Any College Kids Trying To Lose Weight??

I'm a Sophmore in college and have been fighting the freshman fifteen for a while now. Just curious to talk to some other people in college and see what they eat, cook, and do!

I'm starting the second semester of my Junior year. I was lucky and didn't gain the Freshman 15, but... then, I gained about 20 lbs from my Sophomore year until now. It's so hard to find time to workout and cook good food - but I have found that the little things really do help me out. Like - walking to class or work, instead of driving... And not grabbing something fast for dinner.

One of my favorite things to make is a chicken ceaser wrap. Every week I grill a few chicken breasts on my foreman, and cut them up in little pieces. I use about a 1/2 cup of chopped chicken breast for each wrap. I rinse my romaine lettuce off, then shake it in a tupperware container with a little bit of ceaser dressing. I have found that I use SO much less dressing when I shake up the salad instead of just pour the dressing on - also, the wet lettuce helps to dilute the dressing a little bit. Then, I add my warmed-up chicken and wrap the salad up in a spinach tortilla. YUM!

Also, I have recently discovered how easy it is to freeze meals. For example, if I make some chicken enchiladas, I will freeze a few more meals. Then, I just thaw them out and cook them in the oven when I don't have as much time later.

I like to have plenty of fresh veggies on hand for snacks. I don't even let myself buy junk anymore- I know if I buy a bag of Milano's with every intention for the bag to last a few weeks, it will only last a few days.. or hours...
 

Thanks so much!!

totally in the same boat! you're right. its just so hard to find time to work out! its like i could sleep for 2 extra hours tonight or drag my butt to the gym... and for me, sleep tends to win :(. im going to be a junior and i get to live in an apartment so im hoping that its easier to eat healthy since we now have a kitchen yay! you'd think since so many college students are into being healthy and are body conscious they'd have better food options on campus (healthier stuff) but nooo... i feel like everything is fried or just bad for you :/... but i love chicken ceasar wraps and im totally taking your idea ladybug! thanks!!

Im in college too. I thought it would be so easy, I shop for myself and cook for myself so I can make it as healthy as i want. No fattening family meals. But when I want to binge, which happens often to me, its so much easier to get terrible foods.

Im ganna try to be more structured next year. Im going to make a set shopping list for every two weeks, and allow myself a certain number of meals out ect. Hopefully I will be more diciplined.

One tip to keep for the gym... at my school they offer tons of exercise classes, and the greade goes into your GPA. I think I would have flunked out my first semester if it werent for yoga and pilates. and attendence is the only way they make your grade so you have to show.

I have an awful habit of shopping for only really healthy things and then eating my friends' junk food when I get the chance. Bad system. Being home for the summer is hard too because I go out to restaurants more often. But writing down everything you eat is probably the most helpful thing I've tried so far...also, completely cutting out refined flour (stick to ONLY whole wheat bread and pasta) and eating lots of brown rice & beans.

i didnt gain the freshman fifteen, it was more like the sophomore 15, now that im going into my junior year i've finally decided enough is enough and i need to get my act together, hopefully this place helps a bit!

I absolutely love grocery shopping, so I can make new finds.. It's just a matte of getting me to the REC center for the exercise classes, once I'm there it's all gold. I'm living closer this year, and making smaller goals so I don't get discouraged. Sometimes it's like I'll never be satisfied, but I try very hard to look at my improvements thus far.

Some of my favorite easy foods are Nature's Own Bread (most are 2 slices for just 80 Cal), Sushi (Cali rolls are usually 30 Cal each), Thomas' 100 cal English Muffins, Egg Beater(Southwestern Style), and for my sweet tooth when I don't want all the diet foods and WW ice creams (even though they're good), I buy the packages of 8 Reese's cups. for just 80 Calories each cup, it's easy to reserve for dessert. . Oh also, HOSTESS makes shortcake cakes for just 100 calories, SO good.

Hey- I'm going to be a freshman this fall- I've lost 60 ounds over the past year and I have 20 more to go. I'm going to try really hard not to gain any weight during my fresman year, even though I know that that will be a challenge. But what I do right now is I have an emergency stash with me (in my purse) at ALL times- an apple, some nuts (healthy fat that will temporarily stave off hunger) a high fiber, low sugar granola or cereal bar, and some water. (Yes, I have a big purse). Try eat something with a little carbohydrates and fat every few (3-4) hours so that your blood sugar stays relatively stable. GOOD LUCK!!!

I also gained the freshman 15 (or 20) this past year. I thought it would be so simple to say no to the bad, fatty foods, but I was very wrong. I began to eat like I had never eaten before, and as a result gained a ton of weight, didn't fit into any of my clothes, and hated my body. I was the biggest I had ever been. This year is hopefully going to be full of healthy choices. I am looking forward to going grocery shopping for natural, organic and nutritional foods and staying away (hopefully) from all of the junk that caused me to balloon last year. I am living in an apartment with 3 other girls, which is going to be one of my biggest problems. These girls are very into bad foods, and often sabatoge my eating patterns. I hope that I won't be involved in their late night pizza binges--- I can't be if I want to be healthy.

