It’s no secret that UMass Amherst has been ranked as the #1 Campus food by Princeton Review for the past 2 years.

It is said that most people gain upto 15 pounds by eating unhealthy food on campus. When I first got to UMass this was one of my biggest worries. I had dealt with weight problems throughout high school and was finally feeling good about myself. I did not want all my hard work to go to waste.

Everyone who knows me knows that I am FAR from healthy when it comes to food. I think I ate a salad 2 times in the course of the whole year. I was shocked that I managed to keep my the weight off.

Here is how I did it:

1. Eat whatever you want.

But make it a point to take less: Instead of taking two slices of pizza, take one and fill your plate up with something else as well.

2. Walk to your classes.

Yes, I know that most people already do this, but I have noticed some people who will get on the bus for a walk that takes 5 minutes (Yes, I’m talking about those of you that have taken the bus from the ILC to the FAC). I know the bus is at will save you 4 minutes of walking, but unless you are actually not going to make it to class in time, avoid taking that bus. 15 minutes is plenty of time to get from one class to another

3. Grab n' Go

Grab n’ Go: This advice is coming from a mistake that I made. Toward the end of the spring I used to get Grab n’ Go after lunch everyday just so that I had a snack in my room in case of an emergency. This caused me to eat unnecessarily. Only get Grab n’ Go when you are in a rush and cannot afford to wait in line to get food.

4. If you live on the hill, don’t grumble, take advantage of it.

I know the hill can be a pain, but unless you are carrying something heavy, or its raining/snowing, DO NOT TAKE THE BUS! The hill is the main reason why I never felt guilty about eating whatever I wanted. Part of my daily goal was to make sure I walked up the hill at least once. Use the hill to your advantage instead of complaining about it.

5. Use the recreation center.

There is absolutely no excuse for you to not use the rec center. It’s free.

The rec center not only has the equipment for cardio and weights, it also has a track for running, a basketball court if you want to be with friends and a number of group fitness classes like Zumba, 30-minute abs, Bootcamp, etc. If you’re the type of person that needs company and motivation when you’re working out, grab a friend and join a group fitness class.