spunker Yes! I lurve yoga, it feels extra nice after I've been sitting in the same chair for hours doing homework, readings and the like What do you like to do??

ShirleyAnn05 That cafeteria experience sure sounds rough. We have a pretty good salad bar here. And Jennifer gave sooo many awesome suggestions. Hmm... How about cottage cheese? My friends in featherweights suggested it to me as a source for lean protein and I've been into that ever since. It's cheap, you can do lots of different things with it, and you can get it with low fat if you want. I also drink a lot skim milk. And, I don't know how your guy's cafeteria work, but at the main part in mine they have an entree and a couple sides, usually 2 vegetables and starch and I will usually skip the entree but get the veggies. It works really well.

cerridwen013 Are you sure LA weight loss is the right plan for you? If you're not able to do it, or it's not working out for you maybe you should reconsider it. I would recommend taking portable snacks with you, like fruit, yogurt, milk, some cut up veggies, sandwiches...the like. I like ShirleyAnn's idea too.

missindy You sound sooooo busy. Don't overdo it, that's a lotta work. How do you get to your job? Maybe if you're taking the bus or driving there you can walk/jog/run/bike there. What do you guys keep in your fridge? And there's lots of healthy things that don't need refrigeration...set out a bowl of fruit or somethin'... Good luck with fitting everything into your schedule.

I'm in college in England, and the eating is horrific! I'm just about to go back to the second term in my first year and it's so difficult to eat healthily. I buy vegetables and try to make nice soups and stuff, but I just end up having pasta everyday because its so quick. Lots of junk food to eat and then there's the drinking and the laziness. We have a lovely lake to run around and i would really like to jog around it, but i'm so unfit at the moment that the thought of people i know slightly seeing me run around it completly out of breath mortifies me. I've lost a couple of pounds since I've been home, but does anyone have any tips on how to keep losing weight while at college, such as the amount of alcohol that is healthy to have, or quick healthy meals ?
thanks!
jo xx

Ok now that I have a minute I can post my story.

I'm a college student that lives at home. Last semester I went to school full time and worked part time so I know how the no time thing goes.
This semester I'm going to school for more then half time (but not considered full time cuz its only 9 credit hours) and those classes are on Mon, Tues and Thurs evenings. I work part time at Sylvan Learning Ctr on monday thru thrusday and saturdays. I'm currently tryin to get a job with our school system out here so then I'll be working full time with them.

It does seem like there is not enough time in the day and that i cant afford healthy food right now. I dont get paid much at Sylvan (don't get me started) and that usually goes straight to bills before I even get it. Lucky for me my boyfriend lives with me and takes great care of me but its hard to ask him to buy things that I need when he doesnt. He's slender and healthy...I often ask myself what he is doing with me. *sigh*

Anyhoo. I'm off i'll try to post later tonight when I get home from class. Take care yall.

sweet_talker, I'm not quite sure what I *really* like to do as I can't say I've really actually exercised in over a year Though, I sued to jog in place for awhile (back in 2004), but that gets really boring. I got the Biggest Loser DVD and want to give it a try. I'm going to starting looking for something that I really enjoy.

killmissamerica0, it's tough because a lot of the unhealthy stuff is very convenient. Do you have a microwave and fridge/freezer? If so, what about some frozen dinners? I don't know what all they have in England, but here they have Weight Watcher frozen dinners, South Beach, lean cuisines, Michelina's, etc.

I'm not saying frozen are the absolutely best way to go (or in excess), but they do have some variety for lower cals than the real thing - ie. Pizza. Some also have desserts. Just an idea.

There's some frozen pasta ones that are really delicious. The portion is already there for you as well.

SillyFluff, I can relate. My job pays poorly, and like you, most money goes to bills. I have a huge rant about healthy food being expensive.

Where I'm at, there were two main grocery stores that people would go to, big competitors. There are some others, but not many. The one went out business, so now, the one is just one giant corporation. They are doing things such as gas perks - $0.10 per $50 spent - for their gas station. My mom was just telling me that a thing of lettuce cost about $4.00!

Definitely frustrating.

- - - - - -

My first class starts this Wednesday. I'm nervous. I work 7:30 - 4:00, and it takes about 20 minutes to get home, and about 30 minutes to get to school from there - both classes start at 6pm until 8:40, so I'm not sure how I'm going to handle food those two nights. I always want to leave my apartment by 5 because of rush hour traffic, and besides wanting to get there a bit early.

I hate it too because no matter what I do I'm always feeling self-conscious (especially where there are a lot of people). I can relax a bit at work, but school, I just want to slink behind something.

missindy: you have a extremely busy schedule! holy cow! but i noticed u said that working in time to exercise and homework would be hard. i don't know about your college, but in our rec center (i also don't know how you feel about those ) we have the machines (like the bikes, stair steppers, etc) that have stands on them so we can study and work out at the same time. just a suggestion for maybe multitasking on some of that stuff.

I am also a college student. My weight problems actually started in college. I lived in the dorms my freshman year and gained about 40 pounds really fast. There was temptation EVERYWHERE. My friends and I ate at the caf for every meal and we often times found ourselves making late night trips to McDonalds or Wendy's. We LOVED fast food. Our sleeping patterns were way off and just simply did not take care of ourselves. After I moved out of the dorms, I moved in with 3 of my best friends and we continued down this road. I would go on little spurts where I would diet for a few weeks, but I was never commited and quickly fell back into temptation. This past semester I transferred schools and moved back in with my parents. I'm finding it a lot easier to eat healthier. Since I commute I am able to take my lunch to school. It is still very hard, but I am not dealing with as much temptation. I am struggling with exercise though. I try to get a thirty minute walk in everyday, but I go to school at 8 and don't get off of work until 5 so, it is really hard to squeeze in the time to exercise. What I try to do is walk around campus when I have a few minutes or walk around the playground with the kids at recess ( I work at a preschool) I am consistently losing about a pound to two pounds a week, and I am really happy with that. I guess right now my fear is that I will go right back to my old ways and will gain it all back or never reach my goals. I'm looking forward to reading more on this thread bc I think we could really support each other. We have to deal with a lot of obstacles, especially people that live on campus.