I would always tell myself that I wasn't gaining college weight, but that's not what the scale or mirror says! It is really hard, but I have recently found that the calorie counting works for me. Writing everything down is one thing, but when you write it down with a calorie count next to it, it really makes a difference! I like the chicken wrap idea, but I've found the biggest helper is portion control. Get yourself a diet scale and some good measuring cups. Even if you eat at the cafeteria, eat half, then put the rest in your fridge. When you eat the leftovers, measure out the amounts, so you have a better idea of what is a "serving". Otherwise, try and fight the urge to stay in bed. I know how tempting it is, but when you graduate your alarm will be buzzing even earlier! Good luck everyone!

I just graduated from college and am starting law school in a couple weeks, so technically I'm still a student (I refuse to consider myself an adult yet).

During my 4 years I gained about twenty pounds.  I don't know  exactly when because I never used to weigh myself with any sort of regularity, but I have now and I don't like it.  I think the hardest part for me were the people around me with bad eating habits...especially those who still seemed to be a size 0 and ate horribly.  Try not to compare yourself to others.  Do what you need to do and be focused.  Try to exercise...I know it's tough cause as most of you, I love sleep.  Naps are the best.  However, it's not only good for you and helps you meet your goals, but it helps with stress as well. 

Good luck in school!

hello all!  with school coming up in three weeks, i'm really nervous that i'm going to put the 10 pounds i've lost this summer back on.  i'm not worried about the healthy eating even with living in the dorms, or the workout, i'll push myself to take classes, etc... i'm just worried about the partying aspect.  does anyone have any tips that can help to keep the balance between partying & continuing to lose weight? 

Lol, yeah, I've hear that the famous fresh 15 are mostly from alcohol and that college kids usually forget to add that up to their calorie count so watch out for that.

I'm gonna be a junior this upcoming fall and I have no idea how I'll try to stay healthy. Our cafe is not that bad, they have a lot of varieties and if you try to be healthy you can totally do it. But  it is soo tempting to just have pizza or hamburgers and fries and a cookie for dessert when I'm eating there with my friends, I don't even look at the salad bar. Hopefully this semester will be different and I'll be able to choose better.

Im a Sophomore too! Freshman year was definately different eating wise. I didnt drink or party, but I did gain some extra, unwanted pounds. I've been spending the summer trying to lose the extra weight and come up with a healthy diet plan for the next school year. I agree that the salad bar gets old after a while :) But some healthy choices for me are yogurt, bagels (ours are all natural, no added perservatives!) or the snack wells cookies when Im craving sweets. On super indulgence days I love to share some light ice cream with my roommates :)

If anyone here is trying to lose that last few pounds before the quarter begins, I started a challenge to last until school starts. Extra motivation always helps! It's called

Last 5-10 lbs Challenge! Esp. for college students!

under this forum section. Join if interested :)

I actually lost ~30lbs the summer before I went to university, but then I gained 10lbs back. Now I'm going into my third year, and this summer I've lost 15lbs... so I guess my net loss is 35lbs. I can always have a healthy lifestyle during the summer and even during the early part of the semester, but once midterms and finals hit, my exercise regimen goes out the window. My eating habits are pretty consistent though, but I always consume ridiculous amounts of lattes/cappuccinos during midterms and exams, and those do add up quickly!

I hate going to my university's gym though - it's such a meat market. There's always the guys at one end of the gym lifting their weights and, between sets, oggling the girls at the other end on the elliptical/step machines. lol... Or maybe this is all in my head.

man I've been waiting for so long to find a post like this!

I'm not sure how much weight I gained in my freshmen year because I never weighed myself before I left. But i know for a fact that I did gain weight. It was probably about 5lbs... not bad but I could totaly tell that my body changed. I went from being a very active girl (dance team does that to ya) to having chub over my jeans. I tried to go to the gym as much as possible but with school, and the beer...its tough.

I have lost that weight and probably a few more pounds since summer started....but thats with watching what I eat and working out EVERYDAY. Any thoughts on cheep, healthy food to cook at school... and snacks... I love to snack :)

haha antifood I know exactly what you mean.  Some girls at my university gym get dressed up to go work out, it makes me laugh.  To get to the cardio machines I have to walk throught the weight room, I'm always like dont look at me.

The alcohol really adds up but if you plan ahead and eat to make up for it that day it can be done. I gained 10 lbs my freshman year and then lost 25 pounds the summer after and was able to keep off 20 of those during sophomore year.  Hopefully junior year will be as successful.

This is my first year living in an apartment, is it more difficult to keep pounds off there than in the dorms?

Having an apartment definitely helps because you know exactly what you are eating and how it is prepared.  However, you have to watch what you buy.  Healthier vs. mac & cheese every night.

Yeah, I've been fighting the freshmen 15, and a 15 more lbs added on!  But what I have found out is do not go to Mc D's at 2 in the morning, no matter how much you crave it. 

I get a whole fridge this year, since I'm living with a boy!  So now I can stock up on fruits and veggies and grains and chicken.  Easy to grab and go meals are my choice now, I just have to get a couple good recipes for dinners.  I'm also planning on walking/jogging every day before classes for 30 minutes to 1 hour.