Your busy college schedule may not leave much time for healthy eating and regular exercise. While you're running to class, you may reach for convenience foods, especially if your dorm room doesn't have a fridge or kitchen. If you've fallen victim to the freshman 15, you don't have to wait until you've graduated to lose weight. Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet or exercise plan.
Eat Wisely in the Dining Hall
If your dining hall has an all-you-can-eat option, it may be tempting to eat more than your share. Set a routine that will keep you from overeating. Instead of going straight to the pizza and macaroni and cheese, eat an entire plate full of salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing first. Then go back and choose healthy foods like steamed vegetables, seared fish and broiled chicken. If you absolutely must indulge, eat a very small portion of your favorite food so you won't feel deprived.
Exercise for Credit
If you don't have the time to exercise on your own time, make it a part of your curriculum. If you have some elective credits available, choose a physical fitness class that will help you stay active throughout the day. This way, you'll be able to exercise without sacrificing valuable studying time. If your school doesn't offer exercise courses, sign up for an intramural sport after class.
Get Active With Your Friends
Teens and young adults need approximately 1 hour of exercise every day. If you're burning more calories than you are consuming on a daily basis, you'll lose weight. You may be more likely to exercise if you involve your friends. If your current college friends aren't interested in exercising, make some friends who are excited to get up early and exercise before class. You'll keep each other motivated so you won't be tempted to sleep in.
Stock Your Room With Healthy Snacks
To keep your blood sugar and energy up throughout the day, eat a small meal or snack approximately every 3 hours. This may be a challenge if your main food source is from the dining hall. Buy a variety of nutritious snacks like apples, almonds, dried fruit and sunflower seeds and keep them in your dorm room. Take study breaks and eat a handful of nutritious snacks to energize yourself and keep you from overeating later in the night.
References
- Center for Young Women's Health; Freshman 15; 2011
- "The Dorm Room Diet: The 8-Step Program For Creating a Healthy Lifestyle Plan That Really Works"; Daphne Oz; 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Teen Weight Loss: Healthy Habits Count; Nov. 2009
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