Having come to USA for a grad school, I was not familiar with Freshman Fifteen. In my case it did not turn out to be true too. In fact, I started a healthy life style in my undergrad and lost stunning tons of weight during my grad school. How did that happen?
Active Buddy
I briefly took up swimming because of an athlete friend. I went to the gym with other friends who also helped me with getting ab exercises right. If it is hard to find like minded people with similar schedules, now you can use Fitbit or your smartphone, to track your activity.
Active Wear
Have a pair of good shoes and active wear handy. Anything that makes you move is worth the investment. Same goes with your means of music which will motivate you to run or walk. It was an mp3 player for me. I know that’s old.
Crowdsearch
I was obese since my high school. My dad taught me yoga at that time. My mom observed that I loved walking. During college, I came across two very important pieces of information that changed my life. First that walking is a good way to lose weight and Second that it is easy to control your appetite. Armed with this, I struggled with changing my diet from rice to tortillas. Now that I could count what I was eating, it worked wonders in terms of appetite control. Around this time, another friend told me about the science behind slowing down a bit for the brain to get the satiety signals. Once you have a goal, it is amazing to see how al your friends chip in.
Audit the Gym
For one whole year, I exercised at the Student Recreation Center for almost an hour each day. It didn’t start out that way. I had never worked out on an elliptical before. I got to a comfortable 30 min piddle-paddle with the elliptical. One day, I found the machine had been worked to 60 min by a student before me. That’s it. I knew I could do it too. Every few days, a pound was melting off me. That only fueled me more to continue and stick with my exercise.
Be a Cinderella
No matter how much fun the homework was, I had to finish before the gong hit 12. I need a good sleep, so I made it a rule to finish all my homework before midnight. That way I wouldn’t have to deal with headaches from reduced sleep. A good night’s sleep will keep you productive the next day.
Bike, walk but don’t Flash
Most huge campuses are well suited for walk or bike. Your activity needs are met right there. If you are not in a hurry, don’t take the Flash (ASU’s Shuttle). I walked to the grocery store and back. Once I even jogged with a bouquet in my hand as the Olympic torch.
Climb the A Mountain
This is a good time to find out the names of the mountains around and start climbing them. That steep slope is going to be good for your cardio. A fresh
Skip the Free Pizza and the credit card
I was working hard at the gym every day. I was so tuned to that slog that even the tunes of free pizza didn’t shake me off my diet. Exercising with all its endorphin benefits will also regulate your meal choices. I cooked my own food which ensured that it was healthy. After a project, with friends, I would pig-out at the Papa Johns.
For me, losing weight at grad school turned out to be a dream come true. As the workout regimen was showing results, I made time for it every day. Straight from the class, I would go to gym. Making time for a healthy life, was my way of managing time as well as sending a signal to myself that I had it all under control.
My expectation from grad school, was that I would have lots of time for extra curricular activities. But with projects and Cinderella Curfew, it was a world unto its own. But out of that Chrysalis, emerged a Fit me. As a kid, I wondered why I was obese and wondered if there was a snake inside me. After walking the pounds out, one day while carrying a 3-pound watermelon, I realized half way through my weight loss journey, that I used to carry about 3 such watermelons all over my body. I lost about 20 pounds in few months but continued the healthy trend and pushed it to long walks and a rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon. I got so addicted to exercise that when the gym was closed during spring break, I walked 10 miles home from office.
