College is always referred to as the best four years of your life. It’s when people discover who they are and what they are passionate about. It’s the only time in your life that you look forward to living in a building with approximately 200 of your closest friends.

This chapter of life is amazing and more fun than the past 18 years of life combined, but it does come with some drawbacks. The most obvious is the freshman 15.

The freshman 15 is real and affects almost everyone at some point or another, but there are simple ways to fight the weight gain and increase your overall health. Here are the top tips on staying healthy and fit in college.

Get moving

The gym can seem very daunting to a freshman, but it is the best place to go to relieve stress and work on building a healthy lifestyle. Attending Group X classes is a great way to meet people and get your heart rate up. Even simple switches like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can burn a few extra calories.

Eat healthy

Dallas is the mecca for healthy food options. Whether you are on campus or off, there are endless choices for healthy eating. If you are at the Umph or Arnold dining commons, try eating an extra serving of fruit or vegetables to fill your stomach before you consume your serving of starches or carbs. Simple switches will keep you feeling energized and lean.

Be aware of sneaky calories

Everyone blames the college weight gain on bad cafeteria food or late night pizza orders. The real cause of most of the weight gain is alcohol. It’s no secret that alcohol isn’t good for you, but most people don’t realize how many calories are packed into each shot or can of beer. A good rule of thumb is that a shot has around 100 calories in it. A fun night can turn into a real calorie bomb that is hard to work off the next day. Be conscientious of what and how much you’re drinking to avoid packing on the extra pounds.