Starting off college while balancing both school and a social life on your own may feel like a lot at first, but once you get in the swing of things and classes start up it’s important to find a routine and to stay healthy. Here are some things I have learned on losing (or just fighting) the freshman 15.
Take the stairs.
This may seem obvious, but when living in a high rise your freshman year it might seem silly. In any case, you can try to take the stairs rather than the elevator. It is a simple way to get in a mini workout for the day if you can’t make it to the gym and it tones your legs all in one. Swapping the stairs for the elevator is an easy fix on staying active even on busy days.
Walk to your classes.
While taking the bus to go from the Southwest Area to the I.L.C. might seem like a good idea, deciding to walk instead is an effective way to exercise while potentially not even breaking a sweat! Setting a goal for a certain number of steps you want to take every day can help you become more aware of staying active. It’s as easy as using the Health app on your iPhone to track them. Walking both to and back from your classes can make exercising an easy part of your day.
Eat a balanced breakfast. Everyday.
Breakfast is an easy meal to skip: your late to class and in a rush, or you slept in too late and missed it. However, breakfast is the most important meal of the day so you should always try to eat it. Since what you eat every day can get repetitive, try to vary what you’re having to make it worthwhile and something you look forward to having each morning. Keep it balanced by adding protein, in eggs or oatmeal, calcium, in yogurt or milk, grains, and fruits. Although they might look yummy, try avoiding the pastries at breakfast. They are sugary and often don’t offer enough nutrients alone to start your day off right (although treat yo’ self every once in a while).
Start going to the gym.
It may seem obvious, but going to the gym even if it’s for a short amount of time can boost your mood and leave you feeling happier. Find a certain time to go each day so that it becomes a routine, find friends to chat with, or take a class at the gym. There are a variety of things to do; reward yourself afterwards with a smoothie to top it off!
Avoid late-night eating.
Yes, every now and then it won’t hurt to eat pizza or chicken fingers at midnight, but it can easily become an every weekend kind of thing. Try to avoid eating late at night, because often the food is unhealthy and fattening. Late Night at Berk is worth it sometimes, but avoid going as a routine. Avoiding late night cravings can become a simple way to keep off weight. If you do end up snacking late at night, eat something light like fruit, popcorn, or nuts so your cravings are satisfied without all the extra calories.