<p>I'm an incoming freshman and excited to get my college career rolling, but I am worried about my physical health over four years of intense studying and high stress. Are there any suggestions on health habits (such as exercise routines, eating habits, and dietary supplements) that have helped you battle the bulge and help keep your grades up?</p>
<p>Take advantage of the exercise options that your school offers. There are often gyms, pools, rec classes, and intramural sports that are free or have a reduced price for students, and they can be really fun. My school also had activities or weekend trips like rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding/skiing, etc, that are usually good deals and you could keep an eye out for at school (or you can organize your own trip with friends). Exercising with friends is also a great way to spend time with people and be held accountable for going to the gym or rec class.</p>
<p>Also, doing little things like walking or biking to class instead of taking the bus/shuttle, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc, can help keep you from gaining weight. There are also usually healthy options even if you’re eating in the dining hall, and it can help to hit the salad bar, choose the vegetarian option, etc, when you’re getting something to eat. Snacking on fruits and vegetables, instead of chips or soda, is healthier and keeps you full longer.</p>
<p>There are also tons of exercise routines that you can do with no equipment in your bedroom, so you can still get a workout even if it’s raining/snowing/too hot/you’re too lazy to go to the gym.</p>
<p>If you don’t exercise regularly, I would start once in college. It is a great way to stay healthy, keep in shape, and relieve stress. I do a walk/run regiment on the treadmill for 43 minutes a day, 3 or 4 days a week. On my rest days I do strength training with lunges, squats, dumbells, etc. When school gets particularly stressful, exercising is my way of relaxing. At my university, paying for the Rec Center is included in our mandatory fees so we get yearly access to it for “free”.</p>
<p>That and be conscientious of what you are putting in to your body. Fast and frozen food is definitely the easiest, but not the best. Eating more fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and drinking more water are good habits to get into instead of grabbing what is easy and accessible.</p>
<p>I gained the freshman 15, but that was because I started working out. Plus I was underweight to being with (Male, 6’1", 145lbs → 160lbs) but I lost it all when I stopped working out lol. Just get into running or play a sport or something.</p>
<p>Many colleges have CrossFit gyms on or just off campus, you may want to look into that its a great workout and stress releaser.</p>
<p>BTW I was told there is no real “Freshman 15” unless you’re just that lazy/hungry. Most is around 5/10 pounds gain. But I’m not taking my chances (or rather take my chances and convert those pound into “good” pounds xD)</p>
<p>My plan regardless is:
-Minimize Elevator usage
-Minimize Transportation unless I’m really tired or too much snow.
-Go to the rec center which is like 2 minutes away from my hall and work out at least 3 times per week
-I don’t believe in sacrificing good food just to stay fit so my idea is to eat “less” junk food and counterbalance by eating healthier.
-Water is a much so I’m planning to get my refills at this place.
-If I’m really lazy I’ll just do some exercising in the dorm room</p>
<p>I’m starting to excerise at least daily. Basically I’ll do push up and squat one day, and sit up and dips the next days since I have no equipment. Just just mentally preparing myself so I don’t struggle in front of my workout partners.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how dedicated you are, but here is a 7 minute full body workout you can do 3 sets of per day to get into a little bit of shape and avoid weight gain:</p>
<p><a href=“The Scientific 7-Minute Workout - The New York Times”>The Scientific 7-Minute Workout - The New York Times;
<p>Edit: I hope i don’t get reported for spam, was a legitimate post I put down to help out. I know I hate spending too much time working out :)</p>
<p>@niklas I’m sure that is allowed because it relate to the topic.
And that seem like what I used to do in gym everyday lmao.</p>
<p>@Descuff lol nice. I gave up on the gym because I just don’t like the static mass building that goes on. I started doing GSP Rushfit for a much more intense workout which covers strength, endurance, and cardio and even flexibility. I highly recommend it to others. Plus every workout is under 1 hour long and all you need are some weights up to 25 lbs. I bouth a dumbbell pair from Wallmart for $30.</p>
<p>Diet is pretty much the most important part of avoiding the freshman 15. I gained 30 pounds in college, even though I went from not working out in high school to being very strict about working out in college. But because I was eating a lot, I stilled gained a lot of weight.</p>
<p>@warbrain
Wth did you eat? 3 meal a day and junk food with pizza every other night?</p>
<p>Diet is big. In the dorms we had all we can eat meals, which I made use of heavily. But I have extreme metabolism so it didn’t do much for me–except when I moved out, then I starved for a month.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Um, no. You only have to overeat like 150 calories a day to gain the amount of weight I did. That’s like one too many beers, or a half extra serving of fries a day. Which is mostly how I gained the weight that I did.</p>
<p>warbrain is right, calories can add up fast. I recommend counting them.</p>
<p>Its already been said, but in terms of stress release, running and strength training would be a huge help. Not to mention its benefits in terms of the Freshman 15. As long as you aren’t overeating (you should know when you are, you’ll feel sluggish and tired) you should be able to keep that 15lbs at bay.</p>
<p>Depending on your workout routine, you’ll probably still gain weight, but it will be muscle mass. I wouldn’t necessarily worry about weight unless you are trying to maintain, and at that point you should look into a specific gym routine.</p>
<p>You should also notice, with a gym routine, that you’ll have plenty of energy as well.</p>
<p>I plan to join a club sport and exercise on my own at least 4 minutes a day. Stay with healthy options in the cafe but you can eat badly once in a while if it does not become a habit.</p>
<p>If you go to the school in the mountains you’ll have more trouble keeping on weight than you do off. Especially if you have to walk a mile to go to a dining hall!</p>
<p>I’m not so sure we can tell our calories count…</p>
<p>Some colleges have the basic nutritional facts of their food online. Purdue does. It should give you a rough outline at least. Of course, they’re not 100 % accurate. </p>
<p>I gained around 20 pounds freshman year, but I was nearly underweight when I came to college, I spent all my time studying/ hanging with friends (not at the gym), and the food at college was 100% different than the food I ate at home. It’s hard.</p>
<p>“basic” I never,like the way people do thing. Like they actually know how,many calories I get if I only have a little of several things</p>