Let’s face it: it’s really hard to be healthy in college. With so many snacks, 24/7 food options, parties, and crazy amounts of stress, it’s understandable why the “Freshman Fifteen” is such a scary reality. But don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to make sure you’re doing your best to stay healthy! Here are some of my favorite tips to remember when trying to stay healthy at school:
1. Moderation is Key
It’s impossible to completely cut sugars, high calorie drinks, candy, snacks, and other delicacies from your diet. But instead of getting Chipotle for dinner every night, for example, try to enjoy it only once in a while. By minimally indulging in rich or sugary meals/snacks, you can still keep eating your favorite foods AND save yourself lots of calories. Too much of anything is never good.
2. Drink LOTS of Water
There are so many perks associated with drinking water. Staying hydrated will help reduce bloating, curb cravings, eliminate headaches, and promote lots of other positive things in your body. Moral of the story: drink water!!!
3. Avoid Drinking Calories
So many drinks are packed with sugars and excess calories. Even drinks that are advertised as healthy options are often not as healthy as they are portrayed to be in the media. This is another reason why drinking water is such a good idea – it has 0 calories and 0 added sugars!
4. Strength Train
One of my favorite ways to feel strong and healthy is to lift weights. This doesn’t have to be scary! My favorite weighted workouts usually just contain simple exercises that incorporate free weights. Sometimes people are intimidated by the image of big, strong athletes bench-pressing and lifting extreme amounts of weight. But that doesn’t have to be the case! Try adding weights to lunges or squats, or even just using weights in your abdominal circuit (Russian twists, weighted sit ups, etc.). I guarantee if you stick with it, you’ll see results!
5. Stay Active
This one is pretty simple. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs! Walk to class instead of taking the bus. Take a couple laps around the library in between readings. Find ways to stay moving during the day! This will help maintain an overall essence of health in your life.
Hopefully you’ll be able to incorporate some of these tips into your daily routine! Good luck, BC!