We've all heard of it..the dreaded weight gain during your first year of college. Freshman year is full of new experiences and many challenges. In my opinion, the biggest challenge is eating healthy. When I first stepped into the dining hall, I thought "Wow! Look at all of the different foods to choose from!" However, as I got a closer look, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. It was difficult to find foods that weren't breaded, deep fried or heavily processed. Immediately I rushed to the salad bar and filled up on all the fruits and vegetables I could find. While this may have worked on my first few trips to the dining hall, I quickly got bored with my eating choices and knew I had to make some changes. I'm going to share the tips and tricks that have worked for me and have helped me successfully avoid the "Freshman 15." :)
Living with a wheat allergy on a college campus honestly seemed impossible. I had panic attacks on a daily basis just thinking about what I could or couldn't eat that day or if the dining hall would even have something available for me. This brings me to tip number 1.
1. Explore the all dining options on campus. If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask the staff! Being my painfully shy self, this tip was a challenge for me. I lived off of oatmeal, salads, yogurt and peanut butter for the first four weeks of the semester until I finally couldn't take it anymore. I was STARVING. This is when I finally faced my fears and talked to someone. This opened up so many doors for me and other students on campus. They began offering more food choices that were wheat and allergen free altogether. They also told me about lighter, healthier options to choose from! It was so helpful. Here's a helpful little chart that I came across during my freshman year. Now, I know this seems to pertain to only allergies but I promise it doesn't. The more you know, the better you'll be. :)
Living with a wheat allergy on a college campus honestly seemed impossible. I had panic attacks on a daily basis just thinking about what I could or couldn't eat that day or if the dining hall would even have something available for me. This brings me to tip number 1.
1. Explore the all dining options on campus. If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask the staff! Being my painfully shy self, this tip was a challenge for me. I lived off of oatmeal, salads, yogurt and peanut butter for the first four weeks of the semester until I finally couldn't take it anymore. I was STARVING. This is when I finally faced my fears and talked to someone. This opened up so many doors for me and other students on campus. They began offering more food choices that were wheat and allergen free altogether. They also told me about lighter, healthier options to choose from! It was so helpful. Here's a helpful little chart that I came across during my freshman year. Now, I know this seems to pertain to only allergies but I promise it doesn't. The more you know, the better you'll be. :)
This brings me to my next point...
2. When the on-campus dining fails, make sure to stock up on healthy snacks or small meals in your room. I highly recommend getting a mini fridge for you dorm room (or if you're lucky, one will be provided for you). I constantly had my mini fridge stocked with leftover meals from home, yogurt, vegetables and fruit. These were always great go-to snacks that I loved to eat while relaxing or studying. Another great dorm room essential is a microwave. I can't tell you how many times I made things in my microwave freshman year. I actually used to go to the store, buy canned beans, tomatoes, other vegetables, mixed them all together in a microwaveable bowl and made my own version of vegetarian chili. If you can't afford to buy both appliances, talk to your roomie and maybe you can split costs. It's always great to have a friend on your journey to a healthy lifestyle. :)
2. When the on-campus dining fails, make sure to stock up on healthy snacks or small meals in your room. I highly recommend getting a mini fridge for you dorm room (or if you're lucky, one will be provided for you). I constantly had my mini fridge stocked with leftover meals from home, yogurt, vegetables and fruit. These were always great go-to snacks that I loved to eat while relaxing or studying. Another great dorm room essential is a microwave. I can't tell you how many times I made things in my microwave freshman year. I actually used to go to the store, buy canned beans, tomatoes, other vegetables, mixed them all together in a microwaveable bowl and made my own version of vegetarian chili. If you can't afford to buy both appliances, talk to your roomie and maybe you can split costs. It's always great to have a friend on your journey to a healthy lifestyle. :)
In college, you'll find that your stress level will be the highest it's ever been and your schedule will be packed. However, with this in mind, it's SO important to create a workout schedule and stick to it.
3. Exercise 3-5 times per week! Trust me on this one. There is nothing I love more than going to the gym after a stressful day and kicking ass. I did all kinds of things that made me feel great. Zumba, kickboxing, weight lifting, yoga, pilates..you name it. It was great having so many options and different classes to try. My freshman year, I was actually the fittest I've ever been. It goes to show that mixing it up really does work your body and helps you lose weight. Working out was also a much better stress reliever that downing a box of cookies. :) Oh and even if you can't make it to the gym 3-5 times a week, just go when you can! Every little bit helps.
