Off to college? Your first year can be a thrilling experience – meeting and making new friends, living away from home for the first time, and discovering a career path for your future. No doubt about it, it is an exciting time in your life. But like everything else life has to offer, there are certain pitfalls that you want to avoid.

The infamous “freshman fifteen” refers to the number of pounds that some girls gain their first year at college. Myth or reality, you want to make sure that you maintain your weight through proper nutrition and exercise.

Don’t think it won’t happen to you. It’s not so easy to eat well-balanced meals with late night snacking when studying and with a lot of fast foods available. In addition, alcoholic beverages can pack on the weight, too.

Changes in foods and eating habits can sometimes create with your skin. Many college freshmen acknowledge that their own clear complexions are no longer spot free. Late nights and rushing to morning classes can make it more difficult to practice your daily beauty rituals.

What’s a freshman to do? Remember, you are in charge of your life and you need to make conscious decisions about your health and beauty. Follow these “straight A” tips to keep looking your best on campus or off:

·    Get plenty of rest. If you need to pull an all-nighter make sure you make up for it with several days of low-key activities and getting to bed early.

·    Eat well. This doesn’t mean eat a lot; it means eat healthy foods. Skip the junk food as much as possible. When making a choice, select the healthy items rather than the fried foods.

·    Stick to an exercise schedule. Most college campuses have gyms. Make it a point to go to the gym on a regular basis. You’ll be more inclined to go if you suggest taking a friend along.

·    Budget your time. Even though you’ll want to take part in all of the activities your school has to offer, make a point of choosing wisely. It’s better to focus your energy and really enjoy your plans.

·    Make time for de-stressers such as facials or other beauty treatments. With all of your hard work, there will be times when you can re-energize yourself with a facial, a manicure or pedicure, or an aromatherapy bath. Just a fifteen minute treatment can produce amazing results.

As you go off to conquer your new world don’t fall into some of the traps of college life. You can avoid the “freshman fifteen” as well as other pitfalls of living away from home. Remember, it’s your time to shine!

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