Summer Weight Loss Tips for College Students

Summer is the time that many people wish to lose weight, college students especially so. The first year of college can be difficult on many college students' bodies, exemplified by the oft-referenced "freshman 15." If you are a college student that wishes to lose weight this summer, here are some suggestions to get you on the right track so that you can make the most of the free time you have this summer.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #1 - Set Reasonable Weight Loss Goals
If you're attempting to lose weight this summer, the first thing that you need to do is set a weight loss goal for yourself. Make sure that this weight loss goal is reasonable. If you gained twenty pounds while at college, start by setting a weight loss goal of five to ten pounds. Your goal should be achievable, because you can always set more after completing the first one. After losing this amount of weight, set another goal of ten or fifteen pounds. Making a very difficult weight loss goal for yourself is setting yourself up for failure. Remember, the process of losing weight is not going to be easy, and will take time. You may not lose all the weight you want to by the end of summer, but don't give up if this is the case.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #2 - Don't Take the "Easy Route"
There are countless weight loss supplements on the market nowadays, full of caffeine and ephedrine. Regardless of whether these supplements work or not, you're not going to see any long term benefit. Why? Because you might lose a small amount of weight in the short term, but you haven't changed the habits that led up to weight gain in the first place. Weight loss is more about dedicated lifestyle changes than short term results. Concentrate on changing your diet and exercise habits this summer, rather than binging on these unhealthy diet supplements.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #3 - Set a Workout Routine
If you truly intend to lose weight this summer, you're going to have to do more than just diet. An advantage of being a college student is that you should have a relatively larger amount of free time during the summer months than you did during the academic year. This means that you have more time to work out in general, and can do so more regularly.

The key to an effective workout routine is making it regular. If you're trying to lose weight, you're going to want to do exercises that make you exert your cardiovascular system. Things like running, jogging, biking, or hiking may be best for this. If you cannot do these easily, do what you can and walk with intermittent bursts of running or jogging. Set up a workout routine where you spend maybe an hour twice a week doing these and half an hour two other times every week. As much as you can, avoid taking "off-days." These will make it difficult for you to lose weight and may lead you astray from your weight-loss efforts entirely.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #4 - Get a Job (But Not a Restaurant Job)
A weight loss activity that many people don't consider is simply having a job. Many summer jobs require that you spend a lot of time on your feet. Being required to work a certain number of hours a week will force you to get away from the TV or computer, meaning that you will burn more calories than you would otherwise. However, sneaking food is commonplace in many restaurant jobs, so you may end up consuming more food in such a position than you would at home. For this reason, try to get a job in something like retail, where that possibility won't exist. The activity that you do in a summer job will allow you to lose weight while having a supplementary income.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #5 - Walk and Ride a Bike
As much as possible, try to rely on methods of transportation that make you exert yourself. If your friends live within two or three miles of you, you should be able to walk or ride a bike to their houses rather easily. You can do the same thing with errands and jobs if you live close enough to where you travel. Over the course of the summer, you will lose weight, reduce carbon emissions, and save money. Think about it - if you ride a bike 10 miles a day, you might ride 1000 miles during the whole summer. A car that gets 20 MPG will use 50 fewer gallons of gas, and at a price of $2.30 per gallon, you could save $115. Depending on your spending habits and income, this amount of money may be significant or it may not seem like that much. Consider though, that this is money that you'd be burning otherwise, literally. You may also be able to spend less on auto maintenance throughout the summer.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #6 - Partner Up
Talk to your friends and family members and see if any of them would be interested in working out and dieting together. Summer is a great time to exercise because the weather is good and you have copious free time. If you can go on an early morning jog three or four times a week, you'll avoid the heat, feel great, and spend time with friends. The motivation and support that you get from another person (and give back to them as well) can help you to stay on track with your weight loss plans, moreso than working out alone would.

Summer Weight Loss Tip #7 - Keep Track of Your Progress on a Regular, Non-Daily Basis
Many people make the mistake of weighing themselves on a daily basis. Doing so may cause frustration, as it takes time to lose weight and you lose and gain water weight from day to day. I recommend weighing yourself every four days and keeping track of the results in a spreadsheet or journal. If you aren't seeing a decrease in your weight, consider how you feel and look. Muscle weighs more than fat does, so you might have lost fat and gained muscle mass, and if you feel like you have more energy and can exercise for longer, you are making progress, so don't give up.

Losing weight is a long and difficult process, but if you are a college student, the summer is the perfect time to establish a weight loss program for yourself. Be persistent and you'll be in better shape for swimsuit season shortly. If you have any further summer weight loss tips for college students, or you have a weight loss experience you'd like to share, feel free to express your thoughts and anecdotes in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!