College Students’ Guide To Stay Fit
College can be fun and exciting in many ways. However, some students may experience weight gain during their college years. This weight gain depends on what the student is doing. Are they getting enough exercise between sessions? Are they following a routine during their spare time?
Along with these bodily changes, are busy schedules and the luxury of eating and drinking whatever and whenever a student wants to. Thus, college can be tedious to the point where students aren’t able to exercise, because of various commitments.
But don’t let that get to you. There are many ways to stay active while living the college life!
Have A Good Schedule
Many college students will have a busy schedule when going to university. They can be overwhelmed with school work, studying, and getting comfortable with college life. However, having a packed schedule may leave out any time to exercise or eating healthy, and they can be easy to overlook on a daily basis.
But you don’t have to sacrifice exercising and healthy eating entirely from your busy schedule. Why not make a plan? Plan out your day, as if you would for your school schedule and studying. A simple meal plan can suffice, or you can time your exercise—at least 10 minutes between classes—can make it easier for you. Small amounts of exercise and following simple meal plans can do wonders for you, even if you’re booked for much of the day. No need to continue making excuses for yourself; treat your meal plans and exercise like you would for your classes and appointments.
Don’t Overdrink
“Alcohol will most likely be brought up during college,” said Anthony Noble, a health writer at State Of Writing and Paper fellows, “and some people will claim that calories aren’t a problem. But despite the average beer being about 150 calories, drink five or six of those, and your calorie intake will skyrocket. Not to mention, you’ll get a nasty hangover the next day, which will affect your ability to study. You’ll be feeling the aftermath 24 hours after you drink heavily.”
The best thing to do when alcohol is involved is to drink responsibly. Alcohol shouldn’t be a necessity, but rather a privilege. Drinking in moderation will not only save you from humiliating hangovers that will keep you out of the classroom, but it will also reduce your calorie intake. And if you still want to have the social scene, try looking for alternatives—soda pop is a good way to join your friends in the fun. But again, moderation is key.
Have Water With You At All Times
Water is an important resource, but not everyone drinks it all the time. And this can especially be overlooked when you’re busy with your studies.
Just remember that you need water to get through the day. You need to stay hydrated, no matter what you’re doing. Watching your weight is one thing, but water can help you process your calorie intake; without water, your metabolism to slow down and make you eat more. Dehydration will cause you to eat more, to make up for the low metabolism.
Also, water bottles are a common drink on a college campus. Be sure to take a bottle of water with you on your way to class—basically at all times, if your schedule is packed. A fun thing to do is to take a reusable water bottle so that you can refill it when needed, and keep you hydrated throughout the day, rather than spend money on another bottled water.
Find An Exercise Buddy/Group
“A great thing to remember is that you don’t have to exercise alone in college,” said Lola Darvall, a sports blogger at Oxessays and Liahelp. “Why not consider inviting a friend to go with you to the gym every once in a while? Having a friend exercise with you opens doors to fun sessions and much-needed motivation. You can either ask your roommate, or seek out a personal trainer at the gym. These people can help you keep track of your exercising habits, and help you schedule your gym visits and workouts.”
Another great way to exercise socially is to join a sports group. Most schools offer opportunities in sporting and said clubs, and the best thing about this is that you don’t have to be an already-established athlete or have a sports scholarship to get your foot in the door.
If you want to take up a sport, your college sports team will give you a shot at it, as well as give you pretty good pointers. Or, if intense sports aren’t your thing, consider playing badminton. In a recent study, it was found that regular badminton players improved their lung function by 30% and had a significant decrease in body fat. You can join sports clubs that aren’t too demanding— all you have to do is pay a small fee to join the club and buy a few accessories such as a badminton racket, shoes and shuttlecocks. Clubs tend to be more welcoming, and they won’t mind your experience. Whether you join a sports team or a club, you’ll be sure to gain workout buddies and keep you in the loop.
Keep Moving
This tip is self-evident; but at the same time, it’s true. Whether you’re waiting for your next class to start, or if you have a lot of time on your hands, or if you want to take a break from studying, you can still make this work. Consider walking across campus, or you can ride a bike around campus. If you add your friends into these activities, then that makes it even more fun.
The key here is to stay active. Staying in motion on campus can take you to areas that you haven’t explored yet, or it can lead you to opportunities that you haven’t heard about yet. Don’t be afraid to explore for a bit!
Get Plenty Of Rest
As important as it is to stay active, it’s also important to get plenty enough sleep. It’s true that you may get overwhelmed with the workload that your professors may give you; however, if your studying and workload aren’t kept in check, then you’ll find yourself spending countless hours up all night, cutting your sleep time in fractions.
Having an uneven sleep pattern can lead to weight gain, and irritability when it comes time to start the day again. In addition, tiredness can lead you to reach for sugary drinks and snacks for a needed quick boost of energy; but that “boost” will easily fade, and can disrupt your sleep patterns and make your metabolism low.
So, don’t be a slave to sleep deprivation. Consider a suitable bedtime where you can study and then go to sleep. You can time your studying and/or other commitments by setting an alarm on your phone. Doing so will let you know when time’s up, and it’s time for that shut-eye. A seven- to eight-hour sleep time is highly recommended.
Conclusion
As you get more comfortable with the college lifestyle, you’ll find adapting to busy schedules as the norm, and you might feel a bit scared to incorporate anything else in your life. Even creating new habits can be challenging. But with these easy tips, you’ll be to stay healthy and active, while taking on the heavy coursework and the high expectations of your professors. Believe in yourself, eat healthy foods every day, get into a good exercise routine, and (most importantly) take care of yourself. Your body and mind will thank you for these positive changes during your college years.
Kristin Herman is a writer and editor at UK Writings and Write my dissertation. She writes articles for online publications such as Boom essays. As a tech enthusiast, she blogs about the latest trends in technology, computers, and social media. And, as a project manager, she has overseen many writing projects nationwide.
