"Diet" and "university" may seem like two words that can't be put together in one sentence. University is a time to have fun, try new things, make friends. Unfortunately, this often makes students gain weight. But if you want to diet while in school, you can make it happen by changing your mindset and making plans for how to spend your day. Take a look at these few easy steps.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Setting the mindset
Step 1. Don't be disappointed if you have trouble maintaining your diet
Most students entering university think that it is a myth and will soon see it as a reality. Not only will you be sitting in a dining room with lots of tantalizing options, but also your room is only a few meters from the drink machine and sometimes have to eat food at dawn. This is okay, so don't be disappointed if you have trouble.
- Remember that university is a big change. You just have to try to set a meal schedule that suits you.
- Know that you are not alone. Many of your friends may also be struggling to diet. You can talk to your friends and see that you are not alone.
- It is quite difficult to balance school work and social life. It's natural that your diet plan will be a little stuck.
- Remind yourself that when you're not home, you probably already have a meal schedule that includes three meals and not much time for snacks. You just have to find a way to maintain it in the new environment.
Step 2. Don't compare yourself to others
This is the main thing in life, you should not compare yourself to others, or you will not have a healthy mindset when trying to maintain your diet. College will be full of slim girls or stocky boys, but that doesn't mean you have to be like that. Set goals for your own body, and don't look at other people.
- University is a time to discover who you really are. Focus on what makes you special, not just pleasing other people.
- Don't let other people make you feel guilty about what you eat. Even though you have to be disciplined, don't let the ridicule of your friends influence you.
- If you have a friend to go to the gym with, you don't have to compete with them. Find a routine that suits you.
Step 3. Don't fall victim to an eating disorder
Many students, especially female students, suffer from eating disorders at university. Although the seeds of this disorder are often planted before university, many women enter university to find that you have too high a standard of beauty that is difficult to maintain. While the university diet is a healthy way to go, don't be so extreme that it affects your mental and physical health.
- If you find yourself too obsessive with how you look and what you eat, seek help. Talk to a friend or school counselor.
- If you are really struggling, ask your parents. Maybe you are far from your parents, but they want to help you.
Method 2 of 3: Discipline All Day
Step 1. Replace unhealthy foods with healthier ones
Dieting doesn't mean you have to be hungry. To be healthy, you have to watch what you eat, and replace unhealthy foods with healthier but still delicious. Instead of eating sweet muffins in the morning, eat healthy cereal or apples and yogurt instead of pastries. Here are some other options:
- Reduce fatty foods and high sugar content. If you want to diet, reduce your intake of pastries, ice cream, maple syrup, and other foods that you find. Replace these foods with healthier ones than not eating at all.
- Eat healthier carbohydrates. Eat whole grain breads and pastas instead of regular pasta. Eat brown rice instead of regular rice. Although you should always maintain a balance between carbohydrates, protein, fruit, and vegetables in your diet, you can control the carbohydrates you eat.
- You don't have to eat all the food at the local canteen or food fair. Provide healthy food in your room to avoid eating unhealthy food. Although it's a bit difficult to shop for food while in school, you can buy oatmeal, apples, or yogurt that you can eat every morning.
- Watch what you drink throughout the day. University is a time for students to drink coffee a lot, which will cause you to gain weight because of the cream and sugar. Cut back on adding something to your drink, or use low-calorie sugar or low-fat milk.
- Choose a salad over a sandwich for lunch. Even if you don't eat a salad every day, if you do eat a sandwich every day, try changing it 2-3 times a week.
Step 2. Eat three balanced meals
Even though it's almost impossible at university, eating three healthy meals will keep you from eating unhealthy snacks or being overly hungry. No matter how busy you are, you should set aside time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here's how to do it:
- Don't forget that breakfast is the most important thing. Even if you have an 8 o'clock morning class, eating a little on the bus ride is enough to keep you from starving before lunch.
