Whether you are training for Mixed Martial Arts or just want to get in better shape there are certain times of our
lives that we tend to pack on the pounds and one of those is heading off to college. So, we wanted to hit on this topic to prepare those students heading into college for their first year.
Who hasn’t heard of the freshman fifteen?
It’s the weight gained by students in their first year of college, an average of 15 pounds. Even those working towards their degree through an online university run the risk of gaining some weight due to the long hours in front of the computer. It isn’t a strange scientific wonder; it’s perfectly explainable and thankfully, avoidable.
Many college students spend large amounts of time on the computer, sitting in the library and sitting in class. Inactivity combined with poor eating habits, late night Taco Bell runs and alcohol can all contribute to weight gain. The following are some simple things you can do to avoid additional weight gain while in school.
Schedule time to workout
Twenty minutes three times a week is all a person needs to stay in shape physically and burn calories. You don’t even have to leave your dorm room or apartment. Try dancing to high energy music or check out Exercisetv.com for some free 20 minute online workout videos. Some rental stores like Family Video also allow customers to rent exercise DVDs for free, so be sure to check stores in your area.
Run early
Workout in the morning before your first class; morning workouts boost your metabolism for the rest of the day. Exercising before class can help to energize both your body and your brain. It will wake you up and help you to focus better throughout the day. Exercise is also a terrific stress management technique, so it’s great way to start the day with a clear head.
Get plenty of sleep
The average person needs at least eight hours of sleep to function properly. Lack of sleep directly contributes to stress and weight gain. Many people turn to coffee, soda and energy drinks in order to compensate when they’ve pulled all night study sessions. Caffeine and sugar may provide a temporary relief from fatigue; but they are typically high calorie and poor substitutes for sleep. When the caffeine/sugar high is at its peak, you’re generally too hyped up to be able to concentrate. When you crash, you’ll be worse off than you were before.
Choose Healthy low calorie high energy snacks over junk food
Many people snack while doing homework, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s important to choose your munchies wisely. Look for food that isn’t loaded with calories, sugar and fat. Choose snacks such as fruit or veggies and dip as opposed to chips and dip. Trail mix is a great high protein, high energy snack; but be careful not to overdue the trail mix since nuts are high in fat. Popcorn is great for a mindless snack binge since it’s low in calories (assuming you don’t get the extra-buttery variety).
Limit your alcohol consumption
Alcohol itself contains a large amount of sugar and calories. Added to drink mixes, it piles on even more. Most students wouldn’t dream of drinking several milkshakes all in one night. Add some alcohol to it and call it a daiquiri and they can’t get enough. Remember that even though it’s adding alcohol into your bloodstream, they’re not free calories.














