It’s almost fall and that means one thing—the start of another school year. As exciting as this time is, it also means another year of weighing yourself every day. But, this year you’re in college and maybe even a few extra pounds are no longer a concern. Or, at least, it can be a motivation to get healthy.
There are a lot of conflicting opinions surrounding the issue of gaining weight in college. Some students consume more than they should while others struggle with the unhealthy habits that came with being a student in another country. No matter what your particular situation is, there’s a proven way to lose weight successfully in college. You just need to follow the steps. So, here are the best tips from the pros on how to lose weight in college.
Cut Out The Junk Food And Drinks
One of the best things you can do for your waistline is cut out the snacks and drinks that you know you shouldn’t be having. This is especially important if you’re struggling with weight issues because you’ll certainly be prone to make bad food choices. If you want to lose weight in college, you need to be smart about what you eat and drink. Cutting these items out of your diet will help you avoid the typical freshman 15. If you’re looking for ways to lose weight without having to do any workout or burn a lot of calories, cutting out the snacks and drinks is an excellent suggestion.
Join A Sports Team
If you want to get healthy, you don’t necessarily have to do it alone. You can join a sports team and make some new friends. Playing sports is fun and it gets you moving. It’s a great way to lose weight and get fit. You don’t necessarily need to play sports to join a team, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Eat What You Want
This sounds like an obvious tip, but it’s amazing how many people forget about it. You don’t necessarily need to be a slave to the scale and you certainly don’t need to deprive yourself of the foods you love. If you want to lose weight in college, you should look into what kinds of food are trending and see if there are any healthier alternatives. You might find that you have to change some of your habits, but you can still enjoy the foods you love.
Avoid The Freshman 15
The Freshman 15 is those unwanted pounds that seem to appear out of nowhere and make your stomach hurt whenever you look in the mirror. You don’t necessarily have to lose 10 pounds in the first month of school to avoid it, but you can set yourself a good goal to reach by the end of the year. If you’ve been told that you’ll probably gain weight in college because students tend to eat more than they need, the Freshman 15 is something you’ll want to avoid. You can do this with some good habits and by being smart about what you eat and drink. Setting a good start to the year by losing those first 15 pounds can help you avoid many health problems and give you a better overall experience in college.
Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. You should also note that sports nutritionists often recommend avoiding drinking alcohol, especially if you’re an underage student. This is because alcohol inhibits the body’s natural ability to metabolize fats and carbohydrates. It also keeps you hungry, which can increase the likelihood of you eating more than you need. Sometimes it’s better to be a little less thirsty than to be dehydrated. You should also note that dehydration can damage your skin and make you more prone to sickness. Drinking enough fluids will keep your skin supple and itchy skin will result in you drinking more fluids.
Some students find that cooking a healthy dinner every day helps them stay on track with their weight loss goals. It’s important to remember that cutting out fatty foods and eating more vegetables will increase your daily nutritional intake. Your end goal should be to eat healthier and lose weight, but you should not sacrifice taste for nutrition’s sake. You’ll find that some foods are more filling than others and eliminating some of these foods may help you lose weight more easily. Avoid eating too much fruit because it can cause you to gain weight. Remember, eating healthy does not mean you have to eat bland food and certainly not everything needs to be fried. You can use cooking as a way to reduce your cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fats while increasing the fiber and nutrients in your diet. The end result will be healthier you and healthier food.
Exercise
If you want to get and stay fit in college, you need to be sure to exercise at least four times a week. It doesn’t have to be very strenuous exercise, but you should make sure that you’re getting some activity in each workout. Walking is a great way to exercise and it doesn’t require any particular equipment. You don’t need to hit the gym to get a workout, you can get it anywhere—even in the university library. Just make sure that you’re moving around so that your body stays active and it doesn’t sit around doing nothing.
You can get an aerobic workout almost anywhere. Many universities have gymnasiums that you can use for free. You can also join a gym and get a membership for yourself or a family member. It’s important to remember that not all gyms are created equal. Some gyms have machines that are old and need to be serviced regularly, while others may have expensive equipment that isn’t as easy to use as it looks. Find a gym that has equipment that you can use and that is maintained well so that it doesn’t break down frequently. Also, look into the policies of the gym you’re considering joining and ensure that there aren’t any outdated or prohibited items. Health insurance usually covers the cost of memberships at fitness centers, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Don’t Forget The Importance Of Sleep
Sleep is important, whether you’re in college or not. Sometimes, we need a little break from our day-to-day routine and just for a couple of hours, we can escape from reality. When you get a bad night’s sleep, it can affect your appetite and make you crave the wrong types of food. Sometimes, it can even cause you to gain weight without you even trying. Make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep each night and you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Cut down on the caffeine (especially if you’re using it to keep yourself awake during exam periods) and you’ll be reducing your chances of getting bad sleep apnea. This, in turn, will help you lose weight and become fitter.
Follow A Routine
This one might sound like a repetition, but sticking to a routine when it comes to your health and fitness is extremely important. Without a routine, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve been doing and how you’re doing compared to what you should be doing. Make a note of three workouts every week to keep yourself motivated and on track. If you miss a workout, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Just keep trying to find the balance between working out and being active and you’ll be able to improve your health condition and achieve your weight loss goals.
When you’re first entering college, it can be difficult to know what kinds of health problems you might encounter. The main thing to do is be sure to stay well-hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get plenty of sleep. If you do these things, you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle and a better overall performance in school. Keep what you’ve been doing so far in mind and you’ll be able to continue down this path to better health and a better-looking you in no time!