Life in College

Headed into college and trying to maintain or improve your physique is tough. New friends, parties, eating out, the list goes on.  There are opportunities and pressures daily to go out and be social and deciding whether or not to keep to your priorities is challenging -even for the most committed of people. Now that I’m 21 there seems to be even more pressures, and I’d be lying if I said I never went out and partied or went to the bars.  I’m not going to tell you to not go out and enjoy yourself.  I’ll admit that I personally go out occasionally and if and when you decide to go out too, I have a few simple tips that may help reduce the effects of the previous nights adventures. Moderation.  This is two fold, one in that partying four nights a week should not be considered moderation and also in that drinking a case by yourself in a night should not be considered moderation either.  The easiest way I have found to stick to moderation is to plan when I’m going to go out as well as keep a tab on the number of my drinks throughout the night.  If I can get myself to set a limit for myself early in the night I tend to stick to that number of drinks rather than losing count and ending up next to the toilet the next morning. Quality.  This aspect may be more mental than anything, but I have found that I tend to have the better next mornings when I drink higher quality products.   This is tough while being in college and living on a budget, but sticking to higher quality products tend to lessen any negative effects from the night before. Drop the Chaser.  Okay, this is not easy, I’ll admit that and you may have to “man up” to withstand the harshness of the drink but it will be worth it.  Cutting the chaser cuts the calories and sugars from the pop saving not only your figure but also your stomach the next morning.  If necessary, I have found that mixing with diet tonic and/or ice and water will reduce the bite from your beverage but still save you from the sugars and calories. Go out, have fun, and enjoy your life –you only get one of them anyway.