It sometimes amazes me what we, as college students, subject our bodies to. We binge to our heart’s content, crash diet when we want to look our best, and eat foods that probably have enough grease to fuel a tractor-trailer.
Here are a few of of our unhealthy habits and a couple of ways to curb the damage we do to our bodies:
Alcohol Consumption
It’s hardly a secret that students at BC like to blow off some steam with a drink (or twelve). We’ve been taught how to drink responsibly time and time again, but of course, we know better than all of those “real adults,” and we’re going to stick to our Natty Light-chugging ways. But in all seriousness, there is some serious dehydration happening on those booze-guzzling nights, and there is a way to fix it! It’s as simple as drinking a little bit of water.
Now, I have had the same thoughts as all of you that are reading this – I’m not going to be that dork at the bar that orders water in between every drink. But as a senior whose body (unfortunately) cannot handle what it used to, I’ve learned that drinking water during the course of the night (rather than just chugging three bottles before bed) really does make a difference. So, while I would dissuade you from ordering water at Mary Ann’s (who knows what’s living in those pipes?), don’t be afraid to hydrate in between shots of Rubi! Even if your friends are calling you lame at the time, they’re going to be jealous when you feel like a million bucks (okay, maybe a thousand bucks) the next morning. And your body will certainly appreciate it.
Crash Dieting/Exercising
Spring Break is now behind us (tear), but summer is fast approaching. And let’s be honest, bathing suits are on every girl’s mind. It’s not realistic to say you shouldn’t want to look good in your bathing suit, but the tactics girls use to get there are a bit ridiculous. Lower probably had an excess of food the week before Spring Break, and the Plex certainly had a shortage of machines, because it seemed that all of the girls leaving for tropical locations were protesting food and obsessing over exercise.
Now, eating healthy and exercising are generally not thought of as being bad things. But with the way college girls do them, they sometimes can be. Instead of eating only lettuce and celery for two weeks before a vacation, why not just incorporate an extra fruit or vegetable into every meal so you don’t eat as many starches or carbs? And instead of going from no exercise to an hour of running every day for a month, and then back to no exercise, why no make a pact with yourself to go to the Plex at least 2 or 3 times a week, every week? If you’re doing a class (my favorites are Spinning and Chiseled), it really isn’t that bad!
Late Night Binging and Ordering Out
What student at BC doesn’t love Late Night? I even heard classmates on Spring Break bragging to students from other schools about the amazing array of greasy foods waiting for BC students after weekend activities. And when it’s too early (or too late) for Late Night, we’re not left with a lack of options: Eagle’s Deli, Chipotle, Bangkok Bistro, Roggie’s, Moogy’s, Pino’s, and Presto’s, to name a few. Now we even have a grilled cheese truck in Cleveland Circle (if you haven’t yet visited, check it out!!). As BC students, we are never deprived of greasy, delicious food choices.
And realistically, why would we pass them up? Who wants to cook when you can have even tastier food delivered to your door? Very few people. But, again, when we order these things in excess, our bodies are less than pleased with us. It might be hard to convince yourself in a drunken state that you don’t need that piece of late-night pizza or chicken fingers, but it’s worth a shot. Maybe keep some chips and salsa in your room for a slightly healthier snacking option. And as for eating and ordering out, limit yourself to once a week. Not only will your body thank you, but so will your wallet!