So it is the beginning of a new semester and you are getting ready for another busy, crazy day in the life of a student. You reach into your closet for those cute jeans you just absolutely love. They contour your fab figure and you feel so comfortable in them. They are your go-to jeans. But! As you pull them on, you realize they are snug, and snugger than you remember. What a bummer! Everyone knows what I’m talking about, it happens to all of us at some point……. right!?
Well let’s face it, the holidays just passed us and we had a great time, enjoyed ourselves with all of the tempting holiday goodies we divulged on back at home right? Yes, that happened. Well that is OK! So, now what? You think to yourself as you rush to class that day, “what can I do to get back into those jeans…and OH Spring Break is upon us….swim suit season!”
Okay, let’s calm down, I know these can be thoughts that can put you into panic zone, but the good news is with the just a few tips and reminders, you can jumpstart your way back into those jeans before you can say the word midterm.
It is stressful, I get it. You think you are too busy to eat right and exercise…and time management for this? What is that? Well, I am going to share with you some tips that I myself have tried before and have worked and it required very little time in a busy schedule.
First and foremost, I cannot stress how important it is to drink water for maintaining health and when trying to lose weight. Try to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. If you can only consume 40 ounces, that is a great start! Water provides many benefits to your body. A large portion of your body mass consists of water naturally and needs to be replenished. It also helps flush out the toxins, keeps you hydrated, is great for your skin health and managing hunger; not to mention help curb your sweet tooth! If you really dislike water and the taste of it is just too bland, try infusing it with lemons, lime and other fruits. It will give it a kick and your body will thank you.
The more water you consume, the better but be aware that there is such a thing of over consuming things, so just be aware to not go overboard; listen to your body. Just make sure you are getting your H2O, it will help you be ‘good to go.’
Second, pack snacks to munch on throughout the day. Nuts, fruits and crackers are excellent ideas. Just throw them in your backpack and go! I personally love to snack on nuts because they provide many nutritional benefits along with the fact that they are loaded with protein and are filling.
Protein is a great way to satisfy your hunger in addition to water. These two combined will leave your tummy smiling and keep the hangry away.
Third, walk it off! Walking is an excellent exercise when you want to shed some pounds; aside from that, walking is also great cardio for your heart, to relieve stress and helps balance the mind. When you’re cautious of what you are eating and combine it with participating in physical activity, you are increasing the effectiveness of your metabolism so that it may burn more calories and fat. So what do you think about that?
Fourth, get your zzz’s. Sleep is very important and I am sure you have heard to get your sleep, get your sleep, get your sleep, over and over, and there is truth behind this. You should try to get at least 8 hours a night. I know it’s very difficult to get in 8 hours of sleep when you have many obligations between work and school pressing you to stay up late. But if you make a schedule and manage your time you can make it a priority and be mindful of it.
The fifth tip of advice I can give you is to ditch the fast food.
Because not only is it obviously unhealthy to consume fast food, it’s also one of the fastest ways to gain the unwanted pounds. There are many preservatives and high levels of sodium in fast food that effect your health in various ways. So instead of relying on fast food, venture onto Pinterest to search for quick healthy recipes or grab a cookbook and, begin to learn to cook if you haven’t already! There are thousands of easy recipes you can make for yourself and/or your roommate(s)!
Incorporating these five into your hectic, daily routine will keep you mindful of what you consume, and what physical activity you participate in. Remember to take care of YOU because it is very important to! Make sure you also visit your student health services or family physician for routine checkups. I would advise you consult with a health care professional before beginning any weight management regimen. I hope that you find these tips helpful and know that with each small step in the right direction you will find yourself heading toward a greater, healthier YOU.