Introduction
College life is a roller coaster full of emotional outbursts, stress, anxiety, and hormonal changes. The students undergo various physical changes. However, weight gain is the most prominent of all. Almost all the freshmen gain weight in the initial days and most of them fail to lose them with time. According to a survey, about 10 – 20 % of women and 4 – 10% of men have some kind of eating disorder in college. Everyone wants to know that How can I stay skinny in college.
However, staying skinny and maintaining a healthy weight is not difficult in college. All you have to do is to create an action plan and then stick to it. Exercising, avoiding alcohol, and eating non processed food are a few steps towards it. It is also advisable to avoid munching on snacks when you are emotionally disturbed or feeling bored. It is so because we tend to overeat when we are emotionally vulnerable.
Cause of Weight Gain
How can I stay Skinny in College? Most of the students move to different cities, states, and sometimes different countries for higher education. This causes them to feel lonely and vulnerable. It is not easy to settle down in a new enviornment. Introvert and shy students face more problems than others. Many students face problems in handling academic pressure. Others may feel peer pressure and have difficulty to express. These problems cause various psychological problems in students. Many of them start gaining weight. This gain could be due to a reduction in physical activity, overeating due to emotional stress, or some hormonal changes.
Freshmen 15
Freshmen 15 is a term commonly used among scholars to indicate the weight gained by students in their initial days. This term specifies that the freshmen attain an average of 15 pounds of weight in sophomore year. It means while some students do not gain much weight, others gain much more. It is difficult for these students to shed this extra weight later on. It may be due to isolation, lack of time for exercise, or non-compliance with the exercise routine. It is only human to skip exercise routine once in a while or indulge yourself in sundae and pie; however, make sure that you compensate for that the next day.
How to Avoid Weight Gain in College?
How can I stay Skinny in College? You can avoid gaining the weight by taking into mind the following points:
- Make Friends and Get Involved in College Activities
One of the major rationales behind attaining weight is that we tend to eat when we feel bored. Try to make many friends and get involved in various activities happening in your college. In this way, you will remain active throughout the day and will only when you are really hungry.
- Avoid Order ins and Frozen Food
College life is indeed very busy. You are always rushing to attend classes, meet deadlines, etc and thus the idea of cooking does not appeal to many. Occasional eat out are fun; but, always remember that frequent eat-outs and instant food add inches to your body.
You can stock your room with healthy eating options such as peanut butter, healthy mix, fruits, yogurt, eggs, hummus, whole crackers, wraps, berries, oatmeal, etc. Be creative and make healthy snacks with these.
- Always Take Eight Hours of Sleep
It seems impossible to achieve, but getting a full night of sleep can do wonders. You will be fresh, energetic, and ready to go in the morning. Adequate rest is important in maintaining the metabolism of the body and thus will help you remain skinny.
- Choose High Protein Food Items
Include high protein food items such as whey protein, and fish eggs in your diet. This will make you feel fuller and also helps in muscle building.
- Avoid Extreme Dieting ideas
The Internet is full of extreme dieting ideas. These ideas are very harmful and devoid of body of essential nutrients. Also after this kind of dieting, you are more probably going to binge on your favorite food. This will cause more harm than any good. It is always better to follow a long-term sustainable plan than to go for any shortcut.
- Find Someone in the Same Situation
You can find a friend facing a similar problem and try to follow a healthy routine together. This approach can be instrumental as you can inspire and monitor each other. This way you will also realize that you are not the only one dealing with this issue.
Conclusion
You need to understand that a certain amount of fat is good. You should be fit and your BMI should be near the average value of your age group. Healthy skin and hair enhances an aura to your personality. Do not try to achieve the body measurement of movie stars and models. Always aim for a healthy, active, and fit body. This will enhance your college experience and you will make many alluring reminiscence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I lose weight rapidly?
A: Although there are various crash diet course plans available on the internet; most of them are unhealthy and may cause harm. It is always advisable to follow a weight loss plan which is healthy and sustainable.
Q: Should I skip breakfast to lose weight?
A: Breakfast is a paramount meal of our day. Skipping it will make you feel cranky and you will crave food the whole day. It is better to have a balanced breakfast with the correct proportion of protein, carbohydrates, and roughage.
Q: Are there any food items that help in fat burning?
A: Yes, many food items are known to accelerate fat burning. You can include green tea, Chili pepper, coffee, and apple cider vinegar in your diet.
Q: Why is it that my friend reduced her weight by following a diet but it is not working for me?
A: Weight loss is not only about dieting. It is the combination of a balanced diet, exercise, and several other factors. There is no universal diet plan that works for everyone. You need to find your plan according to your body type. It is advisable to consult an expert for further clarifications.