College students struggle to lead healthy lives

 For most incoming freshmen, the fear of gaining the infamous freshmen 15 is very intimidating.
Interestingly enough, a 2008 survey by the National Institute of Health reported about five percent of students gain 15 pounds compared to the other 30 percent that only gain one to five pounds.
In an attempt to combat the possible weight gain, students at Prairie View A&M University are making efforts to diet properly and lead healthier lifestyles.
However, because of time restraints, life stressors, lack of motivation, and the inability to see results instantly, it becomes difficult for some students to commit to the lifestyle change.
Junior criminal justice major Danielle Moore said, “College students are always busy. It is hard to keep up with proper dieting and exercise.”
Everyone is concerned with his or her appearance, especially when it comes to weight.
African American women, tend to focus on having or keeping their coke bottle shapes, with most of the thickness going to the hips and thighs, whereas African American men focus more on keeping everything tight.
In an attempt to keep their weight constant, some people develop poor eating habits, which can lead to eating disorders.
Over-indulgence in junk food after skipping meals or continuing to eat after reaching fullness can be considered binge eating.
Some are under the belief that consuming large amounts of junk food into one meal will detract from other unhealthy habits, making it easier to lose or maintain weight.
Eating during other activities such as watching TV, working, or reading can cause a person to lose track of exactly what and how much a person is eating.
Emotional eating is another common unhealthy habit. It is driven by certain emotions, such as depression or anxiety, often when a person is not hungry.
Prairie View students are bombarded weekly with the tremendous task of managing schoolwork, a job, and a social life.
Due to such heavy workloads, students find themselves grabbing something to eat quickly, because time is of the essence.
Senior mass communication major and student athlete Aisha White said, “I know that it’s hard to stay on a diet in college, especially for people who are involved because they are on the go so much. What is fast is not usually healthy, even in the MSC; there are few healthy options for students to choose from. As an athlete, exercising is important to me. We have scheduled workouts, but if I was not an athlete, it would be hard for me to find the time.”
Students who procrastinate often find themselves burning the midnight oil to finish assignments. During these late nights, an unhealthy snack can become your company for the evening.
A few healthy ways to drop a few pounds or keep a balanced weight is to eat breakfast. As your parents told you when growing up, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not only does it speed up your metabolism, but it helps burn calories for the rest of the day.
Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help as well, even something as small as choosing to walk to class instead of driving.
Junior social work major Jalisa Williams said, “I make an effort to work out as much as I can. I like the size and shape I have now, so I am going to do what I can to keep it.”
Also, having a good time with friends does not have to lead to drinking heavy beers or sugary mixed drinks.
Lighter drinks are better for you. In fact, a glass of red wine with dinner has proved to be helpful to the heart.
In addition, make sure to stay well rested because late nights may lead to late night eating, which will slow the metabolism down.