Follow These Simple Steps and Avoid the Freshman 15! | Weight Loss

By GailM.Davis
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Students going off to college often gain weight their first year away from home. This weight gain is commonly referred to as the "freshman 15." Freedom is a new experience for many of these students. Cafeteria buffets, late night snacking, lack of exercise, and emotional eating, all combine to create the perfect atmosphere for weight gain.

Understanding this pattern and knowing how to avoid it can help college freshmen maintain their desired level of fitness. There are easy steps that can be followed to encourage freshmen to make the right choices. Let's review a few of these steps now.

It's understandable that many college students aren't going to wake up in time to walk to the cafeteria for a healthy breakfast prior to their first class. If that's the case, have healthy breakfast items in your dorm room that you can grab on your way out. Breakfast is the meal that wakes up your metabolism for the day and gets it working. It's imperative to eat something first thing in the morning.

The next step in avoiding the "freshman 15" is to make healthy food choices 90% of the time. College cafeterias are offering more variety and healthier options but a buffet is still a buffet! While it's okay to occasionally select macaroni and cheese or dessert, these indulgences need to be rare. Limit yourself to one "free" meal a week!

Another important tip is to make good decisions about your beverages. Limit sodas and sweet drinks. They provide no nutritional value and slow weight loss. Make water your main source of hydration. Drink skim milk with your meals. Calcium-rich diets burn more fat!

One great tip to avoid extra weight is to limit late night snacking. Stop eating several hours prior to going to bed. This will help keep your excess calories from being stored as fat. Try to avoid snacking but have healthy options available. Sugarless gum is often a good substitute.

The most important and final tip we'll discuss here for avoiding the "freshman 15" is to exercise regularly. It's easy in college to put this at the bottom of your "to do" list, but instead, find a workout buddy in your dorm and make it a priority! Use the college facilities and have an endless variety of exercise options, such as swimming, tennis, weight lifting, and running.

Be aware of this common occurrence and take these important steps to avoid it. Don't let yourself fall into the trap of making unhealthy decisions. You certainly don't want your "freshman 15" to turn into permanent baggage! The power is with you...it's all about choice.

About the Author

Gail M. Davis provides more steps to help you avoid "the freshman 15." You can find these along with food and exercise logs, weight loss suggestions, healthy recipes, and more on her site, Easy Weight Loss Tips.

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