Hey girls, I don't have much time to post today, but I just wanted to note: you all sound SOOO busy! Not to be preachy or anything like that, but don't forget to take some time for yourself!

Taking time out of my schedule for exercise and giving myself set plans for food helps me sooo much. Hope you're all having a good week.

Hey everyone, I just joined today and I too am trying to lose weight in college.. which is hard since thats when I started to gain it to begin with! I live on campus and the way our meals work is we can choose 7,10, or 14 meals a week in the cafeteria, and each plan comes with $500, $350, or $150 to spend in the marketplace(per semester).. the marketplace has a bakery, a deli, a taco bell, premade sandwiches and salad bar, chips and stuff like that.. I have the 7 meal a week plan.. the good thing about it is that our campus dining website lists the calories in everything they'll be serving each day/week, so I plan what I'll be eating ahead of time I just wish they didn't have a huge table of cookies, cakes, pies etc. right in front of the door >:O

Hi, my name is Nikki. I'm 19 and supposed to be starting my sophomore year. Things didn't work out the way I planned and I'm now about to re-start my freshman year. I also have a full time job and it's so hard carrying everything around. I loved the convience of sitting home and eating when/what I needed to on my diet. I guess this will just be a test of my willpower/determination. I look forward to chatting with all of you

OK I'm new here. I am a graduating senior in college. I am a 25 year old wife and mother. My son was diagnosed in 2005 with autism. At the same time my grades began to slip and I received my first (and only) failing grade in my college career. It's been a rough patch getting through college, but I am so close to finishing I can taste it! My goal is to fit into my purple dress (size 14) for graduation in May (current size 24). I have joined WW through the school and go to my first meeting tomorrow. I would like to use this community as a support group because you can never have too much support.

Hey college chicks, how's your weight loss going?? What methods are people using? What goals do people have beside shedding pounds?

I'm currently counting calories 1200-1300 per day (I'm looking into zig-zagging my calories at the moment and might start that, too). I try to get 55% of my calories from carbs, 20-25% from both lean protein and healthy fats. I was eating 5-6 meals per day but in the last week I've only been eating 2 a day.

I'm trying to do a workout routine that I made for myself with weights and floor exercises of about 35 minutes and then 20 minutes of yoga. I want to get out on my bike more and I do dance classes on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours a piece.

I'm really interested in detoxes and cleanses. I have a thing for toxins? lol

I want to fit into old clothes. I want to feel comfortable on the beach. I want the choice between a piece of fruit and a muffin to not be soooo painstaking (because I actually would prefer the fruit!) Uhhmmm, yeah! That's about it. I'd love to hear from all of you about what you're doing and what you're motivated by.

I'm currently inbetween schools, but having lived the dorm life...lordy, do I know where you guys are coming from! xD
People mentioned going to the gym and being embarassed. I've so been there. The first time I went, I was horrified and hated it. The next time I went with a friend ( I highly recommend! ) and I actually ended up seeing more people there I knew who were trying to loose weight too.

Once, I decided to do some weight training and I couldn't figure out the machine ( Do'h! ) and before I knew it this big football player came over and helped me when he saw my baffled face. xD He was really nice and impressed by how much I could lift. ; 3

It's so easy to assume people are going to judge you when you go to work out-- but people are usually really nice and helpful.

Hey everyone!! Im not in college right now, in fact in a sofmor in highschool but i was wondering if i can join yall neway. I know loosing weight in highschool is different than in college but yall have gone thro what im going thro and college is alot more similar to highskool than the ppl on this site who r married w/ kids.
So..can i join yall in this thread??

Hey everyone

Things have been a bit crazy since school started (two evenings a week).

After my very first class (January 17), I realized I lost my bank card, and I'm still waiting for it. Very frustrating, and the month of January seemed to have gone down hill from there lol

Currently sitting in a 59 degree apartment (something wrong with heat) while it's about 10 degrees outside.

I have 21 more pounds to go to get below 200.


I've finally started exercising at the gym, and it surprises me so much to say I'm actually having fun doing it!

Has anyone ever had a problem with classes/work while trying to lose weight? I mean, that your focus becomes so much on your weight, food, and exercise that you begin to miss class, etc.? Or you don't study as you should?

I had this problem when I was first away at school in 2003/2004. I became so "obsessed" that I was staying home to exercise, etc. The second semester I only had gone to classes for a week before I stopped going all together. I'm noticing that it's starting up again.

Granted, I've only missed 1 class (but that one class equals one week missed of that class), and we take our quizzes online (and are taken down after a certain time period), I haven't even taken 2 of mine that were due last week (but are/were being left up due to problems with the book being available in the book center), and I have no idea if they are still up, terrified to look, haven't read the chapters because I've been "occupied" with the whole dieting thing.

Anyone relate?

Hello everyone! I'm so glad I found this forum! I've started eating much better the last few days, but I am ALWAYS hungry now. I'm thinking that it's because my body is used to fast food and snacks and is shocked by all the fruits and vegetables! If anyone has info on healthy foods that actually make you feel satisfied/full please let me know!