The weeks before Spring Break seem to spark a frenzy on college campuses for those trying to get the "right look" before their vacations.
Some students, however, may overlook the risks of rushing to prepare their bodies for beach-combing.
Some students try to eat healthy, while others focus on working out. Then there are those who head for the tanning bed.
Heather Kramer, an employee at Ultra Image in the Village, 409 N. Martin Ave., said the company's business increases in weeks leading up to Spring Break.
In recent weeks, the number of people coming to tan has increased by about 25 percent.
Junior Matt Lawrence who will be vacationing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is focusing most of his preparation efforts on dieting.
"I would go for tanning," he said. "It's just too bad I'm broke."
Gail Bernow, an associate at General Nutrition Centers Inc. in the Muncie Mall, said the number of students coming to buy supplements increases this time of year.
"January and March are usually our biggest times for sales to college students," she said.
Bernow said diet pills tend to be popular, and she expects to see an influx of female students within the next few weeks.
Lawrence said he has completely changed the way he shops for food.
"The health food is actually cheaper," he said.
Along with healthy eating practices, Lawrence tried the latest television craze to get his desired look. He ordered the Fast Abs machine from a commercial he had seen several times.
Fast Abs is a belt that attaches around the waist and sends electrical impulses into the abdominal muscles. The purchase, however, did not prove too successful for Lawrence.
"Buyers beware," he said. "Don't fall for it."
Lawrence said he ordered the equipment because it looked easy to use and seemed to work well. After trying it for a few days, however, he concluded that old-fashioned exercise was the way to go.
Some students take a more extreme approach to Spring Break preparation by relying on fad diets.
According to an article published by the University of Oklahoma, diets are popular for one reason - they tell people what they should eat and when they should eat it. While these diets may work for a few weeks or even a few months, they tend to promote unhealthy eating patterns.
The University of Oklahoma article added that no diet will help you become a healthy and fit person if one of the major food groups is left out.
Maintaining a regular diet and exercise is the safest and most effective way of getting in shape.
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