A few months ago, I was at the lowest point in my life thus far. I felt like my life was at a stand still and needed to turn myself around. Summer going into my freshman year of college, all the older kids talked about was the freshman 15. For those of you who are unaware of this term, 15 refers to the amount of weight students gain their freshman year of college. I never believed the older kids, until it happened to me. From my freshman year all the way up until halfway through my second year of college, I gained a dramatic 40 pounds. I knew I did not want this path for myself. I knew that if I kept my bad eating habits up, I could start to develop serious health issues. Through research and consistent hard work, I managed to lose the weight and gain my confidence back in just four months. Here are some key steps I took to kick freshman 15’s butt.
1—Lose It! If there is one thing you can do, it’s to take advantage of the free stuff. I took a shot in the dark downloading this app, but it really works. It is free weight loss app you can download directly from the iTunes store. It not only tracks your calories for you, but it also tracks your macros (and I’m not talking economics here). Macronutrients are things such as fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Paying close attention to your macros by eating fewer carbs and fat, and higher protein will result in quicker, more sustainable weight loss.
2—HIIT. This stands for high-intensity interval training. I incorporate at least 20 minutes of HIIT into my daily exercise routine. The good thing about this type of training is that it is not time-consuming and more effective than a longer, slower paced workout. HIIT calls for high-intensity exercise intervals integrated with periods of lower intensity intervals of recovery. This type of training burns more fat in less time.
3—Sworkit. Yes, another app. Sworkit is a fitness app that focuses on strengthening and toning the body. It allows you to choose your desired duration and gives you a complete workout for either the upper body, butt, abs, or cardio.
4—Plan your day out. Making a schedule for the following day is a great way to stay on track. This allows you to make time in your day for an effective workout and at least three meals.
5—Guilt-free substitutions. I know better than anyone how hard it is to fight temptation. For weeks I was depriving myself of anything sweet before I discovered recipes on Pinterest. By typing things like “low carb, high protein desserts” I have found incredible substitutions for my favorite desserts, including these amazing three-ingredient pancakes using only two eggs, a full mashed banana, and cinnamon.
Also be sure to pick up some cute sneakers, leggings and a sports bra to look great while working out.
Was this helpful? Let me know how you beat the freshman 15 in the comments below! Also, how do you work out in style? Show us on social media by tagging @Cfashionista!