3. Exercise 3-5 times per week! Trust me on this one. There is nothing I love more than going to the gym after a stressful day and kicking ass. I did all kinds of things that made me feel great. Zumba, kickboxing, weight lifting, yoga, pilates..you name it. It was great having so many options and different classes to try. My freshman year, I was actually the fittest I've ever been. It goes to show that mixing it up really does work your body and helps you lose weight. Working out was also a much better stress reliever that downing a box of cookies. :) Oh and even if you can't make it to the gym 3-5 times a week, just go when you can! Every little bit helps.
So, let's be real here. When you go to college, you're going to be invited to parties and most likely take part in drinking. But keep in mind the damaging health affects alcohol has on your body.
4. Limit alcohol consumption. College parties often seem so tempting but in reality, they are only fun for about ten minutes. Just picture a small room filled to the max with sweaty people, loud music and alcohol everywhere. When I first got to school, I might have been one of the only girls who was spending Friday night curled up watching movies and skyping my boyfriend as opposed to going out and drinking. I have always known nutritionally that drinking is an easy way to blow your diet and gain weight. I was also terrified of getting caught or being in an uncomfortable situation. I'm not saying I never go out or I never drink. I do. However, it's usually 3 or 4 times a semester. Max. If you like to party, I say go for it. You should always do what makes you happy. So here's a few tips to keep in mind. EAT BEFORE YOU DRINK. Trust me on this one. If you don't you'll end up getting drunk very fast and feeling very sick. DRINK WATER BETWEEN DRINKS. This will help prevent the dreaded hangover and help you pace yourself. Pacing yourself is also my most important tip. Don't be "that girl (or guy)" who can't handle their alcohol.
4. Limit alcohol consumption. College parties often seem so tempting but in reality, they are only fun for about ten minutes. Just picture a small room filled to the max with sweaty people, loud music and alcohol everywhere. When I first got to school, I might have been one of the only girls who was spending Friday night curled up watching movies and skyping my boyfriend as opposed to going out and drinking. I have always known nutritionally that drinking is an easy way to blow your diet and gain weight. I was also terrified of getting caught or being in an uncomfortable situation. I'm not saying I never go out or I never drink. I do. However, it's usually 3 or 4 times a semester. Max. If you like to party, I say go for it. You should always do what makes you happy. So here's a few tips to keep in mind. EAT BEFORE YOU DRINK. Trust me on this one. If you don't you'll end up getting drunk very fast and feeling very sick. DRINK WATER BETWEEN DRINKS. This will help prevent the dreaded hangover and help you pace yourself. Pacing yourself is also my most important tip. Don't be "that girl (or guy)" who can't handle their alcohol.
Finally I come to my last and in my opinion most important point.
5. Don't forget to relax and enjoy yourself! College is a truly unique experience. You will be pushed to your limits physically and mentally. It's so important to allow yourself to relax and take it all in. I love taking long walks, watching my favorite TV show and hanging out with friends. It's a great way to take a study break and my friends always remind me I'm not going completely insane. I also make a point to get a lot of sleep. This one is so important. I have never stayed up late to study or pulled all-nighters. I personally can't focus that late and I never seem to fully learn anything that way. Adequate amounts of sleep also give you the energy you need to get through your days and stay focused. Overall, always remember that while grades are important, so is enjoying yourself and being happy. :)
5. Don't forget to relax and enjoy yourself! College is a truly unique experience. You will be pushed to your limits physically and mentally. It's so important to allow yourself to relax and take it all in. I love taking long walks, watching my favorite TV show and hanging out with friends. It's a great way to take a study break and my friends always remind me I'm not going completely insane. I also make a point to get a lot of sleep. This one is so important. I have never stayed up late to study or pulled all-nighters. I personally can't focus that late and I never seem to fully learn anything that way. Adequate amounts of sleep also give you the energy you need to get through your days and stay focused. Overall, always remember that while grades are important, so is enjoying yourself and being happy. :)
So there they are. Five tips that got me through my freshman year and kept the weight off. I hope they help you as well. :) Don't hesitate to ask questions. I'm always here to help :)
Good Luck!
-Rachel
Good Luck!
-Rachel