We’ve all seen it.
It lurks on Facebook, on the waistbands of the 2010 prom queens and former quarterbacks. It’s a product of too many late-night Relish burgers or greasy slices of pizza.
Once you’re in college and nobody is making sure you eat your veggies, it’s easy to pack on the pounds.
To avoid ballooning four sizes by the time you go home for Winter Break, try these tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a new student.
1. Go to the gym. Don’t sit in your dorm, microwaving Ramen every night and wondering why you get winded walking up the stairs to your room. Southwest Recreation Center, although far away from central campus, has a lot to offer, from sand volleyball to indoor soccer to a sweet smoothie bar. The gym even won an award this year for being an outstanding sports facility by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Student Recreation and Fitness Center on Stadium Road also offers racquetball, basketball, fitness classes, cycling and traditional gym equipment.
2. Take a self-stress test. Maureen Miller, director for GatorWell Health Promotion Services, said one of the biggest health issues for incoming freshmen is managing stress levels. Make sure you get enough sleep and take time to do something you enjoy, she said, whether it’s painting a portrait of Will Muschamp or listening to the Beatles on your iPod. “We just really encourage students to keep things in balance...looking at their health from a holistic perspective,” Miller said.
3. Count your calories. OK, maybe you don’t need to literally count calories, but make sure the food you feed yourself with is relatively healthy. Start by making your own meals. Cooking is a great stress reliever. As good as fast food smells, also try to control the amount of Tijuana Flats or Chick-fil-A you pick up after classes. Miller said eating a healthy, balanced diet is a big deal for UF students and yields beneficial results if done right.
4. Take advantage of being a UF student. It’s Florida, people. Wakeboard, sail or rock climb at Lake Wauburg, a property owned by UF for its students and staff. Run stadiums in the Swamp. Register for an intramural football or volleyball team through UF RecSports. Run around campus, from Century Tower, past the Tim Tebow statue at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Stephen C. O’Connell Center all the way to the bat houses. GatorWell offers wellness coaching, and other UF institutions have plenty of stay-healthy resources.
A man run stadiums in order to stay fit in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Aug. 10.
