The freshman 15. Have you ever heard of it? In short, it is the weight gain that a lot of incoming college freshmen gain during their first year of college. For most, they seem to think that the freshman 15 is inevitable, but really it isn’t. Here are 6 Tips to Avoid the ‘Freshman 15’ this year when school begins.
6 Tips to Avoid the ‘Freshman 15’
Get involved. Getting involved in clubs, causes, churches, or other activities on campus will help keep you from spending too much time “vegging” on the couch. Keeping yourself active will help prevent weight gain simply because you’re not moving around too much.
Find time to fit in a workout. Making sure that you are getting some form of exercise is so important to avoiding the freshmen 15. It doesn’t matter if it is a full gym workout at 6 a.m. or simply walking a track once a day. You will need to this activity to help keep your metabolism in check so that it doesn’t become sluggish.
Steer away from the typical college diet. Ramen, coffee, junk carbs, and other foods that are “typical” for a college student are all partially to blame for the weight gain that a lot of freshmen experience. Make sure that your diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, and other foods that your body needs. You’ll be giving it the nutrition that will help fight unnecessary weight gain.
Supplement your nutrition. If you’re trying to eat healthy but still don’t think you’re getting the full amount of nutrients that you should be, adding a multi-vitamin or other nutritional supplement can help. One of the biggest reasons that people gain weight (besides inactivity and eating junk) is malnutrition. Unfortunately, you can be totally deficient in one nutrient and not realize it since there are usually very few telltale signs.
Get the proper amount of rest. Whether you realize it or not, not getting enough sleep can actually cause you to gain weight. Making sure that you get at least 8 hours a night is the only surefire way to prevent the weight gain that can be caused from lack of sleep. It might mean that you have to tell your friends that you can’t go out with them, but you will be much healthier for it.
Keep up to date with your doctor. Finally, the last way to avoid the freshman 15 is by making sure that you stay up to date with your doctor. There are quite a few different health issues that can arise with no outward symptoms. By getting your regular checkups and making sure to see your doctor if you’re not feeling well, you will be able to cut any weight gain or health issues off at the pass.
Finally, I want you to understand that if you are going to gain 15 or more pounds during your freshman year, you’re going to. Your body will do what it wants you to unless you give it a reason not to. These 6 ways to avoid the freshman 15 are a great place to start keeping the weight gain at bay but they’re not the end all be all. Research what is best. Know your body and most of all, pay attention to what it is telling you.
More Healthy Living Tips:
7 Simple &Healthy Recipe Substitutions
25 Healthy Foods for Under a Dollar
6 Steps to Getting Back on Track with Fitness and Exercise
10 Simple Changes to Help you Lose Weight
Indoor Exercises for When the Weather is Bad
10 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water
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Crystal Green says
These are some valuable tips. I wish I had these tips when I was a freshman in college. It probably would have helped me out quite a bit.
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again when we open our doors on Friday at 12AM EST.
Megan Chamberlin says
I’m pretty sure I gained the Freshemen 20, haha! Thanks for sharing these health tips at Merry Monday!