How to lose weight at college?
There was once a time when college students were overlooked. It was assumed that they had the time, energy, and (most importantly) the money to maintain their weight with binge-drinking and fast food. But now that is has become more socially acceptable for students to eat healthy in order to improve their health during college years, universities are starting to take note of how difficult it can be for some students who are trying to change their diet habits.
This post will discuss tactics to successfully lose weight at college, including exercising on your own time and in your own space (or lack thereof).
Having a meal prior to sleep can boost your metabolism for several hours afterward. This is because you’re not sitting around eating and drinking after eating.
Losing Weight at College
Exercise as soon as you wake up. You are more likely to be successful if you exercise when your body and mind are fresh. Avoid exercising immediately after a heavy meal or drinking large quantities of coffee or soda for the same reason.
Avoid bad eating habits. If you are at an off-campus house party, be careful not to get too drunk or eat too much food. Eat only what you will eat if your parents were present, and avoid the chips, pizza, soda and other tempting food that is available.
Recommended: Can you lose weight without exercise?
If necessary, find a friend who would like to exercise with you or join a fitness center in your area. When you are home all alone, it is difficult to stay motivated. But if you have a friend or friends by your side, you can help each other stay on track. You can also monitor each other’s progress and will feel less likely to give up.
If you cannot find the motivation to exercise, start off slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts. Start by doing push ups, crunches and squats in sets of 1 or 2 reps for 10 minutes to start.
Walk as much as possible. When you’re in a rush and have to get from point A to point B, just walk instead of driving. Not only will it help you lose weight (if that is your goal), but it will also help save money on gas.
If you walk instead of driving everywhere, you can still make it to your destination fairly quickly. For example, my current job is just a mile from campus. Instead of taking the bus or driving, I walk.
Eat museli with celery seeds on the side. Museli is an Indian flatbread that you can make at home from wheat flour, sesame seeds and coconut oil in minutes (and it is just as good as the ones sold in stores). It is often eaten with dal or chutney. You can make your own museli here (I know, I know…it’s not as cool as buying it at the store). There are also some great recipes for museli here and here.
Add vegetables and fruits to your diet. Instead of eating pizza or French fries, add vegetables to your lunch or dinner plate. As you start the semester, friends may tempt you to buy a lot of junk food, but after a few weeks, you won’t crave certain foods as much and you’ll find you can live without them.
Eat fast food occasionally; only when you are hungry. It is not beneficial to eat fast food every day because it can take longer for you body to break down the calories in this type of food compared to other foods such as fruit and vegetables.
Drink plenty of water instead of caffeine and soda. If you are trying to lose weight, it is good to reduce the amount of caffeine and sugar that you consume. Drinking a lot of soda can make your teeth whiter, but it also adds extra calories to your diet which can contribute to weight gain.
Whenever possible, eat healthy foods along with junk food items. Don’t obsess over what you eat or overdo it with junk food. Be aware when you consume too much junk food or not enough healthy foods. Try making a small salad or having an apple or cherry for dessert when you are having dessert (instead of consuming cake, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and other junk food).
Eat slow-burning carbohydrates and lean proteins an hour before bedtime to boost your metabolism and make it easier for you to lose weight.
Look online for healthy recipes and eat out less often. You can find hundreds of healthy recipes online, so you shouldn’t need to rely on eating out at a restaurant all the time. Cooking with common plants-based ingredients is a great way to help reduce your carbon footprint as well.
Hope this article helped you.
