One of the biggest things I feared when starting college as a freshman was gaining the weight of the dreaded "Freshman 15." Thankfully I was able to not only avoid it, but also lose almost 15 pounds following these 15 rules I made for myself!

1. Always walk or ride your bike to class instead of driving or taking the bus.

In the dead of winter it can be easy to stay curled up in your warm bed for a few extra minutes instead of waking up early to walk to class. But if you are determined to maintain that beach bod throughout hibernation time, walking to class is an easy way to burn a few extra calories.

2. Work out a minimum of four times a week.

Most colleges provide free memberships to their gyms. Take advantage of this. Lift some weights, run on the treadmill, do the elliptical, play some volleyball, whatever makes you happy and keeps you moving. The key is to maintain an elevated heart rate for at least 25 minutes.

3. Have a workout buddy that keeps you committed.

When the alarm goes off to work out before class, or when you can choose between getting pizza or an evening jog, the choice can be tough. Having a friend to work out with will keep you dedicated for fear of disappointing him or her if you don't show up at your schedule workout time. Also when you work out with a friend you may end up working out a little harder and having more fun!

4. Join an athletic club or intramural sports team.

Be a part of a group that meets a few times a week to sweat together. Not only will you stay fit, you will probably also make some really great friends and meet a ton of awesome people.

5. Make a clear goal for your fitness.

Whether this is a weight, time you want to run a mile in, or max bench press, make a clear and tangible goal for yourself. Write this down and in a place you will see it often, for example a note in your daily planner. Check in with your goal weekly to monitor progress and stay on track.

6. Weigh yourself at least twice a week.

There is no need to obsessively weigh yourself daily, however check in with yourself at least two times a week to make sure that you are not gaining any weight unknowingly. TIP: Weigh yourself as soon as you wake up, you will weigh the least in the morning.

7. Eat your biggest meal in the morning or early afternoon.

Eating a breakfast or lunch that is larger than dinner is key. The more food you eat earlier in the day the better. Your body will have more time to metabolize the food into energy. When you eat a big meal at night your body doesn't have time to fully digest it before you go to sleep and the food will be stored as fat instead of burned as energy.

8. Avoid carbohydrates like the plague.

Bread, pasta, muffins, cake, and cookies, they are all your enemies when it comes to try to keep the waistline slim. The refined and highly processed sugars break down in the digestive process and head straight to the butt, gut, and thighs. Make sure at every meal you are consuming more servings of protein and veggies than carbs.

9. Have a vegetarian day once a week.

While meat has a lot of protein that is good, it also can have a lot of fat that can raise cholesterol. As Americans we tend to eat more than our fair share of meat (a serving the size of a deck of 52 cards) every day. Once a week try eating only lots of raw fruits and steamed veggies with healthy grains like quinoa and legumes.

10. Eat dessert twice a week.

It is good to treat yourself with that beloved cupcake or bowl of ice cream. But moderation is key. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle you will be able to eat that chocolate chip cookie or piece of Halloween candy a few times a week and still be looking fine.

11. When snacking, pour your snack into a bowl.

Reaching into that jumbo sized bag of pretzels or popcorn, it is easy to lose track of how much you are actually eating. Before you know it, the bag that had 50 servings in it is gone...oops. Avoid this by portioning out your snack in a bowl and stop eating when you start to feel full.

12. Wear jeans or fitted pants a least three times a week.

As comfortable as yoga pants, pajama pants, and sweat pants are, they are very forgiving when you gain a pound or two. Jeans and khaki pants however become tight and uncomfortable. This will make you more aware if you are packing on a few extra pounds and need to start working out more and eating better.

13. Drink a TON of water.

Water can fill your stomach and make you feel fuller. In addition to being hydrated, water is vital for life. Drinking a huge glass of water before a meal can fill your stomach and allow you to eat less.

Additionally, beverages that are consumed while going out can be very high in calories. Very quickly you can consume hundreds of calories without even realizing it. Drink a full glass of water between each drink to fill your stomach, keep you hydrated, and slow the rate of high caloric beverage consumption.

14. Never eat past 10:00 pm.

Late night snacks are a huge no when trying to stay fit or lose weight. They pack on tons of extra calories and unnecessary pounds. If you are truly starving at night and in desperate need of a snack then go for some carrots or broccoli. Never ever go for that pizza slice or soft pretzel.

15. Find something you are passionate about and do it instead of snacking.

Often while bored I find myself in the kitchen snacking while I'm not even hungry. Fill your boredom with a passion and avoid eating when not hungry. Eating is a way to maintain energy and stay alive, it is not an activity to keep you busy.