College is very stressful and it takes a beating on your body. I am not in perfect shape in any way possible, but I am working towards my goal. It's easy to get caught up and to eat anything in your path whenever you are stressed. We have all heard of the "freshman 15", and then life as you know after the 'freshman 15' it has turned into the "sophomore 30". Nobody wants to gain weight and feel insecure so I am here to give you tips on how to prevent gaining that freshman 15 in your first year of college.

1. Trade In Greasy Foods For Healthy Fruits

All freshman have a meal plan but you don't have to spend it on greasy fries and a milkshake from Johnny Rockets, instead use your meal plan for Jamba Juice, or fruit and other healthy goodies from 20 something. There are healthy options on campus even if you do not realize it. You can also buy your own groceries and create meals in your dorm, or wherever you may live.

2. USE THE COLVIN.

You pay for the Colvin so take advantage of it! I know what you're thinking... you don't want to take time out of your precious day to work out, but I promise you it's so worth it. Working out has so many great benefits especially for college students. Having a healthier lifestyle relieves stress, helps you sleep better, strengthens and boosts your immune system, improves mental stability, slows the aging process (ladies, we know that we don't want wrinkles yet), improves confidence, and increases energy. After a great work out you will feel great, so maybe try to wake up early and hit the gym!

3. Lay Low On The Alcohol Consumption

Any type of alcohol has SO MANY CALORIES. Drinking is all fun & games until you have a beer belly. For instance, 3 cups of beer is 459 calories. I'm not here to ruin your fun and tell you not to party, but alcohol does contain many calories and is a big issue for weight gain in college students.

4. Portion Control

Another easy tip, learn proper portion control. I know that when i'm starving I feel like I could eat an entire restaurant; however, our bodies are not meant to handle that much. It's okay to have a cheat meal every once in awhile but please do not stuff your face with more than you can handle.

Eating healthy and working out on a daily basis is so hard in college, I completely understand, but doing these things truly does benefit your health in the long run. Statistics have proven that eating a healthy diet reduces your risk of diseases such as, diabetes, cancer, cardiac diseases, and many others. It's so easy to run to McDonalds or walk down to the strip to grab a bite at Fuzzy's, but these lifestyles will only hurt you. You may not realize it now but it is so important to take care of your body in college because of the stress impact college students take on a daily basis.