You finally made it — the stress of finals, essays and tests is finally over and now you can kick back on your summer break. While it’s easy to lose the (hopefully!) good health habits you established, there are ways to stay motivated throughout the summer — and keep it up when you go back.
You’ve probably been told so many different things in order to stay healthy in college, but it can be difficult to know what works and what doesn’t. I was told all of those things, too, but didn’t really listen at first. Now, I wake up at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday to work out. Think you can never do it? Think again!
My boyfriend Nick had always been an avid gym-goer ever since we started dating. He used to go to the gym after school and would drag me there sometimes, but I never really caught on to it. Once I got to college, I made it a goal to go to the gym a few times, but the first time I went, it was so packed and overwhelming that I never went back that semester. Instead, I tried to stay healthy by doing other things like taking the stairs to my fifth-floor classroom and eating more veggies.
That summer, I made one last attempt by getting a membership to the gym Nick went to and started going a few times a week with him. By the end of the summer, I was going almost five days a week and started to love it. I got stronger and more in shape. During sophomore year, I went to the gym every day and by the end of the year, I had lost 35 pounds. This has continued into junior year and I still go every day.
If you don’t know where to start, throw on some yoga pants (because I know you have them) or shorts, grab your water bottle and headphones and jump on an elliptical or treadmill. If you’re lucky and go to school where there’s warmer weather, go for a walk or jog outside. Starting out slow with some basic cardio will get you accustomed to the gym and allow you to see what else there is to do.
After a cardio stage, start researching beginner workouts. Even if you have to use light weights, it’s still going to help you. Build your strength and work up to more advanced workouts and heavier weights. Most schools offer fitness classes like Zumba, yoga or kickboxing. Try one out and make some fitness friends. They can hold you accountable for showing up for a workout.
As for food, my trick was to stop snacking. After dinner freshman year, I’d always eat again. But I started telling myself dinner was it. I bought less snacks and just tried to stay away from it. The dining hall is a dangerous place when you’re trying to eat healthy, but if you go in with a plan to eat healthier foods, it’ll be easier to avoid the french fries, pizza and ice cream. Find out what lean meats, vegetables and fruits are your favorite and cycle those through your diet. Most colleges are catching on to the fact that people are trying to eat healthy and are beginning to offer healthier options. When you’re shopping for snacks or breakfast foods, pick something that’s high in protein so you stay full for longer!
Working out and eating well in college is ultimately going to benefit you in the long run. A quick trip to the gym can relieve stress and give you a break from everything you have going on. Pair this with eating better and your immune system will thank you. I was sick for almost all of freshman year, but in the past two years, I’ve only been sick three or four times.
Although it might seem like a lot of work, staying healthy in college is easy when you put your mind to it and you’ll thank yourself later!
For more information about fitness, take the course at NextStepAcademy.com
Written by Emily Mein. Emily attends St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. Sharing information or a person’s story with people is why she loves writing. She can never get enough of Twitter, pasta and Syracuse basketball.
