College years, ah, good times. Who doesn’t love college? Being around all of your friends, meeting new people, not having to follow the rules of mom and dad… it’s all good, right? Right! Until you come home after your first year and realize you’ve gained 15lbs. Lawd.
The middle of my sophomore year of college is when I realized I was the heaviest I’ve ever been. You know that moment when you actually look at yourself like, “how the hell did I get here?” Well, I knew right then and there that it was time for a change…a dramatic change. Today, I’ve almost lost 30lbs.
It was hard to keep up with weight loss while living on campus, but it wasn’t impossible. Just remember eating chicken fingers and fries or ordering pizza every night, ain’t cute. Here are a couple of essentials to keep you on the right path:
1. Snacks:
Well, it’s harder to worry about eating healthy when you’re starving. So, don’t let yourself get to that point. Make sure your dorm is stacked with healthy snacks. The ramen, pop-tarts, candy bars, bags of chips and cookies have GOT to go. Substitute it for cheese, peanut butter, hummus, fruits, nuts, protein bars, yogurt, raisins, veggies, kettle corn, etc. There are so many healthy snack options to choose from, you just have to find the one that works for you.
2. Meals:
Whether you have a kitchen in your dorm, or you have to find food on campus, it’s still a conscious decision that you have to make every day. Make sure you’re eating a high-protein, high-fiber, low-carb diet. Substitute anything fried for grilled and make sure to eat your veggies with each meal! It’s simple.
3. Water
Stack up on bottles of water in your dorm as well! Try to drink at least 8 cups in order to stay hydrated and refreshed!
4. Gym
Most colleges have a gym on campus, USE IT! Try to go at least 3 times a week, and spend about 30 minutes there. Eating clean and working out go together, one isn’t beneficial without the other. If you’re spending 3 days in the gym, but eating whatever you want, congratulations, you played yourself.
College is all about learning, gaining new experiences and finding out who you truly are, so enjoy it! With these tips you’re sure to stay fit during this school year. Good luck!
[@ryenwatkins] to see more about my fitness journey.
Xoxo,
Leave a Reply