college and after college weight gain

[nikki2]

Hi all, since starting college 5 years ago my weight has done nothing but go up. Graduated got married, lost some weight for the wedding but now Im at a new high weight again. I am just wondering is it just me or has anyone else gained a lot of weight at college and can't seem to do much about it?

[Enema]

Well it's natural that your weight goes up as you get into college because you've passed puberty and you can't keep eating, not exercising and expect to stay slim like a teenager.

 

Welcome to adulthood! The good news is that you most certainly can do something about it. Most people have to make a permanent lifestyle change to maintain a fit body.

 

What's your diet / exercise regime like?

[Lauriebell82]

How did you lose weight before your wedding? Diet/exercise?

[sunshinegirl]

I gained 20-30 pounds in college that didn't come off until several years post-college.

 

My weight gain was partly because I was an emotional eater, so as I learned to fill emotional needs in more healthy ways, I stopped using food to do so. I also became more active. Now I weigh a bit less than I weighed in high school, and a good 30 pounds less than my highest weight in college. I run half marathons now, and rock climb, rollerblade, and go to yoga throughout the year. All because I love the activities, not because I'm trying to look a certain way or achieve a certain weight (though those are nice side benefits!).

 

Take the long view; don't go for fad diets or quick fixes. As you build a life you love, your weight will settle into what's right for your frame, lifestyle, and activity level. Good luck!

[sb129]

I weighed 10kg more at my graduation than I did when I first started university.

 

It took me about 3 years to lose it all again- I developed better eating habits and didn't drink or snack as much as I did when studying!

 

I used to go out partying probably 2-3 nights a week as a student, and cutting that right back made a huge difference.

 

It definitely gets harder to lose weight and stay in shape the older you get. NOt looking forward to the hard slog that will be losing the baby weight!

[Lauriebell82]

I gained weight my freshman year in college..that cafeteria/buffet stype meal plan is a killer. Also ordering pizza in the middle of the night while studying was a very popular thing to do also (especially because it was covered under meal plan).

 

I was with my ex boyfriend through college and he did not care about what weight I was..so I just pretty much ate and pigged out like crazy. When I dumped him I decided to change my ways and went on a diet. I lost a lot of weight. Although I did put some back on, I never let myself get real heavy and I stopped binging as I did in college.

 

I have lost some weight since February and I don't think I have been this thin since high school. I work out 5-6 times a week and at the advice of many LSers I also started eating a lot heathier. I refuse to ever gain the weight back and plan on working very hard.

 

My advice: start a workout regimin and stick to it. Start eating healthy (fruits, veggies, 100 % whole grain foods, ect) You can eat some junk but OCCASIONALLY. Like maybe once a week or something.

 

I've found that the hardest part is keeping the weight off, not the weight loss itself. It takes discipline and hard work. I am doing it for the first time in my whole life and it is a challenge. I have some days where I just want to say "screw it" and go eat a bunch of carbs but I stop myself. I remember how unhappy I was being overweight and it stops me from doing it.

[Joie de Vivre]

 

My advice: start a workout regimin and stick to it. Start eating healthy (fruits, veggies, 100 % whole grain foods, ect) You can eat some junk but OCCASIONALLY. Like maybe once a week or something.

 

I've found that the hardest part is keeping the weight off, not the weight loss itself. It takes discipline and hard work. I am doing it for the first time in my whole life and it is a challenge. I have some days where I just want to say "screw it" and go eat a bunch of carbs but I stop myself. I remember how unhappy I was being overweight and it stops me from doing it.

 

 

I couldn't agree more!

 

I remember I gained 15lbs during college freshman year, but lost it all and then some because all I was eating were chips, pieces of deli ham, redbull and coffee during my junior and senior year. Although I was happy with my weight ( I am 5"9, and weighed 118 lbs) -- I felt tired all the time!

 

so definitely start eating healthy and plan your meals. Also sign up for a local gym or YMCA with your husband. Working out with your husband or a friend makes it even easier to stick with it. Also try to sign up for any fitness classes, that way it forces you to see it through.

 

I also sometimes buy jeans in a size smaller. instead of focusing on the number on the scale, I focus on working to get myself to a smaller jean size.

 

A combination of healthy eating, and working out at the gym on a daily basis, I have managed to keep my weight to 120/121 lbs. I feel a whole lot more energetic and happier.

 

good luck !

