To say that college is a hostile environment to a healthy lifestyle is an understatement. Freshmen who ate their vegetables every day and faithfully attended every track meet in high school one day wake up to notice a pouch that looks suspiciously like a beer belly. The caffeine flood and sleep deprivation that accompany an all-nighter wreak havoc on your system. And the close living quarters in the dorms means that germs spread from room to room faster than you can say "mono."
The Freshman 15
The Freshman 15... as in pounds! You think it could never happen to you. But the grim reality is this: College can indeed expand more than your mind. Remember, just because, generally speaking, the food's bad in college doesn't mean you won't eat it. In fact, you'll probably eat a lot of it. And when you don't fill up on dining hall food, you might overcompensate later with pizza, cookies, or a bag of potato chips from the 24-hour convenience store. To top it all off, more and more schools are encouraging fast food chains and cash operations like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut to set up shop on campus.
Survival Tips:
Have breakfast.
You might think you value sleep more than food, but getting up an extra fifteen minutes earlier so you can grab a bagel can make you more alert for your morning classes.
Be creative.
When faced with tuna surprise or some other less than appetizing entree in the dining hall, be creative. Not eating at meals will only leave you craving junk food later. Instead, make a huge salad, eat cereal (yes, for dinner), or go to the sandwich bar. Anything is better than leaving the dining hall hungry.
Make sensible substitutions
Replace high-fat, empty-calorie toppings or snacks with healthier versions, such as yogurt instead of sour cream atop your baked potato. These small substitutions can make a big difference in your empty-calorie intake and add nutrients to your diet. Watch caffeine and alcohol (and we don't mean watch it go down your throat). Moderation is the key to anything. Instead, drink lots of water.
Get exercise
No, dragging yourself out of bed is not considered a workout. Collectively, college students tend to be an exercise-conscious group, but it's easy to let workouts go by the wayside when life gets busy. Even if you don't spend your afternoons sweatin' in the gym, you can find plenty of active things to do on your campus. We recommend checking out intramurals, hijack a friend to go to the gym with you, and walk as often as possible.
Happy and Healthy
This all sounds very basic and you may think that we're treating you like an idiot. However, facts are facts. Many college freshman come home on winter break as significantly larger people. A little exercise and the right food goes a long way. Stay on top of it!
