Losing Weight in College Environment

Hi everyone,

I am a freshman and college, and will be starting classes tomorrow morning.  I started preparing for college for the past couple of weeks now.  I go to school in Ohio and drove all the way from San Diego, California.  As you can imagine, healthy eating and working out was VERY difficult during that road trip.

Once orientation started, I found myself unwilling and unable to work out.  I watched what I was eating, but was too busy to caloriecount.  A solution to that may be getting an application for my itouch that can track it.  But still, measuring portions is harder when you don't really have a choice of how much food you get. :/

My main problem is working out.  I need the tips and motivation to lose weight in college.  A freshman negative fifteen. 

If anyone has any motivating words, both full of experience or advice, please reply with them!  I need the push to keep going!

First of all, good luck to you as you embark on your college education.  Wishing you the best!

It is understandable that you are nervous and a tad stressed at the prospect of a different environment ~ one where you are not providing the foods and one where you have to seek out the exercise.  But all is not lost....make intelligent choices where your foods are concerned.  Not sure what the school's menus are, but hopefully there are plenty of veggies and fruits for you to choose from.

As for the exercise, you will have the school's gym available to you correct?  Im sure you can find a buddy to workout with and if not, pop that iPOD on and get yourself over to the gym.  Go for a swim, go for a run, hit the weights but do something every day for at least 30 minutes.

Obviously your studies are the most important thing right now as you acclimate yourself to university life.  But you can also filter in the exercise, proper eating and keep yourself away from the binging and such.

The very best of luck to you!

You are so lucky to be just starting this adventure! I was in University 8 years (undergrad, masters & law) and have had both successes & failures with weight gain/loss during that time. The school gym is the best resource, though I do remember it being intimidating at first with all the super-fit people wearing brand name gym outfits, and me in my old cotton shorts & tank top. After a week you get over that. My best advice, other than to make sure to use the gym/pool, is GO EARLY. There is always so much activity in the evenings that you won't want to miss out on, if the workout is already done you don't need to worry about it. Hopefully you have a class break somewhere between 10:30 and noon most days. If not, the early afternoon is good too.

As for eating that's a lot harder because there is so much junk around and people always want to go out for coffee, drinks, etc. which adds so many calories to your day. Carry a water bottle, drink LOTS of water, and learn to drink your coffee/tea either black or with skim milk - limit lattes and speciality drinks to once a week - and limit the other high calorie drinks too. (This can cut as much as 500 calories per day, depending on how much sugar you usually drink). Otherwise, just make good choices and hopefully the exercise will do the trick. Enjoy the Universtiy experience!

Hey, I'm a sophomore in college and I gained 15 pounds my freshman year( I know very typical), but I lost most of it the second semester/summer. So I can give you some tips I wish I wouldve known starting out at college.

Youre going to eat out A LOT. You may not think so, with a meal plan and such, but after a few weeks of eating at the cafeteria, youll get sick of that food. Plus, going out to dinner is a huge social atmosphere for most college students. Try to stay away from fast food, and resturant food, try to order a salad or sandwich, or only eat half if you get something else.

Try to log your calories everyday. Not so much for calorie counting but more for the portion control. If you eat the serving size youll be fine, but if you dont pay attention, youll easily consume a bag of chips totalling 700 calories in one study session.

Use the school gym or do something active for at least 30 minutes a day. Join an intramural sports team, or just walk or bike to class. Even the littlest bit of exercise helps.

No soda/pop/coke whatever you call it. Drink water or lemonade instead, especially at resturants youll save money AND calories!

Get a decent amount of sleep before classes. Plan your time out well. Don't cram. This will help alleviate stress and sleep ALWAYS helps you lose weight.

Don't forget breakfast. It jumpstarts your metabolism.

Hopefully this helps. I sure wish I would've known this before I came to college.