Hi everyone and welcome back!
I hope you arrived safely in your new home, Akademikerhilfe dormitory, and already settled down. Now it’s time to make your life as convenient and exciting as possible. We already shared with you some budget saving tips as well as different activities and events held in Vienna.
This time we want to address your inner peace and health. While being productive and socially active, it is deadly important to keep an eye on your health both physical and mental. We believe that simple workout routines and healthy diet will not require too much additional time and effort from you and yet improve the quality of your life.
Almost every Akademikerhilfe student dorm has a gym, which you can use on a regular basis. Only two dormitories charge a fee for using the gym, others offer it for free. If you find friends in the dorm, you can use it together! Believe me, friends bring fun and motivation in this daily routine! Make mutual promises and bets and enjoy workouts together. Usually our gyms have various machines and enough space for yoga and HIIT fans.
If you don’t feel comfortable with working out in the common area, you can use your own room for that. There are different bloggers that film such workout sessions, which you can watch on YouTube for free. For example, Pamela Reif has workouts for different levels: she filmed several videos on exercises which can be done at home without disturbing neighbors. Sounds like something you could make use of in your own room, right?
Thomas Morus Haus is located next to Wasserpark and Donauinsel. These areas are perfect for outdoor activities: running, cycling, swimming. Yes, you heard it right! Donau is suitable for swimming there, although my personal recommendation is Alte Donau.
There are many other opportunities for sports in Vienna: public gym, swimming pools, boxing, dancing studios, etc.
As you might know, sports is nothing without healthy diet. You could rightfully claim here that each body is different and there is no universal diet. You are absolutely right! However, there are actually several tips which would be helpful to the majority of people.
- Make sure to eat several times per day. It is better to eat 5 times a small portion than 2 times a huge one.
- Try to stick to the “funnel” principle: huge breakfast, medium lunch, rather small dinner.
- Meal prep is a must! Take 1 or 2 evenings and cook lunches for several days in advance.
- Take healthy snacks (nuts, fruits, dried fruits, protein bars, dark chocolate, yoghurt) to the university as well as your meal prep (there is always a microwave somewhere at the university) to avoid endless sandwiches, which bring calories instead of energy.
- Substitute unhealthy sweets like waffles, chocolate, ice cream, etc. with healthy ones (dark chocolate, dried fruits, fruits).
- Avoid drinking too much sweet liquid like juice, cola&co, smoothies.
- Keep an eye on protein consumption and try to stick to the amount recommended for your body weight. Don’t forget to always include green vegetables in your meal and/or apply the rule of traffic light (red, yellow and green vets contain different vital nutrients) which make the life of your digestive system way brighter and easier.
In case you are interested in recipes for your meal prep which satisfy students most important criteria: time and budget efficiency, stay tuned as the article on recipe ideas is coming out soon.
In the meanwhile we wish you a great and succefull semester! Stay productive and healthy!
Best wishes,
Vlada