I just started college and i want to lose weight but it's a lot harder than i thought. I'm very physically active but i tend to undereat then overeat days later. please help me! late nights are also an issue because i boredom eat. do you have any advice/ tips? i really want to lose 15 pounds and the fact that i can't seem to break this plateau is making me really upset. Do you have any tips for setting up some weight loss goals during school? I really need to lose the weight, I'm so miserable!

i must tell ya college was the harest thing on my body!!! and it will be i guarantee it.....i gained.......drumrolll..............50lbs in 2 yrs of college.....a few weeks before graudating i looked up and went whole the hell took my body! i think the first step to NOT gaining weight is to know that it can happen and it can happen faster and easier then you think. that what i learned it was just the hard way....i know how you feel one day you dont eat and then 1030 that night you eat half a pizza.......and figure oh well i didnt eat all day this is nothing....i really recommend taking a vitamin you have a long hard (but well worth it...and wonderfull at the same time) road ahead of you.. nutrients are important and try and reach for the healthy stuff....and lots of water it will do you a world of good. good luck and you can do it! congrats on the most amazing journey of your life!!! college is great!

Hi Sunny,
Welcome to the WLF and to your diary!

Knowing where you want to be and starting now, is a good way to combat that Freshmen 15 (or 20 or 30)

It's not easy - but you CAN do it!

Preload your day with good, healthy food options - get your 7 servings of vegies in if you can, then 4 of fruit. You need more of your calories in the morning then you do at night, so if you're going to splurge, try and splurge big in the morning.

Keep grapes, cherry tomatoes, blue berries, etc in a bowl on your desk in the dorm - snack on those and try and limit your sodium where you can.

Think of food in it's original format - if it "grew like this" it's better for you then if you find it in a box.

Good luck!

thank you guys so much for your support! it's amazing how much your words really gave me hope. i have to keep reminding myself that it's every decision that counts, not huge, drastic changes. i'm really working on changing my mentality to think healthier. today i was really proud of myself because although i could have had a healthier dinner (1 slice of pizza + chicken caesar salad) i chose to work out and then i went to a yoga class. right after such a big dinner i still felt an uncontrollable urge for a pint of ben and jerrys, but instead i threw on my workout clothes. i think this is the small change that will hopefully build on top of themselves. my weight loss will probably be painfully slow because i've yo-yoed in the past and it seems to just stick lately. i do know however, that i can do it this time because i am truly committed to a healthier lifestyle, and that is the result of small baby steps, and good decisions which i am really trying to make.

sometimes you have to take it one meal at a time. You made a great choice going to workout instead of visiting our ol' buddies Ben & Jerry. (seriously, i think they're trying to seduce me..lol )

today i ate pretty well, when i was hit by boredom cravings i drank water and ate apples. the evening was a bit harry and i ate 5 dove chocolates after a decent dinner with dessert. i need to remember, water before food! i'm not hungry, im bored and i need to respect what my body feels not what it tells me to eat!

U can try creating a list of things u will do instead of giving in to the craving. Like getting a frend out for chat, reading, surfing this forum (free advertising haha), or revising your work and so on. Then stick that list at strategic spots to remind yourself!

well, i've decided that a commitment to health is important. it's good to think about healthy choices but not to obsess about what i can't eat cause invariably, i'll eat it and lots of it! i made an interesting discovery, i kept a food journal this last week and i have a definite pattern every day of eating too much, 2000+ calories, and then around 1200 calories the next day. today i didn't eat enough, only 500 calories but i ate a ton last night. because i have a better perspective right now, in a calm, balanced state of mind, i am going to plan out my "perfect week". i will eat at least 3 meals a day, and eat as much healthy food (salads, fruit, and veggies) as i would like. when i do this i always make healthier decisions and i know that the hardest part is making those choices consistently. so that is my goal, consistency! each day, i need to fuel my body and not abuse it! wish me luck!

Now that is a wonderful idea, planning out your week. Yes, consistancy is probably the best thing you could do for yourself. But just remember that sometimes bad days are good too. Good Luck!