Yeah, that’s about right.

We all know that 90% of the Olympic sports are pretty random, so what are the requirements for a sport to be admitted?  Requires strength? Athletic ability? Spandex? Stamina? If that’s the case, then how’s this for a proposal: pole dancing.

The future for pole dancing in the Olympics is probably not right around the corner, but believers are already starting to lobby for it to become one.  Ridiculous you say? More ridiculous than Biathlon? I mean, take away the pole and isn’t it almost the same thing as gymnastics?

Let’s look at the pros and cons of adding this “sport” to the Big Games.

CON: It’s pole dancing! The sport of the strippers!  Do we really want people who are paid to take their clothes off representing our country?

PRO: Clothed or nipple tasseled, anyone who has tried pole dancing knows that it is extremely difficult.  It requires an insane amount of practice, strength, and flexibility. And it’s 2010 – pole dancing has been taken out of the dark, smoky strip clubs and has turned into a widely accepted form of exercise and fun activity.

CON: How would the event even be scored? By the speed at which clothes are removed? “Candy (USA) scored a 10 with her record breaking time: She managed to tear her entire outfit off in 2.6 seconds!!” Would stiletto height be considered in reference to level of difficulty? What about acrylic length?

PRO: Just think of the commentating! “Representing Team USA, Luscious! Luscious has been honing her craft since she was 17. She always dreamed of big things, but never imagined she’d end up on this world stage. “

CON: It’s degrading to women, duh.

PRO: Male pole dancers. Yum.

CON: It’s not really the most wholesome “sport,” and the Olympics really are a family event.

PRO: If ever there were something to increase viewership (besides Michael Phelps, that is), Pole Dancing is definitely it.

So, what do you think? Should Pole Dancing be considered an Olympic sport?

“Why don’t people like me!?”

People still aren’t feeling Chris Brown.

Who are GQ’s men of the year?

Timeless jewelry that doesn’t cost ya.

Paris Hilton wants to be a Kardashian.

Pole dancing is not for weddings.

There are days when not even a new playlist, the latest issue of Glamour, AND Tough Love on VH1 could make my 45 minute elliptical sesh fly by. My mind is bored, and so is my body. And when my body is bored, it’s not burning as many calories. The human body is designed to be efficient so when I do the same exercise day after day (which gets boring), my body uses fewer calories to do the same amount of work on day 30 than, say, on day 1.

The same goes for you, people.
If your mind is bored, your body is bored.

As college students, we’re bored enough sitting in lecture each day; our workouts should be something that we look forward to! And at the risk of sounding like your mom, college is the time to try new things, so why not new methods of exercise? Cross-training (varying different types of exercise or activity), also helps you burn more calories by tricking your body with new and unfamiliar movements. It can also prevent exercise-related injuries, as you’re working different muscle groups and using different parts of your body for each activity. And, taking group fitness classes is an awesome way to meet people. Studies have shown that exercising with other people increasing the level of endorphins that we release during a workout, keeping us coming back for more!  Some universities even let you take sports or fitness classes for CREDIT! You pretty much just have to show up. Good motivation if you find it hard to get out of bed and to the gym, or wouldn’t otherwise have time to exercise.

If you’ve been doing the same 45 minute elliptical workout for the past few months (or few years!) it’s time to switch things up. Here are a few ideas to add a little mix to your workout:

Spinning / Group Cycling: An intense workout on a stationary spinning bike set to upbeat music in which an instructor will take you through a ride that will get your heart pumping, your legs working, and engage your core! Cycling can be adapted to your fitness level, and helps build endurance and muscle strength. It also tones your glutes like nothing else will and is an amazing cardio alternative.

Hooping: (As in hula.) Woooo, third grade! The hoops are bigger and weighted so that anyone can get the hang of it. Hooping builds core strength, tones the entire body, increases flexibility, and is a great cardio workout! You’ll also look sexy moving those hips!

Pole Dancing: A workout to make your Papa proud.

Belly, Ballroom, Salsa, or Hip Hop Dance: Any of these forms of dance will give you a great cardio and toning workout, while teaching you concentration, grace, and coordination!

