By Vanessa Cantu
Contributor

Sunshine, beaches and friends. What are San Diego City College students doing to prepare for summer fun in the sun?

Working out? Eating right? Or are they just preparing for more classes during the summer school session?

A healthy diet and routine workout is on the mind of City student Cathi Ronson as she prepares for “Bikini season.”

“I try to go to the gym everyday, do cardio at least three times a week, I’ve gotta get this body ready for the beach,” Ronson said.

With Web sites like SHAPE.com, Ronson said she can get the help she needs to eat right and shed the fat before the summer hits.

“I love their Web site, they have everything from recipes to motivating stories. They even have music play lists for my ipod,” Ronson said.

“It takes a lot of dedication, sometimes I just want to eat a piece of cheesecake or grab some french-fries but I keep thinking about looking great on the beach,” Ronson added.

Dedication isn’t all that’s needed. According to City’s fitness director Paul Greer there are three important steps to working out and staying fit.

The first, according to Greer you must find something you enjoy, whether it’s running, biking or playing tennis.

“Create an environment where exercise is a passion,” Greer said.

“What happens is people treat exercise like they do their taxes, they only do it once a year,” he added.

Greer said the second step is to join a group of friends that enjoy the same type of physical activities as you do.

Finally, Greer said it’s most important to establish a goal.

“A goal has to be two things, realistic and achievable,” Greer said.

A goal can be anything, according to Greer, it just needs to create motivation and provide a drive to succeed.

“Without having a goal, you’re less likely to follow through,” Greer said.

Greer also recommends some sort of reward for achieving the goal, but said that he doesn’t suggest food as one.

“Once you accomplish that goal, start it over, make a new goal this way you stay fit,” Greer said

“The process doesn’t end it’s a life long process,” he added

Along with those three steps Greer said he recommends keeping a journal for working out and eating.

“The more we are aware or ourselves and our habits, we are in a better position to change those habits,” Greer said.

For more information on fitness and getting slim for summer, Greer recommends a trip the City’s fitness center where there are class schedules for all types of fitness classes.

Not all students are preparing for the beaches.

“I’m not going to spend all my time in the gym.” Student Omar Morales said.

Adding that he would rather ride his bike or just walk. “I walk about two miles everyday,” Morales Said.

But he won’t be walking to the beaches this summer. “I don’t go to the beach very often, the beaches here in San Diego are much too crowded,” said Morales

Morales said he plans to spend his summer taking a course in biology and making music in his home.

Lynne Callahan, 46, said she is ready for the summer and the beach.

“Ocean Beach is my favorite beach, I used to live there for 13 years,” Callahan said.

Callahan said she plans to take a total of eight units during the summer semester.

Summer school isn’t what has this City student waiting for the summer sunshine though; Callahan has plans to visit Graceland and Elvis Presley’s 14-acre estate located in Memphis, Tenn.

“I’m going to Graceland in August, and I can’t wait,” Callahan said.