How to avoid the freshman fifteen

Once we get to college most of us don’t have coaches making us run laps anymore. Most of us don’t have our parents around to cook us healthy meals. And most of us start drinking heavily once we enter college.

All of this adds up to one thing: the “Freshmen 15.” The inevitable weight we pack on during our first year of college.

But don’t worry; I have complied some solutions to the problems that play a part in causing this weight gain.

PROBLEM:

One of the biggest difference between living at home and being at college is the dinning hall. Huden has unlimited food, already prepared, sitting and waiting for you to indulge. There’s nothing stopping you from eating five pieces of cheesy grease-dripping pizza. The smell of the waffle machine makes you stop in your tracks as you attempt walk by. Tony the Tiger is almost begging you to pour his sugary cereal into your bowl. Not to mention there is an unlimited amount of soda just waiting to be chugged.

SOLUTION:

I found a good way to avoid these temptations is to fill up with salad first. Filling your plate at the salad bar instead of the pasta bar will help you deny those extra carbs. There is always a healthy alternative. Another smart decision is to choose water instead of soda or sugary juices.

PROBLEM:

If you’re not on a sports team you may find it hard to motivate yourself to work out. It’s much easier to just sit in your suite and watch the 8 hour marathon of What Not To Wear that’s playing on TLC.

 SOLUTION:

There are a few solutions to this problem.

-Join a sports team.

-Not feeling that ambitious? Join an intramural team. This will get you up a moving at least twice a week.

-Go to the gym. As college students we have free access to a gym. This is something we should not take for granted. Gym memberships in the real world are expensive! Go alone, find a gym buddy, just get in there.

-Take advantage of the wellness programs. Castleton has a bunch of programs that go unnoticed. There’s yoga, kickboxing, zumba, and many more all for only $1. Gather your friends and go break a sweat, even if it means paying with your laundry quarters, it’ll be worth it.

PROBLEM:

Drunchies aka drunk munchies. This is a real thing. You get back to your dorm after a night of drinking and all of a sudden you NEED three packages of Roman Noodles.

SOLUTION:

Don’t keep unhealthy food in your dorm room. Buy a bag of apples or a box of strawberries. Believe me, anything will taste good at this point in your night. Tempted to stop by Fireside on the way back from a party to cash in those meal exchanges for a calzone and onion rings? Try staying out until after they close the doors at Fireside, then the temptation will be gone ;).

PROBLEM:

On a similar note, what you choose to drink before you get the drunchies is also important.

SOLUTION:

Avoid drinking beer in excess. Beer has tons of calories. Try to avoid mixing hard liquor with soda. A Captain and Coke may taste good but it will slowly add to your waistline. Try low calorie juices or flavored water instead. Avoiding mixed drinks all together may be beneficial as well; I suggest shots chased by a sugar free beverage.

PROBLEM:

The new overload of school work will probably get you stressed out. Being stressed may cause you to eat everything in sight. Late night study groups may seem like a good time to eat your body weight in cheese fries.

SOLUTION:

An obvious solution would be to stay on top of your studying and homework to avoid stress. Since we all know that’s not going to happen, instead focus on snacking on healthy foods when you’re stressed. (Did you know that Fireside has fruit and salads???)

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