Your mom wasn't lying when she told you that it's inevitable that you'll gain weight during your college years. I totally didn't believe it until it happened to me.
Maybe I can blame it on the fact that I kept eating Chick-fil-a between classes, or maybe I simply didn't workout enough. Either way, I know a few things that might have helped this not happen to me. Hopefully, with these tips, it won't happen to you!
1. Don't drink alcohol excessively.
This has to be the number one reason I gained so much weight. Everything contains calories, including alcohol, unfortunately. So, yes, the whole bottle of wine you finished is probably well-over the amount of calories you were supposed to consume.
2. Hit the gym regularly.
This might be self-explanatory but it can be hard to get into the routine of going to the gym on a regular basis. This is especially hard when you are in a brand new environment, figuring out a whole new way of life. Even though you might feel stressed or uneasy, make it a priority to go work-out, even if it's a short gym sesh!
3. Skip the fast-food runs.
The best part of the night is when someone finally asks, "so, are we getting food?" And most likely, everyone screams 'yes.' Be the one to say 'no,' considering, you probably don't need a thousand calories at one in the morning.
4. Get enough sleep.
It's a known fact that college students don't get enough sleep. It's important that we do get a good amount of it, though, since sleep plays a huge role in our metabolism. If you want to keep that slim figure, make sure you're getting your zzz's.
5. Eat more veggies, less carbs.
Keto was a huge trend this year, for good reason. Lowering your carbs is a simple and easy way to lower your calorie intake. Carbs take up a huge portion of the food we eat on a daily basis, and it can be refreshing to have something lighter every once in a while. Get a salad, without the croutons, of course.
6. Don't skip breakfast.
I have a horrible habit of forgetting to eat before I leave the house in the morning. Eating breakfast is the key to waking up your body and preparing it to burn more calories. Eat something light, like a banana before class and start your day off the right way.
7. Get rid of the soda.
Don't drink your calories. Just don't. If you must have a soda, have a diet one. But, try to stick to mainly water throughout the day.
8. No snacking.
It can be really inviting to open up a bag of Cheetos while you watch Netflix but don't do it. Those are just wasted calories that could easily be avoided if you got up and did something.
It's not extremely easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially in college. But after experiencing this first-hand, I've figured out the ways I could've prevented it from happening. Just remember the basics, and you should be fine.
Never stop being active, never stop eating your veggies, and never feel discouraged if you do gain weight. It happens. And it's never too late to start getting healthier.
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