There is no question that the college experience can be extremely fun and in many ways experimental. People will engage in new activities and also discover new types of beverages and foods.
The reason why weight gain is so common in college is due to the constant activities that involve food and beverages that are usually not very healthy.
This means that junk food is going to be the preferred choice when any type of college event is held. Pizza is usually going to be the most practical choice and pepperoni and cheese are the most common ingredients.
This alone is a perfect recipe for weight gain and one of the most common weight gain scenarios that you will find at fraternities and college parties around any campus.
The freshman 15
There are all kinds of terms that are born out of the college culture and one of the most popular is “the freshman 15”. This term refers to how most freshman students will gain approximately 15 pounds during their first year of college.
15 pounds is a significant amount of weight to gain in a year and it is quite common to see people reach that number or even surpass it. This has become such a common thing that many health organizations have taken notice and they are trying to enforce healthier college lifestyles.
What causes weight gain in college?
As we mentioned earlier, junk food plays a major role in the process of gaining weight in college. Many people spend too much time in activities that involve junk food such as pizza, nachos, and hamburgers.
There is also the stress factor that many college students are dealing with on a daily basis. This means that they are likely to eat more junk food and drink more sodas while studying. It can be very difficult for a college student to find the time to cook a healthy meal.
The average student budget does not help matters as it rarely allows the student to purchase quality foods during their college years. Buying microwave food and buying a pizza with their roommates is often a much more appealing option.
Can your health be affected long term?
When we gain weight, we are more likely to start suffering from all kinds of ailments, as our bodies have to work harder to keep our entire structure working. There is also the effects on your cardiovascular system, which could take a long time to reverse even if you manage to lose that weight after college.
Ideally, a person should try to keep their weight as low as possible during college, but this is often easier said than done unless you are committed to a different approach to the experience. With some planning and some willpower, you should be able to lose weight and keep it down during college.
Great ways to lose weight during your college experience
Drink more water
Try to ditch the sodas and don’t be one of those people who stop drinking sodas and switch to ice tea thinking that it is a healthier choice. Ice tea is filled with sugar just like those soda cans you have decided to stop drinking,
Don’t buy into the diet soda trend
There is nothing funnier than seeing someone with a large hamburger and fries that orders a diet soda with their meal. The hamburger alone is enough to make any type of diet product useless. Even if you decided to drink water with a hamburger and fries, it would be of little help.
Look for a meal plan at a local restaurant
Some colleges offer special deals such as a dollar a day for your lunch. This usually consists of food that is much healthier than junk food. Some meal plans are very healthy, so just do some research on campus to see if you can find one that is good enough for your needs and your budget.
Start exercising daily
There is no need to join a gym or to spend hours a day on a treadmill to get some quality exercise. There are plenty of bodyweight programs that you can do in your dorm room and you can find many of watch for free on places like YouTube.
Stop snacking during study sessions
People are always tempted to have a soft drink and a small bag of chips or Cheetos with them when they are studying. You should try to avoid snacking like this. If you feel the need for a snack, invest in some peanuts, or almonds with some water.
It doesn’t all have to be water
You can also try some sports drinks from time to time, but don’t abuse those either because they do contain sugar. It’s best to drink those only when you are going to be involved in any kind of physical activity.
Also, if possible, find a place that makes natural juice. This could be extremely beneficial to your health due to the vitamin that is provided by natural juice such as orange or apple. Don’t buy “natural” bottled juice because most of the time there is hardly anything natural in those products. If you do purchase juice at a convenience store, try to get the most natural you can find and don’t drink it too often.
Take up dancing or karate
The more physical activities you engage every week, the easier it is for you to avoid overeating. Try to look for activities that demand a lot of physical involvement. This is also going to help you burn a significant number of calories.
Moderation is key
There is no need for you to take things to the extreme when it comes to junk food. There is nothing wrong with indulging in a pizza and soft drinks with your friends every now and then. Ideally, you should keep junk food to a minimum, but cold turkey is not realistic when so many college events offer nothing but junk food.