I think I can safely say that I probably have never worked as hard in my life as I have since I got here. I’m incredibly out of shape (which adds to the difficulty), and it’s been a big change for me. It’s been a good change, however; I needed to get out of my comfort zone.

Prior to this, my comfort zone entailed usually half-heartedly participating in team sports and eating bad food. Here I cannot and do not get to do either of these things. The biggest issue for me has probably been waking up early to do a three mile walk each morning. Considering that, if left alone, I can sleep until 8 PM, getting up to do such an activity is a big thing for me.

I’ve really learned how to let myself go a little however, which I definitely needed to do. All my life, I have had no athletic ability and try to hide it at any cost. But for the first time, I now play sports such as soccer and basketball with enthusiasm (meaning I actually run instead of walk), which makes me feel great. I’m forcing myself to take full advantage of this experience (except for when I did a boxing class, taught by a former bodybuilder, and broke down and cried in the middle) and my body is constantly reminding me of that by keeping me sore all the time .

But it’s good sore, right?

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On average, people gain 5 lbs during the holiday season.  Wearing sweat pants and bulky sweaters to keep warm can mask and even increase the amount of the added weight, but I’m pretty sure the bikini you are preparing to wear in 6 weeks won’t.  I didn’t say it, but you know what I’m talking about: Spring Break!

They gym is probably overflowing with New Years resolution fanatics and Spring Break obsessed tanorexics.  This is a guide for those who want to lose weight in a healthy yet effective and quick way.

First, I have good news for those short on time.  You can actually burn just as many calories – if not more – in a shorter amount of time on any piece of cardio machine.  Fitness professionals have known this for a long time, but still I see many people jogging at the same pace for 40 minutes.  If you work out using intervals, you’ll burn more calories.  Intervals require you to workout at a hard intensity for short bursts of time followed by a lower intensity rest period.  For example, run at a 7.5 mph for a minute, followed by 5.5 mph for 2 minutes, repeat with a 7.5 mph minute burst.

Depending on how in shape you are, either lower or raise the intensity.  A favorite workout of mine is switching intensity every song.  I make a play list that is around 25 minutes.  The first song is a warm up, the second a little faster, the third slower, fourth faster and so on.  Use creativity and make sure the bursts of high intensity get your body going.   This will burn roughly 300 calories! Read More »

For seven seasons, Dancing with the Stars has been a crowd-pleasing hit. What’s not to love? Whether you love cheering for your favorite celebrities; watching sexy, sassy, or snarky dance routines every week; engaging in some family-friendly reality fun; or endorsing your competitive side by entering DWTS pools (or voting for your favorite dancer until your votes are maxed out)– Dancing with the Stars really seems to have it all.

What’s more, the show has proven that working out can be fun, and that dancing is an excellent way to shed some unwanted pounds, build muscle, and start living an overall healthier lifestyle. I know I signed up for Zumba and impulsively bought the DWTS Cardio Dance workout DVD without batting an eye.

As DWTS has increased our awareness of fun ways to stay fit, it’s also a great vehicle to demonstrate that fitness comes in all shapes and sizes. In the past, we’ve seen DWTS combat some of the Hollywood stereotypes that distort women’s body images across the country. Remember when all 167 pounds of Laila Ali made it to the top three? How about when Sabrina Bryan, who is “chunky” by Hollywood standards, was sent home simply because everyone thought she was too talented to need their votes?

Most importantly, consider the fact that normally the beauty queens and supermodels are the first to get the boot: Paulina Porizkova, Shandi Finnessey, and Shoana Moakler are among the competitors who never saw round three, and thus, they all blend together into one generic DWTS loser, while fan favorites like Marisa Jaret Winokur show you that being skinny doesn’t mean you can move. Read More »

Here at CollegeCandy, we like ourselves a good man. Someone hot, smart, funny…fat?That last word is probably not on many of our “Things I Want in a Guy” lists, but at least one woman is speaking out about her love of the Corpulent Man.

European author Tobsha Learner is in love with a “voluptuous” man.

Describing him as “Paddington Bear with dangly bits”, Learner explains that her man’s weight—and his apparent acceptance of it—makes him much more alluring than the “fatless, hairless, allure-free atheistic” many male models and celebrities carry around these days. Read More »