Fencing: Fencing helps improve coordination, mental speed, discipline, and athleticism while giving you a great cardio workout. Learn to outwit your opponent and feel like a pirate. Cool? Clearly.

Surfing: Cameron Diaz attributes her body to surfing. Enough said. But really, surfing is a great workout for toning each and every muscle in your body. Legs help you up and keep you on the board, arms paddle out, and your core helps you keep your balance. Hot surf instructor also a plus.

Excursion Sports: Many schools have excursion clubs that take members on kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking adventures.  Each of these activities is a way to get some fresh air, a great workout, and an opportunity to flirt with your kayaking guide or trail guide.

Yoga (any variation): There are countless variations of Yoga classes available today, but don’t think that you need to take one with a name that you can’t pronounce to get the best experience. Good old Yoga will do the trick too. Yoga is wonderful for improving posture, flexibility, muscle strength, relaxation, strengthening the skeletal system, and releasing stress.

Boot Camp: Be prepared for pain with any boot camp! The instructor acts as a drill sergeant and will have you doing calisthenics, running steps, pushups, pull-ups, and pushing you to the limit. Be ready to work for this whole body cardio and toning workout. If your school is near the beach, the class may be held there. It’s tough, but it’s worth it!

IM Sports: Intramural sports are a great way to play the sport that you loved in high school, or to try a new one. It’s also a great way to meet people. Most teams are co-ed, and there are different skill-level options. Form a team with your floormates and sign up!

Water Aerobics: Old ladies in swim caps DOES come to mind, but it’s a great low-impact cardio workout. Resistance from the water also helps you tone without feeling like you’re doing that much work!

Circuit Training: Taught as a group class, circuit training classes can include cardio dance, cardio circuit, kickboxing, step interval, hi-lo, body pump, buts and guts…the list goes on and on! These classes combine high intensity cardio and typical weight training with small hand weights or resistance bands.

Self Defense / Martial Arts: Relieve stress, kick ass, and build muscle strength and endurance? AND be able to not only dress up like Lara Croft for Halloween but also roundhouse kick like her? Yes please.

Pilates: Tried and true, Pilates is a great toning workout for your whole body. Focused breathing and relaxation are also benefits of this low-key workout.

Every school or gym will offer some or all of these classes, so check your school’s fitness center and see what they got. Just find something you like and you’ll not only enjoy working out more, but see greater benefits, too.

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site.  We love a strong woman, so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like supergirls!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

A few years back, it seemed like everybody and their mother (literally) was getting their workout by “workin’ it” on a pole (even here at CollegeCandy!). But now, even though the trendiness has faded away, a lot of these pole-dancing and strip aerobics classes are still hanging around. So is it still OK to work up a sweat exotic-dancer style, or is it just skanky?

On the one hand, most of us work out because we want to look sexy (sure, health is good, but let’s be honest; you don’t suddenly decide to be “healthier” around bikini season), but during most workouts we tend to look and feel closer to “recently dragged by a truck” than “sexpot.” So it makes sense to try and make exercise feel sexy – it boosts self-confidence and makes you want to workout more. And learning to give an aerobic lap dance is probably more fun than the elliptical machine (why do you taunt me, elliptical machine!?). Plus, in my extensive scientific research (AKA: asking guys I know) I have discovered that stippercising is the #1 workout your boyfriend is likely to support – you’re shocked, I know.

But isn’t the guy side of it kind of a problem? Sure, we all want to look and feel good, but shouldn’t we want to do for ourselves? And seriously, you aren’t going to use those pole-dancing skills to entertain yourself, which means that you end up taking the class for at least the fringe benefit of being able to turn a guy on (well, more “on”). Do we really want to encourage the idea that even the things we do for ourselves are really about guys? And do we really want to explain those inevitable pictures of us showing off our mad lap-dance skills after too many tequila shots?

So what do you think? Is strippercising a sexy way to get in shape (and acquire some fun new skills along the way) or an over-sexed trend that needs to die?

As I was registering for classes this semester (my last semester of undergrad! Woo!), I discovered that although I’d already finished up all but one of my major and general ed requirements, I still needed to take a full semester’s worth of credits in order to have enough to graduate in May.

