Freshman 15

Freshman 15 becomes a common term when you reach college age.  Why are you likely to gain weight during your college years?  Stress, time restraints, sleep deprivation, and convenience of fast foods are all contributing factors.  No doubt college is a stressful time for most students but weight gain does not have to be inevitable.

1.       Limit eating out.  Dining hall food actually provides you with a balanced diet, if you know what to choose.  However, after a semester of eating the same food, you get burnt out.  Fast food or restaurant food is an easy alternative, convenient and also the center of most social situations.  Make dining out a treat.  These types of foods are typically high in fat and calories, which leads to inevitable weight gain if you are not physically active.

2.       Limit alcohol intake.  As a freshman of 18 or 19 years old, this should not be an issue, but in reality, it is.  Alcohol is calorically dense.  Many college students regularly binge drink, which rapidly increases the calories you take in.  By limiting alcoholic drinks to 1 or 2 per day, you better meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines and also save your waistline.

3.       Get enough sleep.  Many college students are known to pull all-nighters to study for exams.  Lack of sleep is associated with poorer eating habits and taking in more caloric drinks than those who get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. 

4.       Be physically active.  Often, attending a larger university allows for increased activity.  Walking from class to class lets you fit exercise into a busy schedule.  Check out the recreational centers on campus and the classes they provide to challenge yourself even more.

The Freshman 15 is common, but it does not have to be.  Watch what you eat and move your body.