How About Those NOD Bods?

This week marks the first week of October, meaning there is approximately one month until the big day: NOD. The month leading up to his scandalous party is usually characterized by a crowded rec center and number of crash diets, as students dedicate hours and hours to perfecting their "NOD Bod." While diet and exercise are important components to trimming down and toning up, this pre-NOD cleanse is usually not a very healthy way to lose weight. Crash diets are diets that severely limit caloric and nutritional intake that are used for rapid weight loss, such as the grapefruit or cabbage soup diet (gross...). These diets are deprive the body of essential nutrients and slow your body's metabolism, which prevents any long term weight loss. What's worse is after your "cleanse" and you revert back to your original diet, you put back on all of the weight you lost...and then some.

There is a healthy way to lose weight with a proper nutrition regimen. To help you slim down to your NOD Bod, dietitian Maria Tsakalis has provided some great tips to make simple changes to your lifestyle that have a big impact on your overall health.

1. Timing. Your body will feel and perform at its best when you are properly fueled. Maria recommends eating every four hours, which may require snacking between meals. This helps to control hunger, improve digestion, maintain energy, and provide nutrients.

2. Balance. Your meals should include a variety of whole grains, proteins, (healthy) fats, and plenty of fruit and veggies.

3. Portions. Use the plate method! This includes fewer meat and grain servings and more fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

4. Moderation. Restricting a food, even if it is bad, only leaves you wanting it more, which could lead to a binge. Everything in moderation!

5. Hydrate. Drinking enough water will help you regulate your hunger, enhance concentration, and nourish your body.

6. Exercise. Exercise is good for your physical and mental health, and when combined with a nutritious diet, it can lead to weight loss. Don't overdo it at the gym though, as this can affect your body's ability to recover.


Of course, as the body image intern, I have to throw in a personal message about how the NOD-Bod diet/exercise mentality is potentially risky to your self-image. Think about it: are you willing to put your health at risk and tear yourself apart for a month to spend one evening, baring it all in as little clothing as possible? NOD is an awesome good time, and you should attend the party to have fun and let loose. If you think that the only way you can go out in public in your underwear is by eating next to nothing for weeks before and drinking a ton of alcohol the night of, that is not the right mindset to entering this party. If you want to make changes to your diet and exercise patterns, do so because you want to enter a healthier mindset, not to look a certain way in your underwear.

Don't sacrifice your satisfaction with your body for one night of decadence. Show up, strut your stuff, and remember to love your body for what it is.

--Cristina, Wellness Intern