This is Why College Students Struggle to Lose Weight Sometimes ...
By Alicia • 14 Comments
By Alicia • 14 Comments
Losing weight can be difficult for college students for a variety of different reasons. It’s when the freshman 15 try to creep up too, so that can make it even more difficult. But it’s not impossible. It’s good to look at the reasons losing weight is a struggle so you can strategize ways to overcome them.
Getting sleep during the college years is no easy task. There’s a lot going on that can interfere with your sleep. Staying up late to study or socialize is normal during this time in your life. But recent studies show that getting less than 6-7 hours of sleep can contribute to being overweight. So while you may not be able to get a good night’s rest every night, make it a goal. Not only will you feel better but it’ll give your weight loss efforts a boost.
When you lived at home, you may have had your mom or dad cooking meals for you. Home cooked meals are generally much lower calorie and lower fat than snacks, fast food or cafeteria meals, which are what the average college student lives on. Home cooked meals offer a better nutritional punch, too. It’s hard to work around this but do the best you can. Try to make the healthiest choice possible wherever you eat.
If you were active in some sort of high school sports when you were in high school then you were burning some or a lot of calories from participation. If you haven’t continued that interest into your college years then you’ve lost that advantage. But there are other ways you can exercise. Most colleges offer gym memberships at a low cost to students or perhaps even for free. You can also walk around the campus for exercise or go to an exercise class with your friends.
Cafeteria food isn’t always the best option when you’re trying to lose weight. It can completely sabotage your diet. If you have to eat at your school cafeteria then try to make the best of it. Go for salads, broth-based soups, fruit, whole grains and lean meats. Those are healthier and more diet friendly choices.
Fast food is usually the other way you get your meals when you’re a college student. After all, the taste usually beats cafeteria food, right? But fast food can be full of fat, cholesterol and other bad things. Thankfully, there are more options for healthy eating at fast food restaurants than there used to be. Many restaurants now have a website that lists nutritional information so you can use that to help you make wise choices.
Let’s face it. Many healthy foods cost more than junk food. Add to that the fact that most college students are on a budget and you’ve got an issue. All you can do here is do the best you can. Watch sales and compare prices to help you get the best buys on healthy food.
Even if you’re trying very hard to eat healthy, your roommates may unintentionally sabotage your weight loss efforts. If they don’t have the same diet goals that you do then there’s going to be a clash. It’s hard to eat unbuttered popcorn when your roommate is pigging out on chips and dip. It puts temptation at your fingertips and that’s hard. But you can stick to your healthy eating plan with a little willpower.
These are some reasons losing weight is difficult when you’re a college student. Are you in this position? What’s your biggest struggle?