Your experience living at your college or university may be one of the best times of your life! You'll be living in an exciting community filled with new people, cultural events, and intellectual discovery. You'll likely enjoy the independence of being away from home for the first time. It is important, however, to take care of yourself properly while living on campus. Freshmen often experience weight gain and other issues from falling into poor health habits. If you are conscientious, you avoid unsound nutritional practices and use college as an opportunity to build lifelong healthy habits.
You may have heard of "the freshman fifteen," or the fifteen pounds of weight gain experienced by college freshman. In fact, this is generally a myth. It is common, however, for freshman to gain a few pounds during their first year of college, and this pattern of weight gain often continues throughout the rest of college. While you may not gain fifteen pounds in your first year of college, you may gain this weight gradually over four years of bad habits.
One of the culprits of college weight gain is cafeteria food. Most campus cafeterias offer healthy options, but there are also many high-fat, high-sodium choices that often overshadow the salads and vegetables. While food items like French fries and greasy hamburgers are best eaten sparingly for a treat, you may even end up eating this junk food at every meal if you do not make careful choices. If you find that your cafeteria has too few healthy options, let your college know about your concerns.
It is a good idea to supplement cafeteria food with some groceries of your own. If you buy fresh fruit, cereals, salad, and healthy sandwich ingredients, you can eat some healthy meals in your own room. If you go to the cafeteria, choose lean options and eat lots of vegetables. Items such as French fries should be eaten no more than once or twice per week.
Drinking too much soda or sugary beverages is a common pitfall for many college students. Without a parent around to curb your beverage consumption, you may reach for high-calorie drinks more frequently. After late nights, you may also rely on energy drinks or high-fat coffee drinks to get you through your early morning classes. Remember that most of your beverages should be unsweetened, such as water. You can drink moderate amounts of fruit juices, milk, and other healthy beverages. Drinks with little nutritional value should be consumed sparingly.
Another major culprit for college students is excessive alcohol consumption. Besides the other health problems associated with alcohol overindulgence, you will likely experience weight gain from these high-calorie drinks. If you are of a legal drinking age, limit yourself to one or two drinks on each weekend night. Choose healthier options such as wine instead of a cocktail that may be high in sugar.
Finally, use your campus fitness center! Many college students develop sedentary habits which are hard to break. Your campus fitness center likely offers intramural sports, free fitness classes, and a pool, so you can have fun while exercising!
Staying Healthy And Fit In College
You may have heard of "the freshman fifteen," or the fifteen pounds of weight gain experienced by college freshman. In fact, this is generally a myth. It is common, however, for freshman to gain a few pounds during their first year of college, and this pattern of weight gain often continues throughout the rest of college. While you may not gain fifteen pounds in your first year of college, you may gain this weight gradually over four years of bad habits.
One of the culprits of college weight gain is cafeteria food. Most campus cafeterias offer healthy options, but there are also many high-fat, high-sodium choices that often overshadow the salads and vegetables. While food items like French fries and greasy hamburgers are best eaten sparingly for a treat, you may even end up eating this junk food at every meal if you do not make careful choices. If you find that your cafeteria has too few healthy options, let your college know about your concerns.
It is a good idea to supplement cafeteria food with some groceries of your own. If you buy fresh fruit, cereals, salad, and healthy sandwich ingredients, you can eat some healthy meals in your own room. If you go to the cafeteria, choose lean options and eat lots of vegetables. Items such as French fries should be eaten no more than once or twice per week.
Drinking too much soda or sugary beverages is a common pitfall for many college students. Without a parent around to curb your beverage consumption, you may reach for high-calorie drinks more frequently. After late nights, you may also rely on energy drinks or high-fat coffee drinks to get you through your early morning classes. Remember that most of your beverages should be unsweetened, such as water. You can drink moderate amounts of fruit juices, milk, and other healthy beverages. Drinks with little nutritional value should be consumed sparingly.
Another major culprit for college students is excessive alcohol consumption. Besides the other health problems associated with alcohol overindulgence, you will likely experience weight gain from these high-calorie drinks. If you are of a legal drinking age, limit yourself to one or two drinks on each weekend night. Choose healthier options such as wine instead of a cocktail that may be high in sugar.
Finally, use your campus fitness center! Many college students develop sedentary habits which are hard to break. Your campus fitness center likely offers intramural sports, free fitness classes, and a pool, so you can have fun while exercising!
Staying Healthy And Fit In College