Back to school: Avoiding the "Freshman 15" | NJ.com

College students around the country are starting classes, andf or freshmen this may be a particularly daunting time. If being away from home, adjusting to a new roommate, and taking on a heavier course load weren?t enough, you also have to beware of the infamous "freshman 15"! There are numerous reasons why students gain weight during their first year of college, and here are a couple of suggestions to combat the weight gain.

Make exercise your transportation
Most campuses don?t allow freshmen to park vehicles on campus. This gives you the opportunity to walk or bike to class, the library, student union, and in between dorms. Try to take the bus only when necessary and take advantage of the longer commutes for exercise when you have the time.

Join an intramural sports team
Not everyone can attend college on an athletic scholarship, and many aren?t good enough to make the official university sports teams to compete on a national level. Yet most campuses have intramural sports teams to promote physical activity, fun, and add a sense of community. Joining one of these teams could help you stay in shape as well as make new friends.

Take a physical education class
Universities differ in physical education (PE) requirements, but most of them require that you obtain some credit towards PE in order to graduate. It would be smart to circumvent your way around the freshman 15 by taking a PE class your first semester. Classes are often diverse, from dance, to weightlifting, to swimming, offering whatever you are interested in.

Take advantage of campus fitness
Campuses often have some of the best fitness facilities and equipment, especially if athletically it is a well-funded school. The fitness facilities are usually free to all students, and simply require that you register. These facilities are also often open for long hours, making workouts easy to schedule in between classes and studying.

Watch the late night snacking
Between late night study sessions, long nights partying, and hanging out with friends it is easy to overeat. Ordering pizzas and drinking beer after midnight has been the very habit that has led many to gaining weight so quickly during college. The occasional late night snack won?t hurt you, but making it a regular habit could put on the extra pounds quickly.

De-stress
Stress is often synonymous with student, and is one of the main causes of weight gain. It often contributes to making poor eating decisions. Figure out now healthy ways to combat stress. Try filtering it into exercise like running or yoga.

Get plenty of sleep
For some in college sleep is a luxury. But without it your mind and body doesn?t work as efficiently, slowing down your metabolism, and adding to weight gain. Aim for 8 hours a night. It is possible but requires good time management skills and avoiding procrastination.

Eat Fresh
Without kitchens and the use of hot plates in dormitories it is hard to cook at home. Thus many students resort to eating out or eating microwaveable food. Yet since mini-refrigerators are usually allowed you can stock up on fresh vegetables, ingredients for salad, and fruit. When eating out or at the campus cafeteria try not to go simply for fast food or what?s quick. But try and eat as fresh as possible. Eat well balanced nutrient dense foods, like your mom or dad would make for you at home!

Source: http://blog.nj.com/fitness/2012/08/back_to_school_avoiding_the_freshman_15.html

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