It may seem as if an unhealthy lifestyle is in trend away at college, but dont be convinced. It is way too easy to fall into the routine of falling asleep at 4 a.m., waking up at 9, taking 3-hour naps, and eating pizza for every meal between binge drinking.

1. Walk to class, every time

The first tip to stay away from this lifestyle is one that might seem too simple. Walk to class, every time. Do not get in the habit of getting a ride or taking the shuttle if you live close enough to your classes. It will make a huge difference in your energy and lifestyle. Get a good pair of headphones and use this time to get some quick exercise in. You may feel sluggish after a long day of sitting at a desk; this way you can feel somewhat accomplished if you decide on this quick exercise routine daily.

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2. Take advantage of your schools gym and group workouts

If you are hesitant to go to the gym, grab a few of your friends to try out a class; many colleges provide free group classes like Zumba, kickboxing, and spin class. If it does not feel like a chore you will be more likely to do so. There are also recreational sports, club sports, and intramurals that are always very easy to join throughout your semester. Want somewhere to work out most people dont think of? Try your schools pool during free swim hours.

3. Make small changes in your diet

The dining hall might seem like a place that you will always lose your battle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But making small changes in your diet will go a long way. For example, choose water with your meal instead of soda or juice. Try to eat as normally as you can with your schedule; it can be hard to manage eating three good meals per day, but this will cut back on your urge to snack on damaging foods. Having said this, try to buy healthy snacks at the grocery store. If you dont buy it, you wont eat it.

If you live in an apartment it may be very tempting to only eat microwavable food when you are used to relying on moms cooking or a dining hall. Cooking in a group can help motivate you to eat better, and portion sizes will make more sense to share rather than having pasta every meal for the week.

4. Make a point to go to the grocery store weekly

This way you do not become desperate and spend a lot of money and calories going out to eat every night. Take advantage of your student discount and try to refrain from buying things that are not on sale or store brand. This will save a lot of money for students on a budget.

5. Make time for a quick breakfast

Maybe combine the two tips and grab a banana and eat it on your walk to class. Something small in the morning will give you energy enough to start your day and to help stop you from overeating later. It will also motivate you to stay awake the entire day rather than breaking up your day for a nap.

6. Drink water while drinking alcohol

This is a very helpful tip to avoid a hangover and to slow yourself down if you drink more than you expected some nights. If you can have one glass of water after each drink this will do wonders for your Saturday mornings. Also, try to avoid the pizza place after the party or bar. It might seem like it doesnt count if you dont remember eating, but it unfortunately does.

We all know that college students drink. A lot. But there are a few steps to make your nights out a little bit healthier. If you drink with chasers or mixed drinks, stay away from caffeinated or overly sugary drinks like Red Bull or soda. This can also cause you to look bloated which is the last thing you want in a tight dress.

7. Watch out for stress eating

Stress eating is very common among college students. It is obvious that you are put under a lot of pressure during your years as a student and it is very easy to get into the routine of soothing your thoughts with ice cream or pizza rolls. If you continuously overeat, it will become a habit. Try to stay as far away from food as possible when you need comfort; this way you will not become addicted. There are plenty more healthy options to relieve stress.

8. Sleep

It may seem like your fellow students do not need more than four hours of sleep, but they do. Sleep is extremely important for you to be successful in any of the previous health tricks. Shoot for eight hours each night and your health will be dramatically better.

As you can tell, many of these tips do not require a huge lifestyle change. If you try and change small things in your routine, you will be that much closer to being a healthier you. Good luck!

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8 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle at College - Uloop News