Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or student, there’s probably no busier time in your life than back-to-school season. As the relaxing days of summer give way to strict schedules and rushed routines, it can feel like it’s almost impossible to squeeze one more thing in, which means workouts at the gym sometimes take a backseat.

Adventure Fitness Athletic Club is here to help you through this hectic time. Thanks to our flexible hours and abundance of classes and equipment, our members can still make fitness a priority at our Thornton gym so that they’re physically and mentally ready for those school bells to ring in the new year.

In this blog, AFAC gym lays out a few tips to show you how regular exercise is not only possible during the school year, but also an important part of keeping healthy, strong, and more relaxed.

Schedule Your Workouts at the Gym

Would you ignore soccer practice, a meeting at work, or an important family event? Of course not. In order to make sure your workouts at the gym don’t suffer during the school year, you need to make them a priority in your calendar. Your gym workouts are your “you” time, which means they’re important for your physical and mental health. They provide you with the space you need to think, reflect, and even blow off a little steam. We guarantee you that you’ll feel better after some time at the gym. Plus, it’s a great way to model a healthy lifestyle for others in your family.

AFAC gym is open Monday through Friday from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm so that you’re able to work out early in the morning, during your lunch hour, in the evenings, or on the weekend. Plus, our personal trainers can show you how to make your workouts as efficient and effective as possible so that you can make the most of your time at the gym.

Get Schooled at Our Gym Classes

Back-to-school can also be an exciting time when you look forward to learning new things and meeting new people. We have some good news for you: our gym also has plenty of classes of our own for you to try! Check out our class schedule page to learn about how you can attend fitness “school” with your friends at AFAC. Here are just a few of the many fun and challenging classes we offer at the gym:

All our classes are free to members, who can sign up on MINDBODY. Non-members can also join us for a $10 per-class fee. If you have questions about our classes, feel free to ask any member of our staff. We hope to see you there!

Roll Out of Bed Earlier

We know, we know. After a couple months of summer vacation, “early to bed and early to rise” is tough to get used to again. This is not an easy transition for many of us, but train yourself to wake up early enough to get a 30-45 minute workout before the day starts making demands of you. That way, your daily workout will be out of the way, and you’ll feel more positive and energized to tackle the rest of your schedule.

Prepare a Healthy Menu for the Week

Set aside a couple hours every weekend to do some healthy food prep for the week. You’ll not only save time, but you’ll also have nourishing food on-hand to grab when you’re busy, which reduces the risk of settling for fast food, candy, cookies, and other unhealthy choices.

A few examples of healthy foods that you can have ready ahead of time for the week include:

Hard-boiled eggs
Grilled chicken and salmon
Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella
Grapes
Baby carrots
Cheese slices
Sliced bell peppers with guacamole
Mixed nuts
Greek yogurt and mixed berries
Apple slices with peanut butter
Cottage cheese with fruit
Naan with hummus
Broccoli, raw or steamed
Vegetarian chili
Taco bowls with rice, turkey taco meat, corn, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo
Protein drinks and protein bars
Healthy dinner leftovers

As you can see, food prep can be as simple as buying a few pieces of fruit or as involved as cooking entire meals ahead of time, but it all basically boils down to one simple concept — providing yourself with healthy, calorie-controlled choices that are delicious, quick, and convenient.

Students Need to Be Healthy, Too

When we talk about back-to-school frenzy, we’re not just referring to teachers and parents. Students are not immune from the abrupt lifestyle changes that come about this time of year, but that doesn’t mean they should forget their fitness in lieu of their new classroom routine.

If you’re a student who’s not enrolled in an after-school sport or other physical activity, schedule time to exercise your body as well as your mind. Here are some ideas to increase your heart rate, make you sweat, and build some muscle.

Find a convenient time to workout

Right after school and before homework time, try to fit in a workout. This can be as easy as hitting the park with your friends to play basketball, going on a hike with your best buds, jogging home from school, or even doing some exercises in your own living room.

Exercise with your folks

Make fitness a family affair by joining your parents and siblings during their workout. Go on walks or bike rides together; play a game of soccer, football, tennis, or golf; or tag along for trips to a gym near you.

Become a member at a gym

If you’re 14 years old or older, you can be a member of AFAC gym where you can take advantage of our many different exercise options like our group classes, spin bikes, StairMaster, VersaClimber, strength training equipment, Jacobs Ladder, resistance bands, climbing walls, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance sled, ellipticals, and treadmills.

You’ll Earn Straight “A”s for Effort at AFAC Gym

The team at Adventure Fitness Athletic Club hopes that our members will keep striving to reach their fitness goals, even during the chaos of back-to-school time. We’re always here to provide you with a well-equipped, well-maintained gym and a welcoming, encouraging environment. If you’re not yet a member of our gym, we hope you’ll stop by and find out why AFAC is the best gym in the Thornton area. To learn more, please visit to look around and speak to our staff. You can also contact our gym owner, Susan, at 720-849-0245 or susan@adventurefitness.club for assistance.

To read more articles from Adventure Fitness Athletic Club, check out our Adventure Corner blogs by clicking here.