8 Ways To Avoid The Freshman 15

If you're a college student, you know the struggle of eating healthy and going to the gym.

1. Wake up early

Sounds terrible, I know. It can be difficult to get into the routine of waking up early enough to hit the gym before going to class or work. However, it is so worth it. Working out in the morning can give you even more energy to push through your day.

2. Pack your gym bag the night before

It may sound crazy… but it is so much easier to find the motivation to go to the gym if you already have everything ready. Then all you have to do is get dressed and walk out the door. Pick out your clothes and pack your bag with all of your supplements, snacks and gear the night before.

3. Do a quick, high-intensity workout

If it is really difficult for you to make time to go to the gym for an hour or so, just do a short workout! If you raise the intensity of the workout, you can burn more calories in a shorter period of time. Another benefit of these workouts is that you do not need a gym to do them. You can do them in your dorm room or maybe take advantage of a nice day outside!

Visit the following links for quick HIIT workouts:

4. Make your friends your gym partners

Not only do you know have people holding you accountable and making sure you get your butt into the gym, but this can also make working out more fun! Now you can hang out with your friends while exercising.

5. Try to pick the healthiest options first

If you’re trying to use up your meal plan, opt for the healthiest options first. Instead of going straight for the foods with high contents of sugar, sodium, and fats, go for foods high in protein and micronutrients such as chicken and vegetables. These foods are typically filling without the high-caloric content.

6. Be smart when satisfying your cravings

Have you ever really wanted food when you knew you weren’t actually hungry? The answer for most is yes. You don’t have to suffer in order to be healthy though! Try to find snacks that will satisfy your cravings without being high in calories and sugar. For example, if you’re craving something sweet, go for some berries or even a flavored water. If you’re craving something salty, make some white popcorn on the stove top or have some rice cakes.

7. Stock up on healthier snacks

Let’s be honest, college students live for convenience. If you’re in your room late working on homework and get a little hungry, you will most likely check your own pantry before you go out to get anything. If you are stocked up on healthy alternatives rather than chips and cookies, you will most likely snack on those rather than going out to get fast food.

8. Do NOT deprive yourself

Let’s say that you have been doing great at this whole healthy thing. You have been working out every day and eating right, but lately you have really been craving some ice cream. It is OK to reward yourself every now and then. Some issues that people who are “dieting” experience are cravings. They keep denying themselves until they can absolutely no longer resist and this could result in potential binge-eating. It is better to have unhealthy food in moderation.