I'm a freshmen at college. This is my first semester and my weight has started to show that. Its hard to eat healthy when food sources are limited. We have a gym that isn't to far from my dorm, but when I think about going I get scared and chicken out. I have never liked working out with other people around because I fear what they might be thinking about me. I was wondering if anyone had advice for me about staying in shape and finding good things to eat and snack on. (:

My first year in university, I lived in residence. The same month I moved in, I also joined weight watchers for just a month - long enough to learn the plan, the points etc. Then I used that plan and ate at the cafeteria, doing my best to estimate the points in everything I took. I concentrated on the salad bar, fruit and whole wheat toast for breakfast, and dinners I liked to go to the make-your-own-sandwich area where I loaded up on vegetables and added cheese or tuna.

I ended up going home for Christmas 30 pounds lighter than when I moved in - all on residence food! And this was 20 years ago, so the food was probably less healthy then than it is today. I think the old adage applies: eat whatever you can raw and fresh, supplement that with simple foods (baked chicken, fish, lean grilled steak) and veg. Steer clear of creamy sauces and soups that you don't know what's in them, limit the amount of bread and carbs you take...and drink only water.

Worked for me... GL!

Oh, and I did take aerobics classes 3x a week at a community center near my university. At first I felt like I must be 'ondisplay'... (I started at 255 pounds), but after a week or so I found I really liked it and fit right in. I was worse than some, but better than others.. and I loved how it made me feel. I say just do it!

My daughter was very careful the first year... and didn't gain any weight! However, the second year, she let her guard down and gained 50 lbs..! Be careful and try to stay in control... a pizza night now and then is ok... but not every night!

Do you have a meal plan? Is there a grocery store on campus?

I didn't live on campus, but I knew plenty of commuters who ate frequently in the cafeteria. I always prepared my own food and managed to avoid gaining weight throughout college and graduate school as a result. Here and there I did buy campus food, usually when I didn't have time to prepare something. Such things were few and far between. Indulging now and then is fine, just don't do it all the time

If you have a meal plan, then see if your campus has a grocery store or somewhere where you can use your plan to buy ingredients to prepare your own meals. Most dorms have a kitchen somewhere in the building, but there are plenty of meals you can make that don't require the use of a kitchen.

Regarding the gym: most people at the gym are too focused on what they're doing to really care about everyone else. Go, try it out and see if you like it. If you don't, there are exercises you can do on your own/in your room

First off, THIS. No one at a gym is watching you, they're too busy doing what they came there to do...working out! So please don't worry about this. You can always walk outside, do strength training in your room, etc, but your fees pay for that gym! Get what you're paying for!

Second, what options does your dining hall offer for breakfast/lunch/dinner? Mine always had a salad bar (for breakfast, it had fresh fruit, cottage cheese, and yogurt as well), some sort of baked protein entree, hardboiled eggs, deli meats and cheeses, etc. It would totally be possible to make a healthy meal using those ingredients. Big salad, some deli meat or roast chicken for protein, maybe a side of fruit...delicious.

Now, you ARE going to face a lot of temptation being in that dining hall with the less healthy options, granted, but I've never seen a dining hall that didn't have good, lower-calorie options available.

I definitely gained the 15 dreaded lbs my freshman year. I lived on campus and we have a cafeteria. I was at the thinnest I've ever been when I started college - I was 116. I got a little cocky at that point, thinking that I can eat just like my friends, and since there is so much unhealthy food here, I'll be fine - everyone else is. I forgot that I AM NOT naturally skinny and I have to WORK at it. So I gained weight.

I realized it after 2 months and I was shocked. How could this happen? I tried so hard to lose weight and bam, just like that, 2 months in - I was heavy again (I realize it's not heavy heavy for most, but it was enough to make me feel like compete crap every single day). I downloaded p90x and started working out in the lounge on my floor in the mornings before everyone had class, which was usually 6 or 7am. I finished it and started watching what I ate, made sure I didn't give in to temptation... and I dropped the weight.

Now, I'm back up and struggling. But this is why I'm here. I believe I can drop the weight again and be happy with myself once again! Good luck!