10 Ways to Avoid the Freshman 15

10 Ways to Avoid the Freshman 15:

1.     Use the gym- Every university has one and whether it is free or not, use it. If you have to pay to use your school’s gym I promise it is worth it. I also suggest investing in fitness classes (I’m a biased instructor of course), because they prove that working out can be fun! Spend at least 4 days in the gym, I personally go for all 7 days, but I’m kind of a fitness-aholic.  Also find some gym partners, people that will push you to go even when you want to sleep in.

2.     Avoid eating out of boredom- This is not just a college problem, this occurs everywhere, however, I started to notice I was eating more and more when I was bored at school. If you’re bored find something to do. You may be surprised to find out that places are always open at school and there is always something going on! Get out and keep moving so you don't have to deal with that voice in your head telling you to eat the whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Try asking yourself if you are really hungry before you start snacking for no reason.

3.     Keep food out of reach- Keeping food in your desk drawer or underneath your bed is extremely dangerous. Keep any food you have as far as possible. This will reduce the urge to eat late at night and when you’re not even hungry.

4.     The dining hall doesn't always have to be a buffet- I’m going to go into detail on dining halls in a later article, but here’s a preface. There will always be another meal, just because the chicken and the salmon look good tonight, that doesn't mean you need to indulge in both, I promise they will have it again. Don't get too excited by all of the choices within the first week, the food will repeat over and over again and you’ll always have an opportunity to try things, don't do it all in one sitting!

5.     Don't eat after 9.- This is a personal rule of mine. Late night snacking can become serious in college. My guess is that half of the weight I gained was just from late night snacking. To reduce this I stop eating 3 hours before I go to bed, so I usually stop eating past 8 or 9, depending on the day. People are going to tempt you to order delivery pizza in college at midnight and it may seem really cool and all that you can just order pizza late at night, but it’s not that cool.  Don't eat the pizza.

6.     Drinking- Water is your new best friend. Please avoid the soda fountains and the juice and the milkshakes. And as for alcohol... it’s inevitable that you’ re going to drink it, I can't stop you, however, don't over indulge. You don’t need to drink everyday, once a week is enough, if that. I am not a huge partier or drinker so this did not have a huge effect on me but it is a big part of the freshman 15 problem in general. Something to keep in mind here is moderation. You can drink, because I know you’re going to, but do it in moderation, not only to reduce weight gain but for your safety. It’s not cute or in any way attractive to be that girl that drinks 12 beers and is falling all over the place. They call it a “beer belly” for a reason… Don’t drink beer. If you’re going to drink have some red wine with your friends or a club soda and vodka with a lime at the tailgate. Remember: stay classy not trashy J 

7.     Get involved.- My biggest regret from freshman year is not getting involved at school. Getting involved keeps you busy and moving, which will reduce boredom. If you’re worried about being overworked or too busy, don't be. You can make it work. You don't have to get super involved first semester, but definitely second semester. College is amazing because you have so many opportunities to find people just like you and a place where you belong, so join a club or get involved with Greek life, find your niche!

8.     Surround yourself with a support system.- Everyone needs a great group of friends and college is the place you will find one! Find people who will lift you up everyday and support all of your endeavors. Find people that accept you for you. Find friends that won’t pressure you into doing anything and that won’t question your rational decisions when it comes to food and life in general. I was so lucky to have met my best friends Morgan, Taylor, and Hannah this year. They never fail to make me smile and they support all of my endeavors.

9.     Explore the community.- Believe it or not, you don't have to stay on campus. Take the weekends and free time to explore the community outside of campus. You will be surprised to find hidden walking trails, beaches, and maybe even a trampoline park. Getting off campus on the weekends will open you up to many opportunities for fun workouts!

10. Be happy.- Not an easy task at all but try to be happy! If you find that you are not happy, seek help. It’s important that you stay happy and stress free in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle!