A big part of figuring out how to eat right and maintain a healthy lifestyle on your own is dependent on you having the tools and information available to you to help you make the right choices. This is why Step 2 in the DRD demands that you be proactive! Learn how your family’s eating habits have shaped the way you view eating, how your body burns the calories you put into it, and how to calculate the calorie intake that is right for you (depending on your individual needs, of course!). Once you know the facts, avoiding college pitfalls and developing healthy habits will come naturally.

Your second challenge, brought to you by the DRD, is to research how to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR for short). This is the number of calories your body burns daily without your having to do anything at all. Keep in mind that any activity you do in addition to these natural functions also requires fuel in the form of calories. Remember, if you eat more calories than your body metabolism needs daily, you will gain weight!

College can be stressful! That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and to set yourself up for success. Step 1 in the DRD is to Get Inspired, which I think is the most difficult step for many college students. Here are a few guidelines which I expand on in my book to help you get started:

1) Make a commitment to a healthier you! List the reasons why now is at time for change.

2) List accomplishments you are proud of – this is your track record of success.

3) List how you have been able to overcome obstacles that have stood in your way before. The same techniques can be used for continued success.

4) Pick a simple, short-term goal you’re sure you can accomplish to boost your confidence.

Once you’ve written down your list, tape it to your dorm room fridge, next to your laptop, or anywhere you feel may inspire you to make healthier choices!

Also, for tips on great dorm room snacks to (and those to avoid!), check out my interview on Good Morning America Health (watch here).

First challenge: drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily. It won’t take long for you to see how easy this is to work into your every day routine!

Yes, I know, for a lot of you it’s about that time…back-to-school. This means new professors, new friends, new notebooks, and for many of you, a new school…which we all know can be very stressful! For tips and information on how to take advantage of your newfound independence to create a healthy lifestyle while in college (and for the rest of your life), watch my online video presentation on CollegeWeekLive.com. I received a ton of great questions that I answered during the session!

You can also check out a bunch of interviews I did with newspapers covering the proverbial Freshman 15–and how to keep that weight gain away with the help of the DRD: Chicago Sun-Times, Metro NY, Florida Times-Union, and Florida Today. 

Finally, don’t miss your chance to win a copy of The Dorm Room Diet– courtesy of VegeterianStar.com. Simply submit your DRD tip of the day and you could be the lucky winner! So forget the stress and get a jump-start on the new school year with a healthy eating and workout routine, brought to you by the DRD. And remember to keep it fun!