[Lauriebell82]

Another thing: I read an article that says instead of eating 3 big meals, start eating 4 or 5 smaller meals (like 200-300 calories). You will get hungry more often but it will speed up your metabolism by giving you energy to keep active, thus you will burn up everything you eat. When you eat really big meals you tend to get so full that you actually LOSE energy and become less motivated to stay active, and the food you eat will just turn to fat.

 

Just make sure you stay active and don't let yourself get TOO hungry that you will have to eat a massive amount of food. Also don't eat dinner too late and eat something small. Then maybe have a little healthy snack (like an apple) later at night if you do get hungry. Contrary to popular belief, eating something small and healthy (the key is small and healthy) will not make you gain weight overnight. It will actually help you because then you will not be absolutely starving when you wake up.

[sunshinegirl]

I think any over-focus on food/dieting/counting calories etc is ultimately going to backfire. Studies show that very few people who diet are able to keep weight off permanently (what is considered permanently, 5 years or more?). My own theory on that is because people diet primarily to look a certain way (that their bodies might not naturally be able to support, by the way).

 

The key for me has been finding activities that I LOVE. I have no foot-dragging battles of "oh man, I really need to go to the gym [because I had that huge piece of cake last night]" because I've found things that I deeply enjoy doing - my body feels spectacular after yoga; I feel strong when I climb; running makes me happy; nothing beats rollerblading on nearby trails.

 

If you're maniacally watching calories and having to talk yourself into going to the gym every day, any results you achieve are not going to last. They just aren't - because you're doing them to reach some pre-determined weight/size/look and once a target is reached, most people go back to their previous ways.

 

Use your body to DO things - get stronger, more flexible, easier to move - and your eating and your weight will settle in to something that makes sense for your body and your lifestyle.

 

Oh - and if I watch what I eat now (and I only sort-of do) it's to support the activities I want to get better at (climb stronger, run faster) - NOT so I look a certain way or fit into a certain size.

[Lauriebell82]

I think any over-focus on food/dieting/counting calories etc is ultimately going to backfire. Studies show that very few people who diet are able to keep weight off permanently (what is considered permanently, 5 years or more?). My own theory on that is because people diet primarily to look a certain way (that their bodies might not naturally be able to support, by the way).

 

The key for me has been finding activities that I LOVE. I have no foot-dragging battles of "oh man, I really need to go to the gym [because I had that huge piece of cake last night]" because I've found things that I deeply enjoy doing - my body feels spectacular after yoga; I feel strong when I climb; running makes me happy; nothing beats rollerblading on nearby trails.

 

If you're maniacally watching calories and having to talk yourself into going to the gym every day, any results you achieve are not going to last. They just aren't - because you're doing them to reach some pre-determined weight/size/look and once a target is reached, most people go back to their previous ways.

 

Use your body to DO things - get stronger, more flexible, easier to move - and your eating and your weight will settle in to something that makes sense for your body and your lifestyle.

 

Oh - and if I watch what I eat now (and I only sort-of do) it's to support the activities I want to get better at (climb stronger, run faster) - NOT so I look a certain way or fit into a certain size.

 

Yep. I did the low carb diet for a really long time (I still watch my carbs though, but mostly unhealthy junkfood carbs) and eventually I just cracked and couldn't take it anymore. I "relapsed" and gained weight back because I couldn't sustain that diet for a long period of time. I ate low carb bars but actually there is so much sodium and fat that I found out they make you constipated and retain water. So in essense, they hurt you more then help you.

 

It still does take discipline to stick to healthy eating with occasional treats esp. if you have struggled with wait for so long. It gets easier the longer you do it though.

[BUENG1]

I gained about 14 lbs or so in college, but I was skinny when I went. I came in at 5'8 about 128 and after freshman year I was 143. It was because I ran cross country and track all year round in high school only did intramurals on and off in college. I am about the same weight now.

 

The weight gain was the eating pizza, Chinese and cheap unhealthy food along with much less physical activity. I think thats the same with everybody.

[Lauriebell82]

I gained about 14 lbs or so in college, but I was skinny when I went. I came in at 5'8 about 128 and after freshman year I was 143. It was because I ran cross country and track all year round in high school only did intramurals on and off in college. I am about the same weight now.

 

The weight gain was the eating pizza, Chinese and cheap unhealthy food along with much less physical activity. I think thats the same with everybody.

 

Yeah, definately. Pizza and breadsticks at 2 am is what did me in. That and the buffet style cafeteria.