4 Ways to Avoid Gaining the Freshman 15

After spending three years in college, and living in three different places which offered a variety of foods, I have learned a lot about how easy it is to gain the freshman 15. It can be avoided, though, and I'm here to give you some tips on keeping that weight off and having a healthy, fun college career. So here are 4 ways that you can avoid the freshman 15:

1- Just because you eat in a dining hall, and it's all you can eat- that doesn't mean you should eat it all. That is the number one lesson to learn. Whether you are a fan of dining hall food or not, one thing to note is that you can always find something to eat. Unfortunately, however, many college students avoid the healthier foods and hit the grill bar which offers burgers and fries, or the pasta bar with your favorite pastas. It's okay to eat that greasy food every now and then, but don't do it all at the same time. If you have to have pasta one night, go for it, but stay away from the burger bar and the pizza that night.

2- Pack a snack for class so that you don't have to make a pit stop by the food court- As everyone knows if you have been to college, there is always somewhere to get a snack- vending machines, food courts, coffee shops in the library. While this is okay every now and then, it's better to go ahead and pack yourself a healthy snack when you know you will be trudging around campus for a long time- this helps you to avoid those dangerous greasy snacks and keep unwanted pounds away.

3- Go to the Gym! - Many college campuses have great gyms for you to work out at, equipped with all of the latest work-out machines and free weights. You can always make time to take a break from studying or hanging out and hit the gym. Even if it's just 20-30 minutes a day, that's still better than nothing.

4- Avoid countless hours of video games and television shows- I am very guilty of settling in for a lazy day and doing nothing but watching TV all day or playing my favorite games. You don't have your parents to make you get up and do things, so you just want to relax and do whatever you want. However, this is an easy way to spend your day on the couch snacking, and it will not make you happy in the long run. Get off the couch for a while and go hang out with your friends, take a walk, or even play sports outside (like volleyball, soccer, or ultimate frisbee.)