- Even if you know you'll be spending the day at the library, don't forget to have lunch and dinner. If you're so busy studying that you forget to eat, you'll usually order pizza, which is much more unhealthy.
- Try to eat at the same time every day. While it may be a bit difficult to look at your class schedule, if you make it a habit to eat at the same time every day, you'll be less likely to feel hungry at inappropriate times.
Step 3. Avoid eating unhealthy food in the room
While your dorm is a place to meet new people, chat, it can also be a place to gain weight without you even realizing it. Here's what you should avoid:
- Don't go to the vending machines for an unhealthy snack. Unless there are healthy options out there, you should avoid them. Prepare your own healthy snacks in advance.
- Avoid random foods you come across. Maybe you can see your friend ordering pizza, or the girl on your floor making brownies, but you can maintain your diet by refusing the food without being rude.
Step 4. Find an exercise routine that works for you
Losing weight will be very difficult without exercise. Exercise not only makes you confident, but also increases your energy levels and your overall health. Here's what you can do:
- Take advantage of the school's gym. If your school has it, why don't you use it?
- Find a sports buddy. Are you the tennis star at your school? Good. Find friends to play with each week.
- Join a club. You don't have to be on the school team to exercise. Join the sports club you love, and have fun exercising 1-2 times a week. It doesn't take a big commitment for it.
- Try to walk if you can. Instead of waiting for a long bus, try walking to the clear if the distance is not that far.
Method 3 of 3: Watching the Night
Step 1. Watch what you eat and drink at parties
Although going out with friends is unforgettable, it can also be the thing that contributes the most to your weight gain. You can still have fun while watching what you eat and sticking to your diet. Here's how to do it:
- First of all, don't drink if you are not 21 years old. You can get into trouble.
- Drink simple drinks. Drink a low-calorie beer or a regular glass of wine instead of an elaborate cocktail. Apart from helping you lose weight, it also helps you control the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Avoid unhealthy snacks. Although you will be surrounded by lots of chips and fries at the bar, try to choose other healthier options.
- Eat enough "before" you go out. You will be tempted to eat snacks if you go out on an empty stomach.
Step 2. Maintain your diet while studying
All these healthy eating rules are usually lost during exams, or when assignments are difficult. However, watching what you eat while studying can help maintain a diet. Here's what you can do:
- Remember those three healthy foods? Hold on to the test period.
- Bring healthy snacks while studying such as almonds, walnuts, and bananas. These foods will give you energy while avoiding unhealthy foods.
- Don't forget to exercise. Although you have to reduce it a little to learn, but you must still exercise. Exercising while studying can even help you relieve stress and improve exam performance.
Step 3. Avoid the fourth food
This is the easiest way to diet. Whether you realize it or not, many of us fall victim to the “fourth meal” we might eat at 3 in the morning. There are two reasons why this happens so often. First, you still want to go with your friends so you go again for dinner again. Second, you just had a tiring night studying with a friend and your friend ordered a pizza. Here's how to avoid this:
- If you can bear it, stick with friends at night but don't eat anything. If you can't, you better rest at home and be fresh in the morning.
- Finish your study session instead of going out to eat again. It is time to sleep. Finish your study early and give your body a break. Eating too late will make it difficult for you to sleep which means you will be more tired on the exam the next day.
Step 4. Don't forget to have fun
While a university diet is a wise choice, don't let it keep you from enjoying life. Many people look back on college as the most beautiful time of their life and of course you don't want to miss it just because of over-dieting.
- Remember that you can diet while having fun. You don't have to cut out all your social activities for fear of being tempted.
- Don't forget to have a little "fun" once in a while. Don't be so disciplined about not having the snack you want, or skipping your favorite Mexican restaurant. Relax once in a while and you will feel better.
Tips
- Remember that summer is a great time to diet. Dieting during school is more difficult than dieting during the holidays.
- Stock up on healthy snacks to avoid overeating at night.
