Thread: Losing weight whilst at Uni - is it possible?

Hi there!

I've been dieting for a month now and have been keeping a daily diet diary on my tumblr (which i can't link to on here, according to terms and conditions...), however I haven't had a chance to weigh myself since I have no set of scales with me at uni, the next chance I'll get is when I go home for easter!

I've been eating healthily (well, I think I'm being healthy...), however I'm part catered so one meal a day is supplied by the uni.

So for breakfast I'll either have a bowl of Alpen of Nestle Clusters and for lunch I'll have a wholemeal bread sandwich with low fat Laughing Cow Cheese (25 calories) or a small tin of Heinz Cream of Tomato soup. But dinner could be anything, really. - Spaghetti Bolognesse, Pasta Bakes, Jacket Potato with beans or chilli... And really, because it's from the canteen, I have no clue what's in it so I find it really hard! I've obviously cut out things like pies, chips and burgers that they do and opted for the healthiest option there, but god knows if the healthier options are even healthy at all! (Obviously I also eat fruit as desserts or whatever, but I tend not to snack.)

I also go to the gym 3 times a week, usually for 1-2 hours. (My workouts usually burn 500-600 calories).

Is there anything I can do to make my diet better? Do you think I'll actually show a weight loss if I continue like this?

Sorry for the long post and thank you so much for any replies!

Originally Posted by DarrenCriss

Hi there!

I've been dieting for a month now and have been keeping a daily diet diary on my tumblr (which i can't link to on here, according to terms and conditions...), however I haven't had a chance to weigh myself since I have no set of scales with me at uni, the next chance I'll get is when I go home for easter!

I've been eating healthily (well, I think I'm being healthy...), however I'm part catered so one meal a day is supplied by the uni.

So for breakfast I'll either have a bowl of Alpen of Nestle Clusters and for lunch I'll have a wholemeal bread sandwich with low fat Laughing Cow Cheese (25 calories) or a small tin of Heinz Cream of Tomato soup. But dinner could be anything, really. - Spaghetti Bolognesse, Pasta Bakes, Jacket Potato with beans or chilli... And really, because it's from the canteen, I have no clue what's in it so I find it really hard! I've obviously cut out things like pies, chips and burgers that they do and opted for the healthiest option there, but god knows if the healthier options are even healthy at all! (Obviously I also eat fruit as desserts or whatever, but I tend not to snack.)

I also go to the gym 3 times a week, usually for 1-2 hours. (My workouts usually burn 500-600 calories).

Is there anything I can do to make my diet better? Do you think I'll actually show a weight loss if I continue like this?

Sorry for the long post and thank you so much for any replies!

Hiya! What you're doing sounds pretty good to me. I wouldn't worry too much about your uni meals too much - as you say, you're choising the best options they have. It might be possible to get some idea of the nutritional content if you ask, or you could estimate the calories from genetic dishes on My Fitness Pal. But really, well done, you're making good choices. Just as long as you're not doing the usual student thing and drinking loads of hidden calories every night, of course. As for weighing yourself, I don't advocate doing it more than once a month or so, but if you really want to you can gets a bog standard set of scales for a fiver. Keep up the good work. xx

Good grief, I meant GENERIC dishes on MFP, not genetic, lol. xx

Originally Posted by TracyGWill

Hiya! What you're doing sounds pretty good to me. I wouldn't worry too much about your uni meals too much - as you say, you're choising the best options they have. It might be possible to get some idea of the nutritional content if you ask, or you could estimate the calories from genetic dishes on My Fitness Pal. But really, well done, you're making good choices. Just as long as you're not doing the usual student thing and drinking loads of hidden calories every night, of course. As for weighing yourself, I don't advocate doing it more than once a month or so, but if you really want to you can gets a bog standard set of scales for a fiver. Keep up the good work. xx

Thank you so much! I was just kind of worried because I see a lot of people on here on these specialist kind of diets and didn't know if simply cutting down would do the trick. And I've given up alcohol for the most part so I don't think I need to worry about that.

Sounds like you're doing a great amount of exercise in the gym, I think you'd lose weight if you carry on being careful like you have been.

Hey Darren, it's definitely possible!

I'm currently in my final year at uni (only 7 weeks to go!) and I've spent this last year being the most focused I've ever been diet wise.

During my second year I put on so much weight as my course is computer based, which gave me even more excuses to sit and snack 24/7 at a desk, but when I finished in June I took a step back and was horrified at what I'd let happen to myself. Something in my head clicked and I got my backside in gear over the summer hols and lost 1st 5lbs by the time I started again in October. I was terrified though that I'd just go back to being lazy but thankfully all the stuff I'd learned about healthy eating over summer had sunk in, and I continued to loose another stone over the 1st and 2nd semester. If anything, Christmas was more of a struggle than uni has ever been!

Good luck with it x

if you have a boots chemist near you they usually have a scale there and you pay a quid and it tells you your bmi etc
or i would have thought your gym would have scales
its always good to know where you're starting from
apart from that it sounds good

Its definitely possible to lose weight whilst at uni, I was the thinnest I've ever been while at uni, mainly cos I was only actually physically in uni 2-3 days a week, so I did loads of exercise on my days I had no classes. I also did a lot of walking and was eating really healthily.

Eat as healthy as you can with the meals you can control. With the meals that are provided, try to make the healthiest choices you can, and also watch the portions. Say maybe only eat 3/4 of what's put out on your plate. I'm sure you'll see a difference for the changes your making.

In my opinion that is enough, if you add more effort you risk to let all down and come back from the zero point, just be fine the way you are and good luck

Hi there! I'm a uni student too and I am about to join slimming world so I will be getting weighed regularly there. Before this I just weighed myself on the Wii every time I went home so that I could keep an eye on it. Maybe we could start a thread specifically for students where we can talk about diet and student related things and share tips and get to know each other? What do people think?

Yes Part way through my second term of first year and have lost more or less a stone since christmas. It's not easy but if you're happy with slow weight loss it is possible.

I've been part of a exercise based society and have found that has helped me but you seem to be on the right track good luck xx

Sounds like your doing well, try some natural metabolism boosters in the meals your cooking for yourself i.e. cayenne pepper etc?

I'm a student, following slimming world I have lost 3 stone since the end of August. However, I lost this weight before Christmas and since Christmas I've been losing a few lbs then putting them back on etc. But I think I'm finally back onto it again after about four good weeks. i have also recently joined the gym too which is helping to keep me motivated.

I'm just about to head into my exam period so I know I'll put on weight in the next few weeks. Just a case of damage control.

I'm sorry to butt in, but what has taking exams got to do with putting on weight? I always lost weight due to stress! It doesn't have to be an excuse to eat all the wrong foods and imagine how much happier you would be starting your summer without all those extra pounds. Think beach!