Significant college weight gain?

Question

I have been a naturally skinny person all my life--the kind of girl who could always eat whatever she wanted and not regret it later. I'm afraid that someday this could create habits that will catch up with me.

I'm now a college senior, and in the past year I have gained 8 pounds, going from 112 to 120. I know that 120 is a very healthy weight, and I'm actually sort of pleased that I've filled out a little. However, I'm worried that this could be only the beginning of an upward trend. What if I just keep gaining weight and don't stop? That happened to my older brother! What's a good way to make sure that my weight stays where it is right now? I'm a vegetarian, but I have a horrible sweet tooth and I'm not as active as I could be.

Answer 1

The problem is that you're sitting in class and sitting to study and sitting to type up papers while munching on junk food to stay awake. College almost always causes weight gain because of all the stress and sedentary lifestyle. You need to start moving. Go to the gym and workout for 30 minutes a day. Or take a long walk around campus. Try to eat Tootsie Rolls instead of chocolate or cookies. If you're drinking regular soda, switch to diet soda. But the most important thing is to get some kind of exercise at least 3 times a week.

Answer 2

You've taken the first step to maintaining your very healthy weight simply by asking this question.

First, by guestimating your height at 5'8, your BMI is 18.2, which is technically underweight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

Second, 8 pounds in one year is only .66/lb per month, hardly anything to worry about, especially when one considers you were only 112 pounds at the start, which is underweight for sure. 120 pounds is probably a great weight for you.

Third, as you graduate college and enter the real world, unfortunately most careers entail a sedentary lifestyle. This is the way of the world in the 21st century. One gains weight, and continues to gain it when one continually takes in more calories than one expends. Obviously there are other factors, genetics actual diet, etc. but that's the very basic explanation.

In order to keep your healthy weight of 120 +/- say 5 pounds, you probably will need to become a little more active, especially since whatever career you enter will probably be sedentary or at least not much running around buring off calories will be involved.

Maybe you did a sport in high school which you could pick back up again.......a few times per week, perhaps? With your diet and your gain of only 8 pounds in a year, from 112 to 120, a few days of 30-75min of physical activity per day, you should easily be able to maintain your 120 pounds +/- 5 pounds.

As a side note, there is no way to know with the current data if you are on any sort of 'upward trend.' More data would be needed to make such an assessment. If you are 130 pounds a year from now and say 135 pounds 18 months from now, then yes, the data would indicate you are on a uptrend in gaining weight. However, as noted before, with only a relatively small increase in physical activity, and maintaining a healthy diet, you should be fit and firm for years to come.

PS Don't worry about your sweet tooth, you only live once.

Answer 3

College students tend to put all their focus on their studies and social life. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but no matter how busy you are you can always make some time to focus on your health and fitness. Your metabolism is probably just slowing down due to your life style change. Try cutting about 500 calories out of your diet. Eat lots of fruits and veggies. I'm a vegetarian too so I drink protien shakes to replace the protien I would be getting from meat. Limit your sweets to a once a day treat. Did you know that 20 M&M's or 3 Hershey Kisses only has 100 calories? Try to weight lift 2-3 days a week and add some cardio for 30 minutes about 3 days a week and you should see a huge change. Try going to this website : www.glamour.com/bbg I signed up for the program last summer and I lost 10 pounds! Good luck to you and stay healthy!!!

Answer 4

The gaining and not stopping is what happened to me, until I did something about it last year. Your best bet is to start a healthy eating and exercise routine NOW. It's what you would have to do if you gained 50 pounds and wanted to lose it.

As a vegetarian, eating right may not include lean meats, but don't overlook the importance of getting enough protein from vegetable sources (beans and rice). Your diet should still be about 30% fat, 15-20% protein, and 50-55% fiber-rich carbohydrates, like it should for non-vegetarians.

You probably hit the nail on the head when you said you are not as active as you could be. Make a commitment to yourself to head to the campus rec center 3 times a week for 30 minutes at a time. Write it into your class schedule if you have to. Getting into a healthy habit of regular exercise will probably be the best thing you can do for yourself right now.

Answer 5

Any extra calories can potentially cause you to put on weight. What you need to do is work out how many calories you are actually drinking and then to compensate by either eating less on that day or exercising more. You can use an online calorie calculator to find out the calorie value of the alcoholic beverages you usually have. Then use an online calories burned through exercise calculator to see how much dancing, jogging, etc. you need to do to burn the same amount of calories. Weight loss is about consuming less calories than you are burning.

Answer 6

Limit your sweet intakes! Instead of having the whole thing (pie,cake), or many of little things (cookies, candies) just eat a small piece (a small chocolate bar, 2 cookies, a thin slice of cake or pie)! Also, just get active and dont graze (eat nonchalantly) throughout the day. Eat your 3 square meals, have a snack of sweets and dessert. As you get older your metabolism slows down so your eating habits will catch up!

Answer 7

well you are still at a good weight so your best bet is to try and eat a little better every day. if you have a sweet tooth satisfy it with healthier options like fresh fruit, raw honey, dried fruit, etc. start getting in more exercise. trust me, its better to prevent then let things get out of control and have to work your way back to where you were.

Answer 8

Part of the weight gain is maturity, part may be lifestyle. Are you sitting and studying and eating junk food and drinking a lot?

Answer 9

start being more active

i know college work can be stressful..and that can make you gain weight. So try to stay chill

Answer 10

WAlk 40 minutes a day regardless of your school workload. Your health comes first, your school second.