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Hey collegiettes™!
With the busy schedule that we have as college students trying to balance our academic and social lives, and everything in between, it’s sometimes hard to remember to eat healthy and make time for exercise.
Over the past four years, I could never fathom the idea of even trying to throw in a diet into my already hectic schedule. I’m a full-time student with a part-time job. I’m active in student groups on campus, and the rest of my time is with my family and friends. 
Yet, here I am today. Making all of that work plus successfully losing weight and eating right with the Jump Start Diet. I feel awesome, and ya know what, I am!
Every now and then my busy schedule, and whatever time-consuming things life throws my way, throws off my diet schedule a bit. Lunch, dinner or my snacks might get pushed off a few hours and then I suddenly feel like I’m starving/my world is ending.
The old me would’ve just turned to vending machine foods–soda, chips, candy, cupcakes–and grazed until I had something a little more filling.
The new me knows a lot better than to make a bad choice. SELF has reassured me that a little grazing doesn’t hurt since it’s just a way to let you body know “Hey, chill out! Food and energy are coming soon!” so that it “doesn’t panic, make more cortisol and go into fat-storing mode.”
SELF suggests that we don’t go more than 3 or 4 hours without eating and opt for healthy snacks, specifically ones that have complex carbs and lean protein. 
In all honesty, I initally had no clue what that mean? Complex carbohydrates? My research tells me that these types of carbs–the other type being simple carbs–help improve your digestion and are high-fiber. This includes oatmeal, bran cereal, carrots, apples, multi-grain bread, brown rice, skim milk, and celery.
Going for these types of snacks will help keep up our energy and satisfaction until there’s time to finally sit down and eat a good meal.
Some of the snacks that SELF suggests for the Jump Start Diet include: cottage cheese and berries, rolled up deli turkey breast, baked tortilla chips and salsa, Newman’s Own natural flavored popcorn or a bag of popchips!
What are some of your favorite healthy snacks to keep you going? Tell me! Leave a comment below, email me at allylopez@hercampus.com or Tweet me (@allylopez).
And if you’d like to join me in my healthy, happy weight loss (and please do), go register for the Jump Start Diet on SELF.com and be sure to use the SELF logs to keep track of your daily workout and meals, which is an awesome way to keep track of your calorie intake and how much you’re burning off!
Have a great weekend collegiettes™!
Love, Ally
P.S.
Don’t forget to take advantage of SELF‘ new subscription deal– $8 for a year’s worth of issues. Perfect for the collegiette™ budget!
To follow Ally’s journey on the Jump Start Diet, check out her out on Twitter (@allylopez), and while you’re at it, follow the latest news from SELF (@SELFmagazine) and Her Campus (@HerCampus)!