Coming into college you are warned about many things. Excessive hours of homework daily, exams, countless sleepless nights, frat houses, and…. the freshman fifteen. It happens to the best of us. Really. You begin the school year with the best intentions, but as soon as you as you strut your stuff into the dining court and see those double chocolate chip cookies, it becomes apparent that you’re not going to eat just one. Have no fear! Her are some tips and tricks to fighting the freshman fifteen (or any other weight loss battle).
1. Love your Body
Loving yourself and your body may be one of the most important (and difficult) steps to any health goal. You may be thinking, “Well if I just love myself, why would I want to lose weight.” Trust me, self-love is very beneficial. It will motivate you to take care of yourself, hit the gym more often, eat more healthy foods that helps your body and cut back on the foods that harm your body. Learning to love yourself will also create a new positive attitude towards yourself. You will be a lot easier on yourself and become less frustrated when you don’t make progress as fast as you like. Remember, weight loss is a journey and it starts with being kind to yourself.
2. Eat Healthy Food First
Most people dread eating healthy food. They think it’s bland and boring, or think that in order to lose weight, they can only eat healthy food. This is simply not the case. When approaching a meal choose healthy, nutritious foods first. Eat a banana, whole grain pasta, some yogurt, a salad, lean chicken, tofu, oatmeal, vegetable soup, anything with nutritional value should start your meals. After eating these foods then go for the slice of pizza, or even a cookie if you’re still hungry. The amount of healthy foods you take in should exceed the amount of bad foods you consume.
3. Drink Lots of Water
There are numerous benefits that come from drinking water, such as maintaining hydration. Simply drinking water can actually help you lose weight. According to Authority Nutrition, drinking water can increase the amount of calories you burn and drinking water before a meal can reduce appetite. This will lead you to consume less calories. Drink up girl!
4. Exercise
I know. You probably don’t think you have time, or maybe you just dread exercise. Physical activity is SO important not just for weight loss, but for your overall health. When you consume calories, you have to burn extra calories to balance everything out and lose weight. WebMD recommends exercising 150 minutes a week, if you cut back on calories as well. If calories is something you don’t want to cut back on, it’s completely understandable. However, you’re going to need to put more time into the gym to make up for it. Don’t be scared to try a Zumba class, or get on some weird machine you’ve never seen before in your life- it may just be the greatest thing you’ve ever tried.
5. Count Calories
This tip is one that I personally swear by. Write down everything you eat, and how many calories you eat. You will become aware of how much you’re eating (whether it be too much or too little), and specifically what it is that you are eating. This will help you see if you’re consuming healthy foods or foods that are awful for you. I’ve been counting calories for years and it has helped me lose and maintain my weight. Even though it may sound tedious, this is very helpful in the long run.
Always remember weight loss is a journey. It won’t happen over night, so take your time building healthy habits. Follow these tips, and you’ll defeat the freshman fifteen!