It is common knowledge that a woman's diet always starts tomorrow. Ever since I got to college, I've actually realized it's even harder to diet than when I was home. The uninformed dieter thinks that "dieting" only consists of cutting the normal amount of calories, and generally just eating less; this is completely false.
To diet properly, yes you should be consuming fewer calories in fats and sweets but, to diet correctly, you just really need to switch up what you're eating. Swap out the cookies for breakfast for some eggs, the double cheeseburger from Five Guys has to go out the window to be replaced by leafy greens and pasta for dinner is fine, as long as it's not filled with creamy sauces and heavy ingredients.
Carbs are good for you, in moderation!
It's January and you're in college and this is your situation: you're in a dorm so you don't have a stove (especially freshman, some sophomores have exceptions) you're limited to flavorless, full of fats and salt dining hall food or not eating at all, what do you do?
This is definitely a real struggle a lot of college students face, you realize it's the second semester and you want to get that body ready for the summer so you start going to the gym more frequently; that doesn't matter though because while abs are made in the gym, they are maintained in the kitchen.
Not eating can actually harm the muscle you have by forcing them to break down to try and give your body the nutrients you aren't consuming. The solution?
EAT SMART AND WORK HARD.
I get it. It is definitely easier said than done but think of it like this: that ice cream you ate today is just putting you further away from your goal. Cheat days are good for you of course and you should splurge every once in a while but when sweets are being consumed on a daily basis and not in moderation, that summer body that you crave will never come true.
Sure you may not be able to cook yourself the healthy meal you want but the dining halls have salad bars and fruit stands. Start by swapping out 2 unhealthy meals a week and see where that gets you, once you've become comfortable with that, keep challenging and pushing yourself to eat healthier each meal.
Fitness is a process that has no true timeline, filled with goals and ups and downs your journey is what you make it.
Through my own personal fitness journey, I've learned a thing or two, and my biggest take away is that it doesn't matter how hard I work in the gym if I'm not putting in the work at home too. There are 4 months from now until June which is plenty of time to change the way you look if you're not happy about it.
All this being said, every body is beautiful and if you start your fitness journey you're not in a competition with anyone else but yourself. Always remember that people are genetically different meaning what works for one person may not work for another, do your research and don't give up!