Everyone knows that feeling all too well: having just finished Thanksgiving dinner, laying on the couch with a stomach full of food. It’s only natural to put on a few pounds after the holidays.
Due to continuing COVID-19 health and safety regulations, many gyms across Southern California are shut down, including the campus’s very own BRIC. To stay in shape after indulging in that holiday feast and combat post-holiday weight gains, CPP student-athletes shared ways they are staying productive with their workouts despite the circumstances.
Eric Romo, a senior pitcher, is used to working out nearly daily, a habit that continues despite the pandemic.
“I work out anywhere from five to six days a week,” said Romo. “Our strength and conditioning coach Chase Sanders sends out our workout cards that I follow every week, along with other workouts I create on my own in order to stay ready for when we come back.”
As a pitcher, Romo works mostly on the lower half of his body, with some accessory work for his upper body.
“On a heavy leg day, I will do about eight different movements with three to four sets or five to 10 sets each, depending on the weight,” said Romo. “Currently, I work out in my garage because I was lucky enough to have a gym set up in there before COVID-19 hit. However, I usually workout in the weight room at school, as well as the church fitness center.”
According to Nuvance Health, exercise is essential for well-being during the pandemic. Exercise can reduce stress, prevent weight gain, boost the immune system and improve sleep.
Senior hurdler Imani Williams hustles to stay active and believes she can conquer the post-holiday fatigue.
“I work out five days a week,” said Williams. “I do the workouts that the coaches send out to the team each week. The workouts can get really detailed with how many meters we run if we’re sprinting, doing strides or certain drills.”
Fortunately, Williams has a family member who allows her to use workout machines and dumbbells.
“On Mondays we do 10 30-meter accelerations with squats and push-ups in between each run,” said Williams. “On Tuesdays we run a lot, on Wednesdays we do a recovery day with yoga and hurdle drills and on Fridays we do three sets of five, 100-meter hills.”
With the takeover of COVID-19, there has been an increase in the amount of people working out and staying in-shape during the holiday season.
Noel Soto, freshman baseball pitcher, continues to work on the conditioning cards head baseball coach, Randy Betten, sends the baseball team regularly.
“Besides the workouts I do for the baseball team, I have a rack of dumbbells that I use to work on my shoulders, arms and back,” said Soto. “I decided to stay away from gyms because of the virus—I am much more comfortable at home and running on my own time.”
Soto plans to keep the same regiment of running in the mornings and participating in his daily workouts for different parts of the body in order to avoid gaining weight after the holidays, as well as using dumbbells. for arm day and bands for leg day.
“I also practice twice a week with some friends to stay up with baseball,” said Soto. “I usually workout five to six days out of the week.”
