Getting healthy and staying healthy in college is the ultimate struggle. The dining hall food is usually drenched in fats and sugars and having so much food readily accessible to you definitely does not help. Plus, class schedules, extracurriculars, and (let’s face it) parties give you little to no time to go to the gym. Here are some tips and tricks for getting, and staying fit while away at school.

Invest in some healthy snacks.

Keep your fridge stocked with fruits, yogurts, and protein rich foods. Almond milk is an essential for my fridge. When I’m craving something sweet, dark chocolate and dried fruit does the trick nicely. Also, I keep water on hand at all times. Staying hydrated will make you feel and look so much better. Having water and healthy snacks on hand will allow you to kick those late-night cravings for taco bell and pizza and keep you on the right track.

Get to the gym.

Go to your school’s fitness center! Most school gyms have group fitness classes that are a fun alternative to running on a treadmill or lifting weights alone. Plus, the gym has people in there that usually know what they’re doing and would love to help you get a great workout in! You don’t have to go to the gym every day, but try and make the effort to go at least twice a week and supplement other exercises in throughout the week.

Try walking around campus and using the stairs.

I know walking across campus in the cold or rain to catch an 8 am class sounds horrible, but I promise it’s worth it. Walking and moving between classes helps burn calories and keeps you moving. Taking the stairs helps work your thighs and glutes and burns more calories than using an elevator. By finding small ways to keep moving, you being making more health-conscious decisions without even realizing it! Your lungs will thank you when you aren’t wheezing after getting to your class on the fourth floor.

Find supplemental workouts that you like.

I started doing kickboxing during my senior year of high school. I loved it! I lost weight, I was gaining muscles, I felt strong, and I was having fun while doing it! Doing kickboxing introduced me to the world of MMA. It became a new passion of mine. Unfortunately, my school doesn’t have a kickboxing class or heavyweight bags, so I couldn't continue doing the same workouts that I was used to. However, I began shadow boxing in my room during homework breaks. I would do pushups and crunches and planks while binge watching my favorite Netflix series. While I didn’t hit the gym every day, having small sets of workouts and activities to do once a day helps keep your body moving and keep your muscles strong.

Get inspiration.

I love following fitspo Instagram pages and watching youtube videos of people’s workout routines, MMA training, etc. Along with these videos, I find nutritional tips and tricks and ways to make staying healthy fun and ever-evolving. Besides, if you ever find yourself in a health slump, the videos provide motivation and inspiration to keep going!

Love yourself and keep going.

Don’t beat yourself up because you don’t look like a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show model or because that number on the scale isn’t going down. Being healthy is about feeling good and doing what is right for you. The journey to health isn’t an easy one, but once you learn how your body works and what makes you feel good, you’ll be set and the journey will become one that you’ll never forget.

Best of luck on your journey to health!!!