Slimming Down in School: g’s Guide to Shedding that Summer Weight Gain
by Pia B. Guballa on July 2, 2010
The summer is what every worn out and weary college student looks forward to every year. It is a rare chance to leave our books and notes behind to focus instead on what we want to do. Some of us take extra classes, go out with our friends, and for many, decide that the summer will be that time when we get rid of the whoops-I-ate-too-much-during-finals weight gain.
More often than not though, we get caught up in the relaxation that is summer and find ourselves eating more than we’d like. At the end of three months we find ourselves not the slightest bit sexier and to our dismay, become five or even 15 pounds heavier! Before you start ranting about how frustrated you are, read on to consider just how you can shed those extra pounds and have a literally lighter first semester. You’ll be amazed to see just how much you can do while in the Ateneo!
1. Planning makes Perfect
My Ideal Me: Set realistic goals for yourself. Think about how much weight you want to lose (a number that’ll still have you looking healthy and not to the point of looking stick-like), and which areas you want to target. After this, start thinking about the first and most important thing in fitness: what and how you eat.
My Diet Diary: As bizarre and oddly obsessive-compulsive as it may sound, start a diet diary. Listing what you eat daily will help you monitor just how much you take in and anticipate how much more your body should and could take.
Also, try your best to scope around the eating places in school to see what’s available. (Read g’s JSEC round-up article here !) In being more informed, you’ll also be able to identify healthier food options.
2. Food is my Friend, not my Foe
A Diet isn’t always Deadly: Dieting isn’t about giving things up anymore— it’s just about balance. Eat less rice, and eat more sandwiches. Go for lean and herb infused meat instead of fatty and processed ones. Eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Be Snack Smart: Excessive snacking can be detrimental to the college student’s health. Chips, candy, soda and other forms of fast food are cheap, convenient, and satisfying, but have no nutritional benefit and just add to your extra fat and calories. Fresh cut fruit, cheese slices, nuts and crackers not only make you healthy— a lot of these foods have been proven to help you stay more alert and keep your brain active.
Bid Farewell to the Bottle: Most people are unaware of just how much alcohol can help pack on those extra pounds. Think about it— a single bottle of beer has about 200 calories. Having a few is almost equivalent to eating a full meal!
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