im a full time college student that has really struggled with my weight....really ever since early childhood. there have been one or two times during my life i actually felt happy with my body and even then at 5 feet (yep, im short) i thought i was still kinda overweight at 105. This actually happened because i got sick and lost a dramatic amount of weight. I'd give anything right now to be even near that weight.

I suppose I gained what they call " the freshman 15", although its gradually gotten even farther than that. when i went to college i was 120 (not horrible, but it gets worse) and now i weigh in at around 140 on a good day. Because im short, everything is excentuated and makes me look bigger than i actually am.

I've seen a lot of encouragement on this site and I really wanted to give this a try.

So if anyone has any suggestions for a college student in anyway or any advice at all I would completely appreciate it. thanks!

i think there are a few college students about on here, and they have also struggled to eat healthy whilst studying etc.

Perhaps you can find or start a students related group?

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SW: 330 | CW: 163 | GW: 150
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I too am a college student. This is my graduating semester and i've packed on about 25 extra pounds over the winter. I also work as a line cook, which I have grown to dread. That alone is a major pitfall in my relationship with food. Compounded with being couped up in my apartment in front of the computer.....aaargh.

Before things got so heavy (no pun intended) with my routine, I had a 4 times weekly gym regimen. I am done with school in about five weeks, and if I can keep myself from gaining more weight then I'll have a chance to reclaim my physique. I'm getting out of the cooking job and into graphic design, so that will remove all of the bacon and goat cheese flatbreads with shave grana and truffle oil that I eat whenever i am discontent at work, which is all the time.

I had a point before I digressed.....Start an exercise regimen and guard it as YOUR time. Make it sacred, the only part of the day that is completely yours. Don't even allow yourself to think about your studies or all of the animal deals that go along with life. Bills, deadlines, upcoming presentations, etc. All of these things can be dealt with when you are on THEIR time. Make the gym into a sanctuary. Make cool playlists on your iPod that you like to work-out to. Read a fitness magazine while you run on the elliptical. Whatever you do, make sure to let the rest of the world turn by itself for awhile. You'll be surprised how important this time will become, and how you'll begin to plan your day around.

The times when I have been successful at regularly going to the gym have always been reinforced by this idea.

Also, i know it's pretty cliche to say that college students live off of ramen noodles and pizza. If you find yourself eating these cheap and easy foods, try to buy a bag of apples and a bag of oranges instead. The pizza cycle can be a viscous one. You get a pizza because your a little hungry, you eat more than you need because grease and cheese are so damn good, then you eat what's left in the morning. So a late night apple and an early morning orange could save you the impact of 8 slices of pizza. You might not be that into pizza, but this dietary logic works with other convenient foods.

Last but not least, don't do what I have caught myself doing in last few weeks. Stuffing my face, justifying it with my college schedule, and rationalizing to myself by saying, "When I graduate I'm gonna..........."

yeah! i totally feel you....and what's funny is that i'm a graphic designer haha. i guess this semester has been really crazy because i transfered into a bigger university and i thought the larger food choices would help me compared to my very small private college's 'you get what you see' cafeteria. i do well some days, but when i have a bad day i guess i just give in. not to mention the days i work for the campus newspaper and i know its going to be a crazy night (caffiene is a must) i used to run cross country back in my high school days. i still have the endurance to run, but yet i always find an excuse to cut my exercise short.

you're right though. i do need to set aside a time that is ONLY my time. i think im really going to try and do that....after i get these 2 exams out of the way this thursday lol. (see! another excuse! ...but it is important lol) no, but really...i think i am really going to try to set aside a specific time.

im just glad someone can understand somewhat where im coming from...

oh yeah...i know this will probably be considered a 'rant and rave' but has anyone ever had just one of those friends where they can eat pretty much anything... and work out about once or twice and be right back into shape (while you've been working hard for a few weeks)? yep. its so discouraging lol

should add me to msn and myabe we can be weight loss support buddies.... i am in the exact same boat as you !!!!

im 21 in school etc

Yeah. I've definitely had a few of those friends who can eat anything. My roommate for two years could eat anything and still look like a concentration camp prisoner. It was one winter where I let him cook mostly, we would always have Gumbo and Corned Beef, all of these meaty breakfasts, that I gained a lot of weight. Him and my Job, and my other roommate worked at a cookie factory.

I now live alone, and miraculously got fired from my job after my first reply to this thread. Yup, went up to the chef and told him that I needed more time for school and that kitchen work was bad for my health. Gave a two week notice and he fired me. I think I'm just gonna draw unemployment until the end of the semester and get down at the YMCA.

im so sorry to hear you are unemployed...maybe its a blessing in disguise due to the fact end of the semester exams are coming up.

yeah, Ive been walking at least an hour a day..and i can tell some improvement! all i need to do now...is be more tight with my eating.

school is tough...all i can think about is how im so ready to just be working already.

its been a few days...but i feel a lot better(exercise and eating wise)

everyday i have been walking at least an hour...im sure i could tell a difference if i also ran...but i feel like im not going to be tired afterwards and i can actually get stuff done (when i walk that is).

so i weighed myself...and im 135! compared to the 140+

so yay!

Congrats on the weight loss hun!

When I was in college I gained from 180 pounds to 245.. but I was on the pill and it makes me gain weight, which I am happily not using any of those methods .. only the simple one. But the hormonal ones make me gain weight. So I just said.. thats it... no more...and now I am losing weight.

Just keep trecking ..
I am in school right now, but took the spring semester off to get control over my diet and eating.. I binge once in a while, I used to binge night and day. Just kept eating, now I only eat three meals a day and fruit for snacks.

I eat protein, three eggs as breakfast, Protien fills you up and make you not hungry until lunch. IT works well. You may want to add it into your diet if you havent already. I recommend it to anyone. Its been my life saver so far. I dont get enough calcium in, but I am starting to take pills .. dairy makes me gain weight too lol

but I hope you find a diet or "life style change" with food for the rest of your life, that works, because to keep the weight off the rest of your life, once you learn how to eat, you need to keep eating that way, u know

well best wishes
and good luck in your finals!

always
natalie jo

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Hi, I'm a new member (23-m) and a graduate student about to complete my studies after this summer. I know how hard it is to balance healthy living and studying, but it is possible. I've lost 35 pounds over the past 14 weeks through an entire lifestyle change.

You must get away from the computer and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to really make a difference. I bought an exercise bike ($100) that I use for 45 minutes 7 days a week to get my aerobic exercise. I do most of my work from my apartment, so it is very convenient. Hopefully you aren't stranded in a dorm & you have room for some indoor equipment. The other part of exercise is doing weight training. I do a 30 minute session 6 days a week using only dumbbells and flat bench in my apartment. You can work out any muscle group with this simple equipment. And ladies, you must weight train as well if you want to make serious dents in your weight- no sissy weights either. You should be reaching muscular failure after 6-15 reps on one exercise. Here's a great link with descriptions/pictures/videos of dumbbell exercises for each muscle group (it's free of course)- Dumbbell Exercises

Keeping up with your exercise will keep your mind sharp and reduce your need for all those sugary caffeine drinks. I promise.

If your school is anything like mine, few healthy foods are available. When I eat at the cafeteria- I go straight for the deli & eat a turkey on wheat with lots of veggies and a small amount of dressing. Throw in a piece of fruit, too. Basically all the other foods available at my school are fried/fatty/calorie-filled garbage. One other thing- drink 2 liters of water a day. No exceptions. You can do it, just hang in there.