With the cool weather coming and the holidays around the corner, Moorpark College students don’t need to hide behind a bulky sweatshirt or fashionable poncho to hide those winter pounds. A 10-minute workout between classes can keep students trim and feeling healthy.

“A high-intensity work-out provides many of the fitness benefits of prolonged endurance training but in much less time,” said Gus Guardino Moorpark High School strength and conditioning coach. “Getting out and engaging in a quick 10-minute brisk walk will work wonders for the waistline.”

Taking the time to exercise before, between, or after class will help students keep off those unwanted winter pounds. Walking 10-minutes five or six days a week will keep students from having to spend hours in the gym, whereas committing to an hour per week will help maintain a healthy heart and can aid in avoiding those unwanted holiday pounds.

Walking the Academic Center courtyard circular hill will take students just about 10 minutes, resulting in burning approximately 50-70 calories. The more students weigh, the more calories they will burn. On average a person weighing 185-pound will burn about 70 calories, while a person weighing 125-pounds burns about 50 calories.

Student should make the walk around the courtyard a regular routine in order to accomplish some kind of physical activity.

The 10-minute exercise habit can also include simple moves to burn more calories. Walking with raised arms above the head increases heart rate and also tones the abdomen. Another move is walking backwards uphill. This may require more concentration; however, it will strengthen the quadriceps, gluteus, and calf muscles.

“What a great idea to walk the circle to burn some extra calories,” said 22-year-old Moorpark College student Ashley Scalise. “I can’t seem to find time to exercise with my busy schedule, this would really help me stay healthy.”

With all the exercise programs out there, the best one will always be the ones students can stick with on a regular basis and gain health benefits worth walking towards.