There are a ton of urban legends prospective freshmen share with each other, but one that turns out to be true for many students is the infamous “Freshman 15,” which refers to the purported number of pounds new collegegoers gain during freshman year. In fact, for some, the number is much higher. But there’s no need to freak out. A small dose of willpower—not a strict diet or crazy exercise regimen-- is all it takes to keep those dreaded extra pounds away. Here are a few tips that will allow you to enjoy all your favorite foods, snacks, and—ahem—beverages without breaking the scale:
1.
Take the long way to class. Want to maintain your weight? Skip the campus shortcuts. That’s right—no more cutting across the lawn to get to class. Walk the long way around campus and learn to love climbing stairs. The kids at Boston College do: their campus is home to the infamous
Higgins Stairs, a set of 120 steps that connect the upper campus to the lower campus.
2.
Limit the pizza deliveries. Pizza is practically a food group for college students, so it’s all right to splurge every so often. But don’t make it a nightly occurrence. Limit it to once a week and you might find that it tastes even better. Your wallet, as well as your waistline, will reap the benefits.
3.
Avoid going back for seconds at the cafeteria. If your campus cafeteria serves food buffet-style, load your tray with proteins and veggies that will fill you up. You can still grab some French fries, but you’ll be less likely to make them the focus of your meal.
4.
Beware of the salad bar fixings. Eating a big salad is awesome, but the bacon bits, heavy cream dressings, and croutons that you ladle on to it? Not so much. Be smart with your choices at the salad bar, or else you’ll undo all the good you are trying to accomplish by eating your greens.
5.
Drink plenty of water. These days, water bottles come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that they’ve become the must-have accessory on college campuses. This is one fad that you should follow. Taking frequent swigs of water throughout the day will not only refresh you and keep you alert through long lectures, but it will also keep your appetite at bay. In fact, many health experts say that you should
drink a big glass of water before each meal so that you aren’t tempted to overeat.
It is possible to avoid the Freshman 15 without even stepping foot in the gym. But if you are looking to lose weight or defray the cost of stress eating during finals, a couple of trips to the campus gym each week will definitely help. What’s most important is that you establish habits that will allow you to enjoy your favorite foods, but still fit into all your clothes by the end of the semester.