I was really excited that I’d finally be able to take classes that really interested me but weren’t necessarily part of my major. No more Stats! No more language!

I managed to find a few classes that seemed interesting, but unfortunately, my school doesn’t offer anything too out of the ordinary (read: cool or interesting).  I know a lot of other schools offer really cool classes, which got me to thinking about what sorts of classes I wish would be offered in college.

1.  Pole Dancing Aerobics – I don’t know about you guys, but my school doesn’t offer any sort of fitness or sports classes.  Aerobic striptease is the newest trend (Carmen Electra and other celebrities have their own workout DVDs for it!), and it seems like a lot of fun!  Seriously, would you rather sit in a lecture hall listening to some professor drone on and on, or dance….on a pole?

2.  Understanding Guys 101 – This class would focus on the psychology of the male brain, including learning to interpret the strange language and behavioral patterns of men.  I have a feeling this one would fill up fast, so sign up quick!

3.  How to Treat Women - The male student’s counterpart to the “Understanding Guys” course.  It would teach guys how not to act like total jerks most of the time and how to keep the women in their lives happy.  This one should probably be a requirement.

4.  Contemporary Popular Literature - Just like any other English literature elective you’ve taken, but instead of the same old British and American novels, you’d read things like Harry Potter, Twilight, Confessions of a Shopaholic, etc. and discuss the effect of those novels on society.  I’d definitely always have my homework done for that class!

5.  Mixology 101 – The art of mixing drinks to perfection.  It’s like chemistry, but with alcohol.  Delicious.

Anyone have some more ideas for classes you wish your school offered?

So what does this mean?

Chocolate every day? Check.

Cocktails? Check.

Cheese, chocolate cake, biscuits, avocado, whole milk, chips, and sorbets? Check, check, and check.

This “no-diet diet” allows you to enjoy the foods you love that are usually condemned by the common fad diets that we occassionally follow. Or try to follow, at least. But lemon water, cabbage soup, and a crate full of bananas just aren’t realistic methods of losing weight in the long run. Blum advises us to forget our traditional beliefs of what good foods and bad foods are, and focus on the nutritional qualities of each food instead.

On food:

Fat is good; we need cholesterol and certain saturated fats to make and regulate our hormones, so we can avoid depression and even cancer. Quality trumps quantity in importance, Blum stresses, so certain “fabulous fats” found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil should be ingested at every meal, while “frankenfats” such as those in low-fat, low-cholesterol spreads and margarines should be banned from your diet to ward off headaches and and joint aches. Eat egg yolks in conjunction with egg whites, and don’t say no to that little voice in your head that screams for a smear of hot butter on warm toast. Starchy foods like rice, beans, and corn are also good for you, as well as the occasional cocktail, as long as there’s no sugar.

On exercise:

Like most nutritionists, Blum says skipping meals is a big no, and exercising is a definite yes. But exercise should be considered “an opportunity, not a punishment,” so only do the things you really enjoy doing, like gardening, walking, or even pole dancing (for those of us who are a bit more risqué).

On sun:

You should also make sure you get at least 15 minutes of sun exposure at least three times a week for the vitamin D benefits, without sunscreen. This may alarm those who slather SPF 90 on themselves like   Martha Stewart slathers icing on a cake (and my dermatologist, to be sure), but Blum argues that most cancers are caused by lack of vitamin D.

On other stuff:

Other important nutrients include calcium, magnesium, primrose oil, borage oil, and milk thistle, all of which can be purchased as supplements to help suppress appetite and maintain healthy organ function (not to mention relieve those nasty PMS cramps).

Some foods are banned from the diet, however, including pasteurized milk, soy, white flour, and water drunk from plastic bottles.

So…will you try the no-diet diet? Or is it a no-go for you?

On the upside, there are definitely several things to look forward to, like our NCAA National Football Championship airline ticket giveaway, and a couple more items on the to-do list before the ball drops on 2009. Of course, if you’re looking for that perfect gift, perhaps a personal DIY project will do just the trick. Getting dolled up a la Twilight stars and pole-dancing for fitness are two of our new fave ways to look hot.

