Improve Grades and Fight the Freshman 15 with Diet & Exercise

Improve Grades and Fight the Freshman 15 with Diet & Exercise
  • Opening Intro -

    Going to college can be a liberating experience for a young student. Suddenly, you have the ability to choose what to eat, how much, and when.

    This freedom usually leads to poor diet choices that cause freshmen to gain the infamous “freshman fifteen” pounds and feel unhealthy.

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By Jessica Bosari

One 2004 Cornell University study found that the average freshman gained 4.2 pounds in the first semester of classes alone.1 Late night eating, binges on greasy hamburgers and fries, and other common college behaviors are not only bad student health, but they can also sabotage your efforts at good grades.

Proper Eating Increases Alertness

When you eat a healthy variety of foods that contain all of the nutrients your body needs to function properly, you will feel more alert throughout the day. Alertness can help you absorb your studies more effectively. An overload of fatty foods at lunch can leave you feeling lethargic by the time you get to class in the afternoon. If you choose to eat something healthy instead, you may not have trouble staying awake through your classes, which can only help your grade point average. Some foods, like fish, actually enhance your brain’s ability to function effectively.

A Good Diet Schedule Helps in Several Ways

Keeping to a good diet can mean scheduling your eating so that you spread it out evenly throughout the day. When your food schedule is organized, the rest of your schedule will be easier to organize because you can think clearly and do not become side tracked by hunger pangs. College schedules can be strange, and may not fit comfortably into a regular pattern. If you take the time to plan for time to eat healthfully, planning for the study time you need and the social time you want becomes easier as well.

Regular Exercise Raises Test Scores

Studies show that people who exercise regularly score higher on math and science tests. The body’s reaction to daily exercise includes increased blood flow and a higher metabolism rate. You will find that a good exercise regimen gives you more energy to face the demands of a busy college schedule.

Exercising can also lead to more activity in your neurotransmitters that help deliver information to your brain. A good exercise routine will make it easier to learn the advanced concepts presented during your classes.

Exercise Keeps Stress Levels Down

One of the reasons college can be so difficult is the abundance of stressful situations to handle every day. Students must adjust to a world where there is much less help available and more independence is required. This naturally creates stress. Exams and special class projects add to burden of learning to manage life without Mom and Dad. Daily exercise gives you a chance to decompress and reflect, which are healthy mind activities for everyone, not just students.

1 The Cornell Daily Sun; Students Gain Weight First Semester, Study Finds; Cameron Breen; Sept. 24, 2008

Author Information

Jessica Bosari writes about diet, exercise and some of the top weight loss programs at WeightLossTriumph.com. Right now, the site is offering Nutrisystem coupons, codes and discounts along with a special Medifast discount for March.

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Categories: Personal Advice