The “Freshman 15” may be an exaggeration, but weight gain in college is not. The only way to combat this fear is to face it head-on. The two most important ways to do this are through regular exercise and healthy eating habits. As scary as this sounds, exercise may come easier than you think. Here are five simple exercises on campus that don’t involve a gym OR spending money.
1. Walk or ride your bike
Walk or ride your bike to class to get into the habit of daily exercise on campus. This is the easiest way to keep that step count up that doesn't involve much effort. Kick-start that metabolism and improve not only your physical health, but your mental health as well. Maybe this is the key to surviving college, so give it a try.
2. Take the stairs
Take the stairs and feel the burn. This targets the glutes, legs, and even adds some cardio. Don't be embarrassed if you're out of breath by the time you reach the top, you are not alone. Although two flights of stairs doesn't seem like a big workout, it turns into the biggest accomplishment of your day when you're running to make your 9 am lecture on time.
3. TV exercises
We all have those moments where we just need to binge watch our favorite Netflix show. Although your first thought may be to take a drink every time something repetitive happens, resist the urge and do a squat. So the next time you're watching Friends, try doing a jumping jack every time Joey says "How you Doin'?" You'll be surprised at the amount of exercise you end up doing.
4. Use a device as a step counter
Using your Fitbit to track your steps can make you want to keep track and meet your daily goal. If you're feeling really ambitious, you could even make a step goal solely for your exercise of campus. Or, if you're feeling really competitive, you can even challenge your friends on the app. So get ready to earn your badges and get the highest step count. Even if you don't have a Fitbit, you can still track your steps. Most phones have a health-related app that will count your steps, so there's no getting out of this one.
5. Rearrange your room
Rearrange your room by lifting your bed, desk, or anything else heavy. Not only will you get an updated room look, you'll also get a new workout. So hang those pictures up, move that bed, and feel the total body workout!
Now, you'll have to think of another excuse to get out of exercising because a gym membership is no longer needed. Next time you don't want to exercise, just choose something from this list and you can still put in minimal effort. Exercising on campus is easier than ever and there is nothing you can do about it. In fact, you can probably check off at least one of these things without trying.