Crazy About Insanity?

College students may have found a new way to combat the freshman fifteen, and pounds that pile on during their often stressful academic tenures. A workout program called Insanity seems to be getting attention on college campuses.

A study done by Dr.Terry T.-K. Huang and other health experts revealed, “most college students are not meeting dietary and physical activity guidelines, suggesting the need for prevention interventions and increased understanding of overweight in college students,” according to tandfonline.com

The need to manage their weight, along with pressure to look good might contribute to the popularity of workout programs like insanity.

“College students are obsessed with body image and this workout is marketed to a young audience with the promise that you will lose weight and gain muscle quickly,” said Matt Kirson, a 20-year-old college student.

The Insanity workout program was created by Shaun T, a dancer and choreographer who received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Science, and a minor in dance from Rowan University.

The system has 10 levels, starting with a dig deeper phase and fit test, and ending with a max cardio routine and abdominal workout.

“We are insane,” said users of the system, as they jumped up and down in the Insanity infomercial.

It’s all about max interval training explained Shaun T. “It’s going for working as hard as you can for three minutes, take a break, go back into it,” the fitness guru said in the infomercial.

“One night I was up late and saw a commercial for the workout plan. I had a conversation with a friend who'd tried it and decided that I would too,” said Daniale Simmons, a senior at Rutgers University.

“This power-packed home DVD workout by BeachBody and Shaun T is designed to transform your body from regular to absolutely ripped in just 60 days,” according to the Insanity website, but college students have mixed responses to the program.

The 60 day program costs about $120.00, but some believe it’s not worth the price or the pain.

“I wasn’t fond of the fact that the instructor didn’t allot longer break times,” said Simmons.

Kirson also had trouble with the system. “It started off extremely quick and was hard to keep up with. Since I was not used to working out at someone else's pace, I found it hard to keep on time with the video. The exercises change very rapidly and going from one to another tires you out quickly,” Kirson said.

However, getting the results you want may depend on your level of determination.

Francesca Rosa, a 22-year-old Beachbody coach thought she wasn’t going to be able to finish the program. “My first impression was, oh my God! I can’t do this! It looked completely insane,” Rosa said.

Eventually Rosa got the hang of it. “After actually trying the moves I found that I was able to do most of them, not perfectly of course, but to my capability,” Rosa said.

Contrary to negative and partial views on the Insanity system, there are those who believe if you’re persistent the results will be worth it.

Alison Antisz, a 22-year-old who often looks for new ways to stay in shape believes the program is worth the effort if it’s done regularly. “If you stick to it, eat well and give it everything you have there’s no doubt that you will look 10 times better than you did before,” Antisz said.

Eating well seems easier said than done, and some college students find it hard to maintain healthy diets while coping with the stress of their academics.

Although the workout system comes with a nutritional guide some people have a difficult time sticking strictly to the system.

“If people don’t watch what they eat a long with this system, they will probably not get the results they want. Some people have gained weight instead of losing from this system so definitely eating right plays a huge role,” Rosa said.

The Economy vs. The College Student

It all seemed to crash at once, the stock market, the housing market, people stopped spending what money they had, and then came the job cuts. In the fall of 2008, when most of today’s senior class was entering freshman dorms at their respective colleges, the onset of economic ambiguity peaked. As the class of 2012 approaches graduation, there are mixed sentiments about the current economic climate.

Non- profit research organization The Project on Student Debt stated that the 2010 graduating class faced an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, and graduated on average about $25,250 in debt.

The unemployment figures from The Project on Student Debt did not take underemployment into account. College graduates may resort to minimum wage jobs, or jobs they are overqualified for because of a lack of higher paying jobs.

Alison Antisz graduated from Rutgers University in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy, Intuitions and Behavior, and a Bachelor of Arts in Planning and Public Policy. She began searching for jobs seven months prior to graduation but still found herself in compromising financial situations.

“After graduation I was working a minimum wage job for the summer in Maryland. I was then offered an independent contractor position in New Jersey and was subsequently let go after about two months with no notice,” Antisz said.

Antisz eventually received a position as a staff scientist at a firm in Morgantown, West Virginia, but explains the road to finding a job she could sustain herself with was not easy, and for many of her friends finding a niche in this economy is difficult.

