Last week I imparted my best wisdom regarding nutrition upon Neon Tommy’s readers.

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While good nutritional habits can be tough to establish at college, motivating yourself to work out regularly is generally the most serious obstacle. Just deciding to go to the gym is difficult, as is challenging yourself to get a great workout once you’re there.  

Just a few months ago, I was surrounded by a dedicated team of rowers who motivated me to get the most out of my training every day. Suddenly, I have to hold myself accountable for my own fitness, which is a difficult adjustment.

Luckily, there are other students on campus facing the same issue, and you can use that to your advantage. Here’s what you need to know about keeping fit in college. 

1. Set ambitious fitness goals 

As someone who is accustomed to structured and mandatory athletic practices on an almost daily basis, working out independently has been extremely difficult. 

The best solution, I have found, is to set a manageable but challenging fitness goal each week. For example, I have set a weekly minimum of four 45-60 minute cardio sessions per week, to be supplemented with bodyweight workouts, weight training, and strength circuits. If you prefer working out in short bursts or are pressed for time, schedule in the gym for half an hour five times a week. If you're accustomed to long periods of exercise, do an hour or more for three days. 

Aim for a goal that will be easy to attain, but will also inspire you to work hard. You'll find that once you've established a regular fitness routine, you will feel much better holistically and be less tempted to skip a workout.

Making masochistic friends can also be a great way to insure compliance with your goals, because a great workout partner both pushes you past your limits and is willing to be pushed past his or hers as well. 

2. It’s all about variation

The most crucial lesson I learned from years of strict fitness and nutrition guidelines is that boredom is my biggest enemy in the gym.

My favorite technique to combat monotony is to do intervals of cardio. Instead of running on the treadmill for an hour, I will run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, then use the elliptical for another 30 minutes immediately after. Sometimes I’ll divide my time further by introducing the stationary bike. Varying the machines that you use has the added benefit of working different muscle groups as well, which can lead to improved all-around fitness. 

Get creative with your intervals, as the opportunities are endless. When the interior of the gym starts to feel like a prison, utilize your university’s pool facility, track, or dance studio in order to avoid feeling confined by the same environment every day. Better yet, go on a run, hike, or bike ride and appreciate your natural and/or urban surroundings. 

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3. Put yourself back on track 

Inevitably, you will go a whole week without setting foot in the gym, eat your weight in brownies from the dining hall, indulge in a fourth meal at one in the morning, or commit some other infraction. When this happens, forgive yourself and get back on track. 

It’s crucial to realize that nobody's perfect, and to move past your mistakes. Instead of turning one bad day into a spiral of increasingly unhealthy behavior, put it behind you and resume your usual regimen. An occasional break from routine can actually be beneficial in the long run. 

Now that you’re tackling nutrition and fitness like a champ, be sure to check back next week for advice on how to maintain mental and emotional wellness throughout your transition to college life.  

Reach Staff Reporter Eliza Moley here and follow her on Twitter here.