One of the biggest challenges for college students is learning how to be healthy once out on their own. Your metabolism is starting to slow down, there are all kinds of unhealthy food options, there are no parents to tell you what to eat and the gym is just so far. The dreaded “Freshman Fifteen” (or twenty... or thirty...) is easy to gain, but not so simple to lose. Luckily, these Disney characters have some advice on how to get and stay healthy in college.
Tip 1: Walk or Bike Instead of Taking the Car
It’s tempting to take the car for that short grocery run or the trip to the movies, but unless your destination is ten miles away, you can get some easy exercise by walking or biking. This will also help save gas money and you’ll be contributing to a greener planet. It’s a win for everyone.
Tip 2: Get Enough Sleep at Night
Okay, maybe not 100 years of it, but studies have shown that getting too little or too much sleep can contribute to weight gain and higher levels of stress. While it’s definitely hard to get enough sleep with all the homework, it’s important to get around eight hours of sleep every night. Try putting down the computers and phones around an hour before bed and also dim the lights as it gets close to your bedtime. This will help you fall asleep faster and get more out of your rest.
Tip 3: Don’t Skip Meals
While you might think that eating less can help you lose weight, skipping meals is not the way to do so. Not eating can cause hormonal changes, drowsiness, moodiness, muscle loss, and also overeating during your next meal -- none of which is conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Instead of skipping meals, try to eat a little less at all three meals and pick healthier options!
Tip 4: Eat Small, Healthy Snacks
While we’re on the topic of food, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite thing: snacks. Surprisingly, snacking can be helpful to staying healthy! If you replace chips and Oreos with frozen grapes and baby carrots, you’re not only getting some of the important vitamins that are absent in many students’ diets, but you’ll also keep from being so hungry at meal time! You won’t feel like you need to eat quite so much at dinner if you snack small, healthy, and frequently.
Tip 5: Listen to Upbeat Music While Working Out
I love classical music, but not when I’m trying to exercise. Faster-paced and upbeat music will get you into the mood for working out and you won’t feel as sluggish while moving. It can also boost your mood and distract from the exhaustion that unfortunately comes along with working out. Music makes exercise a much more fun activity!
Tip 6: Exercise (Whatever the Weather May Be)
It can be hard to make yourself work out during bad weather, particularly if you exercise outside or if your gym is far away. You can’t let rain or snow discourage you, though. It will be harder to motivate yourself if the weather is icky, but think of it this way: if you can do it in these conditions, exercising will be even easier when the sun is shining again!
Tip 7: Try Weightlifting
It may not be the most fun, and it is certainly a lot of work, but lifting weights is one of the best forms of exercise for several reasons. Weight training will allow you to lose the fat without losing the muscle, too. It can help improve your diet, your mood, and your heart health, and it may even help you to become smarter!
Tip 8: Find a Workout You Love
Running isn’t for everyone. Going to the gym isn’t for everyone. There are hundreds of different ways to exercise, and the key to getting in shape is to find one that you love. You could try swimming, or dancing, or yoga! Why not try hiking or martial arts? Make your workout something that you look forward to every week, rather than something you dread.
Tip 9: Don’t Expect Instant Results
If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, don’t expect that you’ll lose that 20 pounds in a few days, or in a few weeks. It will take a lot of hard work and a fair amount of time. Be persistent and patient. You can "go the distance."
Tip 10: Push Yourself Harder
Everyone has more in them than they expect. If you push yourself to go that little bit further, a little longer, a little faster, it will help you improve and you’ll get much more out of your workout than if you were to simply do the minimum. Put forth that extra ten percent and keep going!
Tip 11: Stay Positive!
This last tip is probably the most important one of them all. “Mind over matter,” as the old saying goes. Mental strength is what will really keep you moving toward a healthier lifestyle. Believe in yourself, and believe that you can meet your goals. Getting over that mental hurdle is the hardest step in getting healthy and if you can stay positive and believe in yourself, you can do anything.
