Everyone knows about the “Freshman 15”. For some people, going away to college means relying on themselves to stay healthy. Nobody is going to restrict what you eat or what you do. The college lifestyle is one of the choices. With so many temptations around, college students are apt to make the easy choices, so to speak. Below are five ways that can help you, or anyone you know, stay healthy and fit while in college.
In this post:
1. Watch Your Late Night Snacking
We all know that sometimes students stay up late into the night in order to finish a big essay or study for an exam. While it is beneficial to eat something to keep your brain functioning well, you must watch what you are eating. Lots of students have a stash of chips, cookies, and candy at their disposal. Some might be tempted to cook a frozen pizza or make some spaghetti.
While you should always treat yourself once in a while, pay attention to nutrition labels. Most labels trick consumers with portion sizes. While a typical frozen pizza might say 300 calories, it might have two serving sizes which doubles the numbers if you were to eat the whole thing in one sitting. Generating awareness will make you that much more attentive to what you are putting inside your body so you can eat healthier.
2. Watch What You Drink
While we should all limit our intake of sodas and fruit juices, more importantly, I am talking about alcohol. With so many parties in college, students are exposed to a wide variety of alcohol, especially beer. Despite the dangers of alcohol, a bottle of beer packs on quite the number of calories. Limit the drinking to one to two bottles if you must. Hard liquor like vodka is also not very good for the body. Watching your alcohol intake makes you healthy, and it also prevents you from looking like a drunken idiot.
3. Exercise As Much As You Can
If you have class on the third floor, you should take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do not try to compromise by taking the elevator up and walking down. You burn more calories walking up the stairs than you do down. Always walk up the stairs. Also, some campuses offer shuttle services for students to parking lots. Do not take them. Use this time to take a brisk walk and increase your cardio. College students are already very sedentary, so you should take every opportunity to remain active.
4. Do Something You Love
Many students often are stressed by the pressures of college. Students have to juggle school with work while also thinking about their uncertain futures. All these things combined can make a person stressed. Stress can make you eat more, sleepless, and create numerous health issues. By doing something you love once every week, you set aside time to clear your mind.
5. Get Lots Of Sleep
College students often overlook this important aspect. With school, work, and studying, many students simply do not set aside enough time for sleep. You should try to sleep for at least 8 hours, but if you can’t be sure to get at least 7. Sleeping better is not only beneficial for your health, it gives you more energy and allows for maximum output the next day.
Hopefully, these tips will help new freshmen in college avoid the dreaded “Freshman 15” weight gain.
