Going to the gym for an hour every day is great. But when you have class from 8 a.m. — 5 p.m., studying at the library from 5 — 11 p.m., sometimes there's not even time to go to the bathroom. With busy schedules, it can be hard to eat healthily and not gain the infamous 15 pounds every college student has heard of. Here are some easy ways to actually avoid it:

Walk as much as you can

Seems obvious, but walking helps. If you live on campus, walk to class rather than taking the bus or driving. If you walk at a quicker pace, you are also more likely to burn calories compared to walking at a slower pace. You are most likely to be sitting in class all day, so walking is an easy exercise to get in without making much of an effort.

Look for healthy options/alternatives

Dorm food can be tough to avoid. Most of your options include pizza, chicken fingers, fries, etc. In order to obtain a healthy lifestyle, make sure to balance your carbs, dairy, protein, vitamins, and iron. Also, remember healthy eating isn’t just eating salads all day every day. But eating what you enjoy can help you not to crave the McDonalds hamburger or soft serve ice cream in the dining halls.

Drink LOTS of water

Avoid high-calorie drinks like pop. Make sure you’re drinking lots of water throughout the day (about 5-8 cups).

Avoid the late night Cook Out runs

If you’re staying up late studying or coming back from going out, avoid the fries. Maybe try an apple with peanut butter or some kind of protein to fuel you.

Always eat breakfast

This is pretty self-explanatory.

Find a buddy(s)

Find a friend that has the same goals as you, stick together and keep each other accountable.

Track your calories

There are so many apps out there that can help you track your calories. Being able to see what you ate on a day can help you make decisions for the coming days and see what changes you need to make.

Have Fun!

Don’t look too much into it. College is a time to meet new people, try new things and have fun! If you’re happy, you’re more likely to be healthy.