“In short, I would say it took me about five months to find a job that paid me a decent salary, but I am the only one of my friends that I can say that for, and I know the only reason I can is because I moved 500 miles away,” Antisz said.

At the end of November the U.S. unemployment rate was 8.6 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November 2010, but some economists don’t believe these numbers reflect substantial economic movement.

Professor Bruce Mizrach an Economics professor at Rutgers explained the labor market is weak, and is still in recovery. “For college graduates 2011 was better than 2010, but I think that 2012 will be no better than 2011,” Mizrach said.

Despite skepticism some college seniors are preserving positives attitudes about the economy.

Giuseppe Cefalo, a 24-year-old senior at Montclair State University feels confident in the job search. “I feel confident as far as getting a job, but I do realize how the economy is, and it’s hard out there,” said Cefalo.

Cefalo majored in Broadcasting with a minor in speech communication and plans on applying for jobs in the television industry before May commencement.

While Cefalo is keeping the faith, others working in the media industry are not convinced there’s room for eager college graduates.

Mason Medina graduated in January 2011 from Rutgers University with a B.A., in journalism & media studies, and a minor in history. After an internship with My9 in Secaucus, New Jersey, Medina was able to land a freelance position with the station.

However, Medina gets an average five days per month on the schedule as a freelance production assistant, and after sending out resumes to media companies all over the tri state area, he is extremely frustrated with the job outlook.

Looking back, Medina doesn’t think college was imperative to being successful. “No chance I’d go to college knowing it’s (the economy) is like this, I’d have at least an unsuccessful business by now,” Medina joked, as he explained he doesn’t think it makes a difference whether or not you go to college in this economy.

“I’ve been looking for a full time job for the whole year,” Medina said.

With more than three dozen resumes sent out, he explained, “the hardest part is getting an interview, because no one calls back,” Medina said.

Going to graduate school is a decision that is often weighed by recent college graduates, but being overqualified and still not being able to get a job afterward is a reality they may have to consider.

Christin Nassar graduated in 2011 with a B.A., in psychology from Rutgers, and decided to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in social work, also at Rutgers.

Nassar wanted to further her education but the economy affected her ultimate decision of completing a master’s in social work now, instead of following her dream of completing a Ph.D., in psychology.

“Originally, I planned on obtaining a master’s in clinical psychology and then going on to obtain a doctorate of psychology, but during my last semester as an undergrad I realized that financially it would be better for me to pursue an MSW and spend three years in school, as opposed to seven-eight years pursuing a Ph.D.,” Nassar said.

Nassar works as an apartment assistant at Rutgers, a job that cuts the amount of loans she has to take out to finance her education.

Optimism about the labor market after college varies from student to student, and major to major, and some people realize certain occupations are more in demand than others.

“People that went into specialized fields like nursing, radiology, medical positions, or accounting positions seem better off,” said Medina.

Medina said if he could go back to his first year out of high school he might have studied nursing.

The financial implications of going to college and dealing with the possibility of not finding a job afterward are personal decisions each student will have to weigh. “When will I retire? When can I buy a house? Will I be able to have kids and provide for them?” Antisz pondered.

Poetry runs through my vains

The American Dream

I sit in a cream coloured class-room

With red and blonde dye in my hair

I look up at the red blow, and white blowing

Not believing that I am here

The past five years seem like a blur

In the memory of my former life

The thoughts blow strongly in the wind

Like a kite on a rocky night

The American Dream

Is real to me

It could possibly be what I become

I don't steal, or cheat

I work hard on my feet

From the Green, Gold, and Black I have sprung

I slowly stride in steps

Above some citizens of this place

They don't find it fit

To use the s**t

That the Good Lord has blessed with his grace

Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, Freedom and Security shall all set me free

As I listen to this Caucasian American teach me Literature

College Literature

She sits on a stool and talks about Shakespeare and get's my mind stimulated

I listen to everyword

I soak it in

I am the incomplete American Dream

I will do all I can.

Down to the wire

It's coming down to the wire. All this preparation for prom. It's like we put all this time, effort and money into one night that's gonna dissapear in the blink of an eye, it's like a minature wedding in a way. I hope mine goes well.

