Ellington

Carla Gayle Simpson, 24, is a fourth-year dental student at the University Medical Center. She takes classes six hours a week and sees patients from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. But even though she has a very busy and hectic schedule, she still manages to work out on a regular basis.

"I'm better on schedule because I can plan for it," says Simpson, when asked about how she inserts her workout routine into her busy lifestyle. She adds that having a planned and regular workout keeps you motivated and helps you stay on track.

Simpson exercises about six times a week. She participates in a variety of activities to keep her workout fresh. She runs or walks around Fondren, where she lives. She also swims and takes spinning classes two to three times a week at the YMCA on Fortification Street. She says that the variety in her routine keeps her from being bored and reaching a plateau.

The dental student encourages other people to join a gym rather than going to it alone. She joined the YMCA about five months ago because of the heat but mainly because she wanted to explore other activities. She also wanted to swim more for strength training because she does not lift weights and does not do muscle-building exercises like Pilates. Carla says that working out is more fun if you join a gym because you have support, build relationships with your workout partners and the atmosphere is a positive motivator.

Simpson is not a morning person, so she works out during the evening between 5 and 8 p.m. She says that the physical activity helps her sleep better at night, which gives her body a good rest.

When asked about her eating habits, Carla laughs and says: "I really just eat anything I want, I'm really laid back about food, but I pay attention to the portions." She does try to eat healthy options, though. Being single and having a very busy schedule, Simpson eats out a lot rather than cooking her meals.

Because she's slow to get going in the mornings, she usually has a simple breakfast like yogurt and granola. For lunch she likes sandwiches with some cheese and fruits. Yogurt is her favorite snack. Carla usually eats a light snack before working out to jumpstart her body. Dinner is a salad or something light.

Something Simpson would like to improve in her eating habits is her soda consumption. "I drink Diet Coke because I love it, and I know I need to drink more water," she says, laughing. Her other splurges are hamburgers and anything Italian, such as pizza and pasta.

Her workout advice for other busy Jacksonians is simple: "For someone who does not have a lot of time, pick a friend to be your workout buddy and have fun together. You will keep each other accountable and also have support and encouragement." Simpson has a tennis buddy and a lot of girlfriends who go to the gym with her. That is, she is surrounded by healthy people.

To sum up, Simpson's wellness plan is: Add variety to your workout to spice it up; feel free to eat anything while controlling portion size; and have fun!

The Skinny
Workout
Activities are alternated on a weekly basis.
• Run or walk for an hour
• Spinning class two to three times a week
• Two hours playing tennis an average of once a week
• Swim for an hour

Eating Habits
• Anything you want in healthy portions
• Breakfast: Yogurt and Granola
• Lunch: Sandwich, Cheese, Chips, Fruits
• Snack: Yogurt is a favorite, Pretzel, Crackers
• Dinner: Salad, Soup, Pasta
• Splurges: Hamburger, Pizza

Advice
A variety of exercise and small portions