myUsearch blog

If you are like I was, you’re probably worried about gaining the dreaded freshman 15.  Gaining a little weight is totally normal and as I mentioned in an earlier post, gaining a few pounds may be totally worth it. However, gaining 50 lbs. is not. So what is the best way to curb your college weight gain? EXERCISE.

Photo by SSCusp

(this pic is ridiculous, but I couldn’t resist)

This might seem like common sense, but with the distraction of dorm life, busy class college schedules and a lack of high school sports-like structure – many students just don’t stay active. Before they know it, they gain 15-30 lbs. You don’t have to learn this the hard way. If you follow my advice, you will be ahead of the curve.

1. Stick to a Schedule: Take out your course schedule and figure out when you can fit your workouts in. Put those times on your calendar and treat your workouts like a class or an appointment. Make exercise a priority.
2. Don’t Come Home to Change: I can’t tell you how many times I missed workouts because I got distracted at the dorms. I would go home to change after class and there would always be something to divert my attention until I finally decided to….
3. Rent a Locker at the Gym: This might be one of my best suggestions. If you keep some workout clothes and shower stuff at the gym, it will be so much easier to find time to workout. Not having the time between classes to go home to shower and change was one of my favorite excuses.
4. Do Something You Enjoy: Although everyone has days when they don’t feel like exercising, you shouldn’t feel like you have to force yourself to workout every time. If you don’t like working out, you probably won’t do it very often. 
5. Think Outside the Gym: If you don’t like treadmills and stairmasters, try something outside the gym. Join an organized sport, go for a run or bike ride, or try something completely new like rowing, tai chi or even belly dancing. Mix up your workouts and take in the fresh air.  
6. Don’t Rely on Your Workout Partner: I knew a lot of girls who weren’t comfortable working out on their own, so they were always relying on friends and roommates for their motivation. DON’T DO THIS. You will waste a lot of time coordinating schedules and waiting for your partner to get ready. It’s fine (and even recommended) to workout with a friend once or twice a week, but make sure your health doesn’t depend on it.
7. Join a Team or Training Group: Although you can’t always rely on a training partner, it is a lot easier to workout with a group. Whether it’s an intramural sport or a training group, organized workouts will help you stay on a schedule, push yourself beyond your comfort zone and meet new friends. When I was in college, I joined the Triathlon Club and it was one of the best things I did. I could barely run a mile when I started, but after just one a year on the team, I had made several friends and completed an Olympic distance triathlon.
8. Take Advantage of the Rec Center: Most colleges offer hundreds of classes, instruction and training programs at reasonable rates. Classes at the rec center are a great way to meet people and stay devoted to a training plan. Note: Make sure to sign up early as many classes fill up before classes even start.
9. Walk or Ride to Class: Walking or riding your bike to class is a great way to stay active, save money and help the environment. For one of my college classes, I had to track the number of calories I burned from commuting to class each day and it was alarming. When I added up my time commuting from class to class, I walked over 90 minutes each day.
10. Don’t Be Intimidated: My freshman year, I worked out mostly on my own because I was too intimidated to join a class or club. After about six months, I had gained about 20 pounds, so I finally decided to suck it up and try something new. My roommate talked me into joining the Triathlon Club and I was so intimidated because I thought everyone was going to be super competitive and leave me in the dust. I was completely wrong. Everyone was so welcoming and patient, and there were a lot of people who were just starting out like me. I met one of my best friends in college through the team and she couldn’t even swim from one end of the pool to the other when she started. Four years later, she completed an Ironman.

Exercise is not the only way to manage your weight (read other tips here), but it certainly helps. The bottom line: If you want results, you have to put the effort in. Don’t make excuses, don’t rely on others and don’t worry about what other people think. In the clichéd and overused words of Nike: Just Do It.

I am very passionate about this issue, so if you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Good Luck and Happy Training.