And when it comes to staying warm this season, there’s nothing like a little personal company. Whether you did the dirty with your first serious significant other or it led to a walk of shame, we’re all looking for some body heat to get us through the winter. We discussed the benefits of getting down with the game playa or the honest boy, and the scandalous new phenomenon of “sexting.” Regardless of who, when, or how often you’re hooking up, one thing is for certain: ladies are definitely getting some for themselves these days.

If all of that doesn’t help you through the end of finals, at least take these tips for saving your grades and stick around next week for more CollegeCandy fun!

[Exercise, health and fitness are an important part of every woman’s life. But how do you know if you’re doing it right? And what new findings, tips and advice will help you reach your health fitness goals? Kelly, our fitness guru, will keep you updated every Monday with the latest and most beneficial news and advice for your health and body. Even if it involves some...er...alternative workouts.]

Now, I know what you may be thinking: I’m the same lady who, a few months ago, wrote a blog about how I felt about the ladies of the pole. You know – strippers. Now, while I voiced my opinion on how I felt about my boyfriend visiting them, I did not (and made it a point not to) bash strippers for what they were doing (their job).

So, when my girlfriend called me up a few weeks ago and asked me if I’d like to try a new workout class, which happened to be Introductory Pole Dancing, I was game. Hey, if nothing else I could get a feel for what it’s all about and maybe learn a thing or two… Plus, I had heard it was great exercise.

So, for $15 bucks, I signed up for my 90 minute (very long class!) workout around the pole.

When the class began, my girlfriends and I went into the studio and did about 30-45 minutes of intense stretching and warm-ups. Now, coming from an individual who barely stretches when she works out, this was something I wasn’t used to; I was using muscles that I didn’t think I even had! I cramped up quite a bit during the warm up, and I hadn’t even gotten near a pole yet.

Once we finally approached the pole, we started learning how to walk around it, were taught one trick, then eventually built up to a sequence combining sexy walking, the pole trick, and moving our bodies around the pole. It was different; I will admit I started cracking up a few times as the instructor told me to run my fingers through my hair. However, I felt like I got the hang of the simple moves and started to really get into it. After 90 minutes, I was bummed the class was over and anxious to sign up for more.

I enrolled in the six week Level 1 program.

This class is not as I pictured; I imagined lots of raunchy stripper moves, stripper heels and stripper hair. And it’s not. The Pole Dancing class was about strengthening your core muscles and your body, and learning how to connect with yourself as a female. It’s invigorating and empowering…and one hell of a workout!

Not only that – the class was fun! There is no better way to get a workout than in an environment that doesn’t feel like work (until you feel the aches and pains the next morning), and this class was definitely more fun than a 45 minute trip to the weight room.

Pole dancing may not be for you – though I do think everyone should try it! – but some alternative and new form of exercising will be. This class taught me to open up and incorporate something new into my workout routine, and you should too. Hip hop dance? Bike riding? Trampoline classes? Try something different. You (and your body) will not regret it.

(Photo courtesy of newsday.com)

Being a seasoned pole-dancer now seems so last year. You may be wondering what could possibly be the future of this sex and exercise phenomenon?

A recent article in Allure magazine discusses a few of the new ways to amp up your physique along with your sexual confidence.

1. High Heel Fitness Classes

For all the New York City-ites, look into Legwork NYC for these special classes that used Pilates, yoga, and dance to give you killer legs worthy of strutting the catwalk in four inch heels. Attending a Big Ten school in the middle of the cornfields but still want to strut your stuff? Order the DVD.

2. Lap-Dancing Classes

Moving from the pole to lap grinding is easy with the many class offerings in NYC, California, Chicago, and Houston. Check out Sheila Kelly’s SFactor website for a listing near you. You never know when the ability to perfectly execute a lap dance will come in handy…

3. TantraNova

Just the name of it sounds extremely sexual…and it is. Unfortunately, right now, these yoga sessions aimed at strengthening the “pubococygeus” muscle are only offered in Chicago. But I have to admit, if I’m ever in the area, I just may need to check it out. The whole goal of these special yoga sessions are to improve your orgasms.

Those are just a few of the options popping up all over the country. Do a little research and see what is available to you. Grab some of your girlfriends and unleash your inner sex kitten while burning calories. I mean, really, what could be better?