University life on a diet?

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Ivycan
Ivycan Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
So first year of university I put on about half a stone from greasy late night takeaways, ready meal foods and drinking. Over the summer i've gone back down to 7 and a half stone. Now i'm back at university i'm finding it easy to resist takeaways and cook healthily but can't help but feel left out from the social side of things. My housemates think i eat barely anything (I do just not pizza and curry all the time) and when i go out i drink calories dangerously and i'm scared of putting weight back on.

Any advice on the best low-calorie alcoholic drinks? And ordering food when we eat out (normally wetherspoon/pub/cafe type places).

I'm also joining the gym tomorrow but i'm exhausted all the time i'm scared i'm going to find it hard to fit in with routine...

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  • phishn4peace
    phishn4peace Posts: 21 Member
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    I don't think there are a lot of options for low-cal drinks....I go for vodka and use MIO or a vitamin water. I make sure that my mixer has NO calories, since vodka has about 62/shot.
  • Natashaa1991
    Natashaa1991 Posts: 866 Member
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    you basically described my life.
  • TamaraRR
    TamaraRR Posts: 93 Member
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    University and trying to live healthy is so hard. I feel like I'm missing out on alot. I fit in gym time between classes/when my classes are done for the day or when I am just sick of studying. As far as low calorie drinks diet pop, cranberry juice and vodka isnt to bad, and there is also vodka and water with lemon and lots of ice. Good luck
  • GuruOnAMountain
    GuruOnAMountain Posts: 489 Member
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    Wetherspoon's has a low calorie drinks page on it's drink menu (or it did the last time I was in). Wetherspoon's is a tough place to eat out, though, without going over your calories. They do sweet chilli noodles which are quite low cal (I think about 370) or so but most of their meals, even the 'healthy-ish' ones are pretty calorific.

    If you don't want to miss out, you can always budget for a day that you will be eating out and make sure you work out to bank some calories for it but I think eating out and drinking all in one day is going to lead you to being over your calories unless you are extremely careful.

    There's always the option of not drinking (I know, *gasp, shudder*). It might be hard, especially being at Uni but it is doable. This is now my third time at Uni (undergrad, postgrad and now PhD) and I've never drunk and I'm still able to go out, socialise and have fun. You also save yourself a heap of cash (something like 80p for a pint of soda water and lime in Wetherspoon's), you save yourself tonnes of calories and you know that there's going to be no embarrassing photos of you finding their way onto Facebook.
  • pixtotts
    pixtotts Posts: 552 Member
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    gin and tonic i believe is the lowest cal alcoholic drink ...buuut... i hate it...
    wetherspoons is good they put the cals on the menu :) (thinking food here) but just use your head i guess would be my advice... it doesnt have to be all salad salad salad but think do you really want chips? or is the fry up the best option?...

    i finished university a year or so ago now, but my first year of uni was awesome (unfortunately i didnt keep it up after that :( boyfriend who likes take away is bad news!! lol)
    I cooked every day, i had risottos, stews, if i ate at the SU i had chicken ceaser salad... i didnt eat crisps/chocolate/sweets at all if you dont buy them you cant eat them...
    i did get chicken nuggets and chips from the take away on my way home at least once a week, and i did go out drinking at least 3 times a week :| but i drank spirits and fruit juice no fizzy drink mixers...

    I dropped 2 dress sizes my first semester... and maintained it through the rest of the year, even though chocolate worked its way back in when deadlines arrived :( lol

    Good luck :) its doable just keep using your head :)
    x
  • Strawberry_Kitten
    Strawberry_Kitten Posts: 15
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    Weatherspoons has a skinny burger. Just dont eat the bun and you have chicken and salad. The Noodles and chicken come in at just over 500 cals.

    I fing going in the morning is best to go to the gym. You have a million and one things to do in the evening. You will have to wake up ealier but it wont cut into study/social time in the evening or the 'oh poop, i best go get that hand out printed' lunch time dash. Replace most of your snacks with fruit an veggies and limit take out to once a week as a treat. Your stomach and your bank balance will thank you for it.
    Even better make pizzas and stuff yourself. You can buy bases from tesco (3 for £3 last i checked). It comes in at around a third of the cost of take out and you know exactly what has gone in it.
    Dont be presured by friends. Just because they are having it doesnt mean you have too.

    Voka, soda water and lemon/lime has the lowest calories (around 57). I dont like it but it will get you drunk for less calories.
  • Joannie30
    Joannie30 Posts: 415 Member
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    Firstly, you are not on a diet. They don't work. You're on a mission to change your eating habits for a way of life. That's the only way it will work for you in the long term.

    I would suggest you stick to the old "everything in moderation" adage. When you say to yourself "i'm on a diet, so i can't have......." you immediately start to deprive yourself of things which will eventually lead to craving them more. You can still have whatever you want to eat- just in moderation. Mindful eating has worked for me and helped me to lose 50lbs+. I have what i want, as long as I watch my portion sizes etc. My partner and I still eat out quite a lot, we go to the movies etc. When eating out you could choose fish or chicken dishes (generally better for you) and try and limit creamy/rich sauces etc.

    You just need to think more about what you're putting in your body, and how it relates to the energy expenditure of your day. Keep the majority as healthy as you can, but allow yourself a little of what you want.

    Alcohol wise, I have either white wine with soda water or red wine.

    Jx
  • phishn4peace
    phishn4peace Posts: 21 Member
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    Try vitamin water zero! SOOOOO yummy and healthy!
  • JVS1
    JVS1 Posts: 20 Member
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    Wetherspoons chicken skewers are nice, and are 449 calories. I also like the superfood salad. With chicken it's 390 calories, without, it's 191. Also the superfood wholewheat pesto pasta is 581 without the chicken. I sometimes have the vegetarian sausage and mash is around 675 calories, and I leave a bit of the mash, as it's quite a big portion size.

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