5 College Student Tips for Staying Healthy and Fit

There’s nothing quite college. You get to meet all kinds of new people. You get to experience a new level of independence. And of course you’re taking the steps that you need in order to thrive in a professional career following graduation.

But if there’s one thing that just about any former college student will tell you, it’s that if you’re not careful, you can easily find yourself putting on 5-10 pounds just in your first semester. The reason is because when you’re in school, you tend to eat out more and oftentimes, you find yourself eating all hours of the day (and night) as well.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain things that you can do in order to stay healthy and fit. In fact, we have enclosed five great tips that will keep you looking and feeling great the entire time you’re in college.

Eat breakfast. Although most of us grew up hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s still pretty amazing to think about all of the people who still opt to skip it. However, not only does breakfast provide you with the energy that you need to get going but it’s also a great way to give your metabolism a bit of a boost. So even if it’s simply some yogurt with granola in it, don’t go to your first class without having some breakfast first.

Walk (or ride a bike) to your classes. Now when we say that you should walk or ride your bike, what we mean is that if you live on campus or not too far away from the school that you should consider leaving your car parked. That way, you not only save money on gas, but you can burn a few calories by exercising on your way to class as well.

Snack smart. If you find yourself wanting to snack in between meals, just make sure that you don’t do it by eating what’s in a close-by vending machine. Instead, put some carrot sticks, an apple or a dark chocolate candy bar in your book bag. All of these things can help to tide you over as you go from one class to the next and as an added bonus, they won’t pack on the pounds in the process.

Work out. Whether you choose to go to Indiana University, Pepperdine or UCLA, one thing that you’re going to see on campus is a gym. And the great thing about them is that if you are a student, you can use the facility (including all of the equipment inside of it) for free. So, make the commitment to go there a couple of times per week to play basketball, lift weights, run on the treadmill, jog around the track or go swimming. Your body will certainly thank you for it.

Get some sleep. Sure there are going to be times when you’ll need to pull an all-nighter while cramming for a test but for the most part, it’s important to get at least six hours of sleep. Sleep is what helps to rejuvenate our systems from the wear and tear of each day. Plus, it helps to increase our concentration levels, stabilize our moods and boost our immune system. And all of these things are beneficial when it comes to being a healthy and fit college student.