College is a huge change. You’re leaving the house you grew up in, your family and friends and, of course, your dog. You suddenly have a ton of freedom but you’re tired all the time for no reason. Then you add in homework, exams, clubs, a social life and an empty bank account. We’ve all been there, and we all know how it feels. When I was a freshman, I found it hard to get back in the groove of my normal habits. I wasn’t doing as much exercise as I was used to, I was on that ramen diet and all I wanted to do was watch The Bachelor. Through all of that though, I found some things that have helped me get back to a figure that I’m comfortable with.
From tracking every calorie and physical activity into fitness apps to drinking as much water as your body can before going to the bathroom every five minutes, here’s a few ways you can avoid the heartbreak that is losing your ~pre-college figure.~
- Fitness Tracking Apps
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MyFitnessPal is a great tool for tracking your eating and fitness. I’ve been doing this since freshman year of high school (I’m a sophomore in college now), so I know this works! This app takes into account your age, height and physical activity to get you where you want to be. You simply put that in, plus your current and desired weight, and the app gives you the number of calories you’re allowed to eat in a day. It also allows you to put in any exercise you did on a particular day, which in return gives you more calories (which I view as being able to eat a cookie or three… or four). The app also gives users coupons and healthy recipes to try. The easiest part is that it only takes a few seconds to put in the food you ate, so once you get in the groove of it, it’s almost second nature.
- Drinking water
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Drinking a ton of water may just be the best thing ever for our overall health. Ideally, one should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water in a day (the 8×8 rule), which is equivalent to a half a gallon of water. Drinking water is good for your skin, teeth, prevents dehydration, helps digestion, flushes out waste and helps with hangovers. In this context, drinking this much water helps create a sense of fullness and prevents overeating. I try to drink a glass of water before breakfast, two or three bottles of water before lunch, and then two or three before dinner. I know what you’re thinking… and yes, it’s the worst to have to go to the bathroom 24/7, but trust me it’s worth it.
- Chia seeds
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I don’t know about you, but whenever I use these I feel so trendy and hip. People put them on and in everything from salads to yogurt to smoothies. The good thing is though, if you put 1 ½ to 2 ounces of them in water, they’re just as effective. Chia seeds have a ton of fiber and protein in them, so they absorb the water in your stomach and make you feel fuller for longer, which helps keep your appetite in check by not snacking in between meals. Also, chia seeds give you energy and prevents signs of aging.
- Cardio (ugh, I know)
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This one is a little more challenging than the others, but it definitely helps. Any type of cardio is really good for toning your body. I used to be a huge runner and I can confidently say that I was in the best shape while doing it. Getting back into the groove of it is hard but I’m trying to do half a mile on the treadmill every other day and working my way up to three miles. Running (long distance or sprints) isn’t the only option though, you can also do the elliptical, stair climber, jump rope, cycling, swimming or just go for a walk around the city.
Now listen, I am not the skinniest / most in shape person by ANY means. I still have my setbacks and am still trying to figure out things that are good for my body. With that being said, you can do all of these things, one of them, or none of them. What works for me may not work for someone else. It’s a long process and one that takes some getting used to, but the important thing is that you feel confident, healthy and happy. It’s not about losing that extra fifteen pounds; It’s about the changes your body goes through in college and keeping it in a healthy place.