I spit my game straight up. -STRE$$-

His stress is my my stress
As if he was never the one that loved me the best
Life is currently putting me under the test
The wind blows a strong current
That current is success
Money This !
Money That!
I do it all alone
Sometimes I just want a place that I may call my own
The stress is taking over my body
I feel it in my bones
I am not only alone
But alone is my only home
I do not cry
There are no tears
But everything is not as nice as it appears
Love is half of what it used to be
Home has never been the same since Jamaican days
I feel a deep and unexplainable rage
I work day and night to take care of myself
I go to school and follow rules
And do well too.
College confused
Career consumed
Looking at his lips wondering what kiss could lead to?
Needing my father to be in my life
I feel deprived.
My mother somewhat better than she was last year
Yet still most days she does not see my tears.
Friends who betray, friends who are full of shit
I know a few of them, I need to stay away from them.
I am an individual who see's myself as different from everyone around me
I don't like lesbians, I don't see what they do as right
I am a girl, who is on God's side.
I'm talking about it all
I need to get it all off my chest
I am so very stress.
Prom this
Dress that
Shoes, and hair, and jewlels
Pretty hair, and suck that tummy in
put much makeup on that face.
It's all for one night
Which will go as quickly as the minutes it takes you to read this.
I want to go to Mount Everest and scream at the top of my lungs
I want to be with you, so you can hold me
I am cold
I want to be in control of my soul
I want to live my life in a pleasing way to God.
But sometimes I just cannot.
I want him to treat me the way he used to
When I was his whole world.
I feel deprived.
I will go and look for that attention for that person who is willing to give it to me.
Take a look at my life
Do you see what I see?
My hand is healing
But I am not.
Popping pills to ease the pain all over
I feel emotionally drained.
The bell rang
Time for me to move on.

A monologue

I wrote this monologue this week. It relates to me in a way but not completely!


My throat hurts today
And…Well … I’ve got a lot on my mind
More like a couple people on my mind.

Yea…

I guess I should talk about it because I’ve already started talking about it I had a feeling today like I’ve made a lot of mistakes with boys and I guess “men” also. Yeah … men!
I’ve always had morals, but I feel that maybe I started looking for attention too early and I think …… I don’t want to sound cliché, but yea I never grew up with my father, he wasn’t present during my most important years! The times when I needed him the most, so I feel that now I let boys or “men” take advantage of me. No! This isn’t some runaway’s story; my mother and I defiantly have our issues, but I mean… Ugh okay! It’s hard to explain my first boyfriend was about seven years older than me, he treated me pretty good, and I liked our relationship because, we didn’t do anything too serious, just kissed and watched TV. I hate the fact that as we get older our relationships get more complicated. Then there were the boys that met me one day and clearly just wanted to get into my pants! And I never let them, but although I was young I was lonely. I’ve been with my boo now for at least two years, and with him I’ve done things I never thought I would do. I haven’t really regretted them because were still together, and I guess he treats me pretty good SOMETIMES! But other times I feel he takes advantage of me, just because I love him, and he knows I’ll do anything for him; that was my mistake I should have never let him know that. Brandon was the only boy that kinda sorta broke my heart. I liked him a lot, and I think we were pretty good together; I cheated on my boyfriend with him and in return he shitted on me for my best friend. Ha! Funny! I call it Karma! Brandon was my first, and my last! No one knows he was my first. I thought it was our little secret but he told his friend…. Stupid Boy! That’s how information gets around. I’m not worried I have a pretty unsmudged reputation! But I know I miss him, and I keep comparing him to my boo. I’m in love with my boo. L-O-V-E! Whew! I gave him money, and I think my cousin found out and told my mom. She told me “don’t be stupid, and give men money” I feel stupid, I wonder if he had it right now and I needed it, would he deprive himself of it and give it to me? I doubt it, so now I’m thinking even though Brandon kinda sorta broke my heart, would he ever take money from me? Yea I’m thinking a lot! I just want to be loved completely without all these extra complications. I want to go back to my first relationship when we just kissed and watched T.V, and I wasn’t worried that he’d leave me like my father, even though he did.