When I came home for summer vacation after my freshman year, I noticed that I had gained a little bit of weight. I didn’t fit into any of the bathing suits or summer clothes from the previous year and overall, I was unhappy. I honestly would have been shocked if I hadn’t gained a few pounds after my freshman year, this happens to most people! I decided to get in shape for my sophomore year and go back to being the same weight I had normally been. I cut out all junk food from my diet and only ate healthy foods. I joined a gym in town called F45, which is an intense workout for only 45 minutes. I started going every single day in the summer. On top of that, I ran 2 miles a couple times a week. By the end of the summer, I was at the weight I wanted and looked leaner and slimmer.
Right when I stepped foot back on campus in August, I left all those healthy habits behind. I stopped going to the gym and I started to eat whatever looked good in the dining hall due to the lack of options. Most of the food that looks good in the dining hall is usually not the healthiest. I went home for midterm break and realized I needed to go back to a healthier lifestyle, not to lose weight, but for my body to feel alive and energized and to avoid gaining those few extra pounds. I have recently been very conscious about the types of food they serve at the dining hall.
My advice is to be aware of the number of calories in the food. The calorie amount is posted in front of the food. Now some of these foods are ok to have, but in MODERATION. Let’s say you love ice cream, tell yourself on Friday nights you are allowed to have a bowl of ice cream. Or let’s say you want a cookie, instead of having three cookies only have one. Do not restrict yourself. When it is time to sit down and eat, I recommend you grab your meal and drink, sit down and not get back up. If you get back up to wander around and see what else they have you are more likely to bring back more and more food and most likely end up overeating.
Another tip is to try and do something active once a day. I know it is hard when having a busy schedule, but exercise is very important for your body and also your mind. Studies show people actually perform better in school when you get exercise.
Another important tip is to try not and eat after 8-9 p.m. It is really unhealthy to eat right before bed and can cause weight gain. If you stop eating a few hours before bed the food has time to digest. One of the things my roommate and I decided to do was get rid of all the snacks in our dorm room. This has actually helped us from overeating because if food is laying around in front of us, we are more likely to eat even when we aren’t that hungry. Now since we have no snacks, we don’t think of eating until it is time for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Another big reason for weight gain in college is drinking. This is a hard one because drinking is something most college kids do. The problem I get myself into is after a night out. After a night out, I tend to be starving. I would eat anything. I now have a snack for myself laid out on my dresser so when I come back to my room, I know to eat that snack. I usually have a banana or apple out.
I hope some of these tips are helpful! Stay tuned for more health-related articles!