By Eva Peterson
Lets face it, it’s hard to make health conscious choices as a freshman in college. Half the time you’re running across campus from class to class and barely have time to grab a bagel, let alone assemble a salad. Sometimes, you’d rather just lay down in bed with a tub of ice cream than walk all the way from your dorm to get breakfast. In the midst of all the new experiences and free donuts, it’s easy to slip into an unhealthy lifestyle– but what can we do to prevent that?
1. Take advantage of your resources!!
Chances are, if your school has athletics, it also has an amazing gym that you can access! Take time to explore what your gym has to offer. Whether it be swimming laps at the pool, TRX, or brazilian booty classes, there’s something for everyone.
2. Find a gym pal
You are much more likely to go to the gym if you know someone is counting on you to be there. Grab a friend, roommate, cute guy from down the hall, or any person who shares the goal of staying fit in college and be eachothers motivation station.
3. If you don’t buy it, you can’t eat it
We all know how easy it is to start writing a paper with a bag of chips in your lap and then 2 paragraphs later the bag is empty. Snacking is inevitable, but if you rid your dorm of unhealthy ones, you can’t eat them. Often times, when the cravings hit, laziness will overpower your desire to walk to the store just to buy cheetos.
4. Set a schedule.
You have your class schedule, now it’s time to make your workout schedule. Make time each day to do something active and plan ahead on days when you know you will be busy. Print out a schedule of your gyms workout classes and outline which ones you can make it to that week. Challenge yourself and try something new! Can you attend all of them by the end of the semester?
5. Know your local grocery stores/farmers markets
The most popular excuse for not eating healthy is because it’s “too expensive”. However there are many grocery stores that have both affordable and healthy options! Additionally, if you go to your local farmer’s market and shop fruits and veggies that are in season, they are often dirt cheap. Check out https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ to discover what foods are in season near you so you know what you’re looking for.
6. Switch it up
Incorporate “fundays” into your workout regime where you get out of the gym and try something new. If you go to school near the beach, pick up a volleyball or learn to surf. Try a sport you’ve never done before with your workout pal, or just hike around your local trails and explore your city! You never know what adventures you may stumble upon.
Your freshman year of college is a unique time in your life where you get to essentially “reset” everything. New friends, new place to live, why not a new outlook on diet and exercise?