Every collegiette seems to have one thing at the top of her worry list upon entering her freshman year of college: gaining the dreadful “freshman 15.” Our goal is to go home for Thanksgiving Break looking just as good, if not better, than we did when we left for school. We think that we will make it to the gym everyday and have time to bindge on Netflix. However, this unfortunately doesn’t always end this way. Here are some tips and tricks to actually follow through with your goal to avoid that dreaded Freshman 15 here at the University of Maryland:
1. Walk as much as you can. It’s important to squeeze in as much exercise as you can into your already busy schedule. If you have time, avoid taking shuttle busses all over campus. As grueling as it is to walk up all of the inclines on campus (especially to Stamp), you are burning a great deal of calories while doing so.
Photo: Caroline Smith
2.Snack wisely. Sometimes, the only time you seem to have is grabbing a small order of fries on your way to class. If you’re in need of an on-the-go snack, keep a stash of fruit in your fridge that you can take with you to snack between classes. Apples, bananas, and granola bars are few of many great handheld snacks that are a healthy on the go options.
3. Indulge in moderation. It’s really okay to spoil yourself every once in a while on junk food. While you shouldn’t eat pizza, chicken fingers and fries for dinner every night, you don’t need to completely cut it out of your diet either. It’s a bad idea to be a stressed out and hungry college student all the time. That will make you miserable. Things like occasional froyo trips (try not to go crazy on toppings) are acceptable when you need a quick sweet treat.
Photo: Caroline Smith
4. Head to the gym. Not every college or university allows students to use their facilities for no additional charge, take advantage of it Since ERC was recently renovated, there are so many ways to stay fit. There are cardio machines, weight rooms, the indoor pool, basketball courts, and much more. Working out releases endorphins, which helps relieve some of the stress of college that a freshman is not used to.
5. Be aware of what you’re eating. Sometimes you think you’re eating healthy, but are in fact not. Picking up a salad is a great healthy meal – but not if you douse your greens in bleu cheese dressing, crispy chicken and tortilla strips. Those calories add up fast. Instead, make more conscious decisions when deciding what to eat.
Photo: Steven Depolo
6. Lay off the energy drinks. While these drinks seem essential to a college student, some of these drinks have more sugar in one can than one should consume in a day. These drinks add up- fast.
7. Drink water. There are plenty of reasons why you should drink more water. In terms of preventing weight gain, it always keeps food moving through your body. Also, if you drink a glass of water before eating, you are inclined to eat less food during your meals. This will help you avoid overeating.
8. Do not eat while doing other things. If you are studying or watching TV with a bag of Tostitos by your side, you will way more food than you intend to. When you’re distracted you are less likely to focus on how much food you’re consuming at one time.
Side note- this small bag of Chex Mix contains a whopping 3½ servings! It’s easy to get distracted and eat all of it without even thinking
9. Avoid the urge to late night splurge. After a night out in College Park, there are always those times when you feel like stopping at McDonalds on Route 1 and having a second dinner at 2 a.m. Resist that temptation. People are less active at the end of the night and the body does not have the time to burn off any of the calories that you just took in. If you can’t break the urge just yet, snack on vegetables or fruit that do not contain as many calories. Also, drinking a tall glass of water will keep you full until breakfast.
10. Don’t skip meals. Although you may think that it’s going to keep you from gaining weight, missing meals leave you feeling hungrier. In the end, you wind up overeating later on to compensate for the food you didn’t eat. You actually will eat more if you do this. Breakfast is most commonly skipped among college students. As cheesy as it sounds, it really is the most important meal of the day. You need the energy from each meal to keep you going throughout your jam-packed day.
All in all, weight gain happens when you let it happen. It’s important to be conscious of what you’re putting into your body and think about ways to slip in exercise whenever you can. However, do not let the fear of gaining weight get in the way of enjoying your freshman year. It is just as important to have fun and appreciate the new experiences during college. A girl is only a collegiette for so long.