Students going off to college often gain weight their first year away from home. This weight gain is commonly referred to as the "freshman 15." Freedom is a new experience for many of these students. Cafeteria buffets, late night snacking, lack of exercise, and emotional eating, all combine to create the perfect atmosphere for weight gain.
Understanding this pattern and knowing how to avoid it can help college freshmen maintain their desired level of fitness. There are easy steps that can be followed to encourage freshmen to make the right choices. Let's review a few of these steps now.
The first important step to avoiding college weight gain is to never skip breakfast! Breakfast wakes up your metabolism and gets it ready to function for the day. If walking to the cafeteria each morning for a nutritious breakfast isn't realistic, then keep healthy breakfast options in your room for a quick grab and go.
You can avoid the "freshman 15" by making healthy food choices the majority of the time. Buffets can be potential minefields, but colleges are offering healthier choices than they used to. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. Select meat from the carving station, without high-caloric sauces. Save the macaroni and cheese or the dessert for one indulgence per week.
Another important tip is to make good decisions about your beverages. Limit sodas and sweet drinks. They provide no nutritional value and slow weight loss. Make water your main source of hydration. Drink skim milk with your meals. Calcium-rich diets burn more fat!
Another good tip is to avoid snacking late at night. Stop eating several hours before bedtime so that excess calories won't be so easily stored as fat. Have healthy snacks available for those times when you know you're going to need them. Chewing sugarless gum often helps take the place of snacks.
One of the most important steps that you can take to avoid the "freshman 15", and the last one we'll discuss here, is to find an exercise buddy and schedule regular workouts. Take advantage of the college facilities for weight training, walking, running, swimming, tennis, racquetball, and basketball.
Follow these five simple steps to avoid gaining those unwanted pounds as you go away to college. Ignoring the problem can cause the "freshmen 15" to turn into permanent baggage that you won't want to carry around with you. Being aware that it can happen is essential and enables you to make wiser choices before it's too late.