Share or Bookmark This Post

Remember… Contest ends this Friday!!!

1) Skip the Soda

College freshmen are delighted to find soda machines with “free refills” at their dining halls and food courts.  After all, who doesn’t like the taste of a sweet, sparkling beverage with their breakfast, lunch, and dinner? But beware, that soda is far from thirst quenching.  Large amounts of added sodium only make you want to drink more and more… Why don’t we taste all that salt?  Because of an enormous amount of high fructose corn syrup that masks it.  And I haven’t even mentioned the caffeine yet.

Eliminating the liquid calories of soda from your diet is the easiest way to keep off that unwanted layer of fat.  And after a couple weeks, you won’t even miss it.

2) Take a PE Class

If you find yourself with unused class credits, don’t let them go to waste (they were probably pretty expensive).  Instead, use them to take one of your school’s PE courses.  Not only the best way to make you stick to your workout plan, you also stand to learn a lot of fitness/athletic tips from an educated expert.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, or worry that you’ll be the only girl in “Weight Training” or the one guy taking “Yoga”.  Think of it as a great way to meet a hot date.

Bonus tip- Consider taking the class pass fail if you don’t want any extra academic pressure.  For a simple GPA boost, opt for the letter grade.

3) Find a Workout Buddy

Whether your fitness plan involves weights or swimming, basketball or running, try to team up with a friend.  Sometimes it’s hard to stay dedicated with all the new freedoms and distractions of college, so being able to push each other will have huge benefits.  Not only will your unwanted love handles stay away, but you’ll probably also find your bond as friends gets stronger too.

Tip- don’t choose a workout partner who you know will be more harm than good.  If your buddy becomes a bad influence, then you might need a replacement.

4) Take it Easy on the Alcohol

Like soda, Alcohol is another prime suspect for causing the freshman 15.  Not only does drinking provide a large spike in empty calories, but alcohol has even been called an anti-nutrient because it impedes our bodies absorption of other nutrients.  Alcohol is in fact a poisonous “toxin”, so it has a lengthy list of negative effects on your body.  Check out this quick article to learn more:

http://www.healtalk.com/public/64.shtml

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa65.htm

Maybe next time, you’ll skip that extra game of beer pong?

5) Eat Regularly

Yah, that’s right… eating regularly will actually help you to maintain a healthy body and weight.  That doesn’t mean eating a Big Mac every hour, but periodically consuming healthy snacks will help you to keep your metabolism awake.  One of the worst habits of a college student trying to lose weight is skipping meals:  By prompting your metabolism to slow down, your body goes into conservation mode, so it works to RETAIN the calories you consume at your big dinner at the end of the day.  Healthy snacks to consider:  Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, almonds…

Share or Bookmark This Post

The days of home cooked meals are over. Mom is no longer there to nourish you with the 5 daily food groups at every meal. The decision of what to eat is now in your hands and vegetables are no longer mandatory.  Are you going to choose to eat healthy, somewhat healthy, or abandon dietary restraints all together?

For many schools, the choices for what to eat are endless. You got your fast food like McDonalds, Burger King, Panda Express, Taco Bell and Subways, but then you are also provided with various Cafeteria options (and salad bars) where you can customize exactly what you want to eat.  While the choice seems to be easy if you are trying to eat healthy, you will be surprised how many times you are in a rush to class and choose the easy option like McDonald’s. It is also difficult to stick to “healthier” foods when all of your friends are eating whatever they please. The keys to eating well are also quite similar to doing well in school: time management and planning ahead.

Holiday Season: Buy a Healthy Care Package!

Every day for the most part you will have a pretty set schedule of classes. Try to structure your meals around your class and homework schedule. For example: If you know you have to wake up early and won’t have time to go and get food, plan a quick healthy breakfast¹². Realistically, you will spend a good amount of time on campus and be subjected to the dining facilities that the University provides. If you decide to have a sandwich for lunch, choose wheat bread instead of white and only add a very small amount of condiments if possible. These are just two small examples of the many things you can do on a daily basis.

Most kids these days have a decent understanding between what is healthy and what is not. Student’s go off to school and hear of the dreaded “Freshmen 15”, but don’t think it could ever happen to them. The truth is, it can happen to anyone! It’s completely normal to splurge once in a while, but as long as you follow some of these basic health tips you should be fine. Below are some helpful links that can guide you to a healthier lifestyle.

Helpful Links:

1)   A Health Nuts Guide to a Quick and Healthy Breakfast – http://gomestic.com/cooking/a-health-nuts-guide-to-a-quick-and-healthy-breakfast/

2)   We Test it: Healthy Cereal – http://www.prevention.com/health/nutrition/smart-shopping/healthy-cereals-9-best-tasting-and-healthy-cereals/article/74f950d1fa803110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/

3)   College Eating and Fitness 101: A Guide for College Students – http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/college101.html

4)   Healthy Dining in the Dorms – http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1200&page=2

5)   5 Quick and Healthy Foods to Keep in your Dorm: http://www.healthcastle.com/newsrelease_2007-06-19-5-quick-and-healthy-foods-to-keep-in-your-dorm.shtml