There are a million articles like this out there because the dreaded Freshman 15 is one of the scariest things in the world, to some people. I was terrified of the Freshman 15 before I came to college, and was worried that no matter what I did, I would gain at least fifteen pounds in my first semester. I shouldn’t have been scared of that, because first of all, it doesn’t matter at all if I gained fifteen pounds, and second because I lost ten pounds during my first semester of college. And here’s how I did it.
- Not always having dining hall dessert- I didn’t start doing this because I wanted to lose weight, I did this because some of the dessert options at the dining hall kind of sucked. I love food, even fattening food, but I don’t like eating food that I don’t like. I’ve always thought that it was a waste of calories. So I decided to only eat the dessert options at the dining hall if it was something that I liked. There was no point in wasting my calories on something bad just because everyone else was getting up to get dessert. Sure, I am the first in line for the mint chocolate chip ice cream, but I also don’t get the chocolate chip cookies just because they are there.
- Drinking Water Instead of Soda-I know that the soda fountain looks tempting, and most of the people in the dining hall will get at least three glasses of soda purely because there is no one telling them not to. Here is me telling you not to. Get maybe one, and then drink water. Or iced tea, or low-calorie lemonade. The sugar and calories in soda aren’t worth it, and since I gave up soda, my skin has been better, and I just generally feel better. Try it. And if you don’t love water, try putting some lemon or fruit in it. The dining hall where I go to school used to do an infused water every day, and I would just get that. Give it a shot.
- Keeping Mostly Healthy Snacks In Your Dorm– The food at the dining hall is usually not all that healthy. It makes sense since it’s easier and cheaper to make large amounts of food that isn’t always the best for you. If you can’t always get healthy food there, try to get it from your room. I try and keep granola bars, hummus, coconut water, water, and trail mix in my room, but keep anything that you like. Of course, there is also gelato in my room, but we don’t need to talk about that.
- Excercise-Your school probably has a beautiful gym that you can be using(for free!), use it. If you’re like me, and your gym is about a twenty-minute walk away from your dorm, then find an easy workout to do in your dorm. I tend to do yoga in the basement of my building, but do whatever works for you. If you like to bike, then bring your bike and bike around campus. Or, if it’s a particularly nice day, then take the long way back from your building to campus. Do whatever works for you, because you also want those endorphins.
- Drink Water– I don’t think that I can ever advise towards drinking water enough. I try to drink half my body weight in water every day, for healthy weight loss, hydration, and good skin. (I am telling you, the only reason that my skin is as good as it is because I drink more water than a normal person). Get a Brita filter for your fridge, or keep a case of water under your bed like I do. Invest in a good quality, refillable water bottle to reduce waste( my Rose Gold S’Well is a personal favorite) and carry it around with you to and from classes. If you don’t like the taste of water, since some people don’t, cut up some lemon or any fruit and put it in. (Don’t worry, a bunch of ideas for detox water will be coming soon). Drink water, and watch as your life changes.
There are a million ways to be healthy while in college, and a million ways not to be. I’m not saying that this will work for everyone, but this is what worked for me. Give it a shot, and a have a great week.
-Kate
Kate Went Exploring 