Everyone knows that fear of coming to college and gaining a bunch of weight. What if I told you that there are very simple ways to avoid that exact fear? Especially if you're living on campus, it's very easy to ignore your physical health and let go of your normal exercise routines. Between class, jobs, studying and social lives, it's very hard to focus on yourself at times. When you're not in class or doing homework, it's often that you just want to get in bed and rest. In college, when you're not being lazy, there's usually a reason why. However, it is possible to avoid all of that weight gain and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Avoid snacking!
Try to avoid snacking all of the time throughout the day. It's usually best if you can break up your eating habits into three meals a day. A bigger breakfast, a decent-sized lunch and a healthy dinner every day will usually do the trick for you. One of the main reason why people gain weight during the school year is because you don't have time to make real meals every day, so instead, you resort to grabbing some chips or goldfish, or whatever your snack of choice is. Don't do it! Try to focus more on meals because three meals a day can keep the pounds away!
Do 30 minutes of exercise every day!
I used to hate when people told me that I needed to exercise every day in order to stay healthy. But the truth is, exercise entails a lot more than you think it does. Sometimes, you can get 30 minutes of exercise in a day, simply by walking to all of your classes. Sure, it might be easier to hop on a bus or get a front row parking spot near your class, but walking is actually really good for your body. You could also resort to taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Whether it's taking walks or going for a jog, little things like that can ultimately save you from gaining weight in college.
Stay hydrated!
I know for a fact that I'm never good about drinking enough water during the day, which ultimately makes me sleepy and dreary throughout the day. Water is the number one way to stay hydrated and focused during school. When you're not drinking water, not only is that just bad for you, but it also will lead you to be hungrier throughout the day. A lot of times, the human body mistakes thirst for hunger, which can also make you want to snack. Don't let that fool you!
If anyone knows how difficult it is to avoid gaining weight during college, it's me. That was my biggest fear whenever I came to LSU, but I have been living by these three simple rules, and it has made a wonderful change in my life. Light exercise, three meals a day and water can be your best friend when it comes to staying healthy. Don't let the freshman 15 weigh you down. Save yourself now and follow these three easy steps.
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