This document provides 8 tips for college freshmen to avoid gaining the "Freshman 15" pounds. The tips are to 1) walk or bike to class to burn calories, 2) join an intramural sports team, 3) be conscious of portion sizes in the dining hall, 4) think carefully about alcohol consumption on weekends, 5) take advantage of the recreation center, 6) save money and waistline by eating home-cooked meals, 7) get enough sleep, and 8) find healthy ways to deal with stress.

1. 8 Ways to Avoid
the Freshman 15

2. too many episodes of
breaking bad
+
seconds at the
dining hall
equals...
image via gawker.com

3. FRESHMAN
15

4. so how do you
avoid it?
Glad you asked! Here are 8 ways to stay healthy in college.

5. 1. Walk or bike to class
Burn extra calories by skipping metro
transit and use your legs or bike to
get to class. It’s a perfect way to clear
your head after class!

6. 2. Join an intramural
sports team
Intramural leagues are a great way to get social (just
what you, freshman, need) while staying active.
Grab your floormates and start your own team!
image via upenn.edu

7. 3. Dining hall ≠ all you
can eat buffet
image via bates.edu
Be conscious of your portion sizes and number of
servings. Resist the urge to overindulge because you
feel like you have to get your money’s worth. Stick to
one plate and go easy on fried foods or items with
heavy sauces or dressing.

8. 4. Be smart about your
weekend plans
Alcohol contains a lot of hidden and empty calories.
Think carefully about what and how much you’re
consuming. It adds up!
image via studentry.sg

9. 5. Take Advantage of
Your Recreation Center
There’s a really good chance you pay some sort of fee
for access to athletic facilities as part of your tuition
whether you use them or not.
image via westshore.edu

10. 6. Respect your collegiate
budget and your waistline
Eating out isn’t cheap. Save some money by eating
meals at home!
image via about.gmu.edu

11. 7. Get Enough Sleep
When you are tired, your body craves food. So skip the
“all night cram sesh” and get your zzz’s.
image via businessinsider.com.au

12. 8. Find an outlet for stress
Increase your awareness of what triggers your
stress and how you deal with it. We have a
tendency to eat unhealthy foods and exercise
less when we’re stressed.
image via ecampusblog.com

13. resources for students
• College Guide to Eating Healthy from Nerd Fitness
• Healthy Dorm Meal Ideas from Pinterest
• Game of Thrones Workout Game
• Dorm Room Workout Routine
• Bust Excuses with This Wellness Plan

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