I always thought that the "Freshman 15" was a myth, something that they made up for movie plots. But, I'm here to tell you that it is very much real. Heading to college is exciting and full of new experiences. But, with all of that newfound freedom comes the responsibility of How to Stay Fit in College.
When I was a freshman, I ended up eating popcorn and wine for dinner more often than I'd like to admit. It took a while to find a balance of staying healthy while still eating my favorite foods.
Three years later, I am here to share what I've learned and help you live your healthiest lifestyle in college.
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Take Advantage of University Rec Centers
I've found that getting a workout in towards the beginning of my day makes me more conscious of my habits throughout the day and I make better decisions.
Most universities offer free access to their Rec Center. And, pretty much all colleges offer access to a gym. Yay! That hefty tuition better come with some perks.
Taking advantage of free gym access is critical to staying fit in college. My freshman year, I was terrified to go workout by myself. I wish I could go back and slap some sense into my old self. Most everyone at Rec Centers are there by themselves, and even if they aren't, everyone minds their own business and won't pay any attention to what you're doing.
If you have no idea what to do at the gym and are afraid of looking like an idiot, just hop on a treadmill or bike and observe everyone else before heading over to any of the machines.
You Are What You Eat
I cannot stress how accurate this statement is. As someone who works out 10-20 hour every week, I was so frustrated when I wasn't seeing the results I wanted.
Losing weight and staying fit are 20% - staying active and 80% - eating healthy.
Eating healthy becomes much harder when you don't have parents making sure that you're eating three nutritious meals a day. I learned when I wasn't eating filling meals, I snacked way more and ended up consuming more calories.
The basics of body composition are calories consumed-calories burned=net calories, and if your net calories are 0 you'll maintain your weight. If your net calories are negative you'll lose weight and vice versa.
That being said, I recommend getting a food tracker to keep track and monitor your eating habits. At least until you're in a routine and can keep track mentally. When I started using MyFitnessPal I was shocked at how many calories some of my everyday foods had.
Calorie counting and restriction can lead to unhealthy habits and I only recommend it to become more conscious of what you're putting into your body. When taken to the extreme, it can be detrimental to your body.
Take it Easy on the Alcohol
Partying and drinking is just part of the college culture. But people don't often realize that the calories and carbs in alcohol might not seem that bad, but our body does not break down the alcohol enzyme the same as normal food.
Alcohol breaks down muscle and is more readily turned into fat. This combination is a no-go for maintaining a healthy body composition.
I'm not saying to never drink, but if you notice yourself packing on some weight and can't figure out where its coming, from make sure you're not going overboard with the alcohol.
Conclusion
College is all about finding your balance and figuring out what works for you specifically and that's no different when it comes to staying healthy. Everything can be done in moderation, and there's no reason to sacrifice something that makes you happy to fit in that dress- there's more than one size. So now you will look amazing because now you know How to Stay Fit in College