Students wanting to look attractive to the opposite sex while on the beach during spring break should protect themselves from poor eating habits and drinking too much as viewed from a calorie standpoint.

Sondra King, human and family resources assistant professor, said students worried about keeping their weight down for spring break should not try crash diets.

“Crash diets are unhealthy and can be dangerous because when you cut way back on carbohydrates you lose water and important minerals,” King said.

King said a student could find it difficult to have a good time while on break because his or her body could be forced to rely on stored fat, a situation which can cause moodiness.

Kim Brazill, DeKalb Nutri/System Weight Loss Center manager, said, “Instead of crash diets, reduce the amount of fats and food. Try to convert over to more nutritious foods.”

King said, “About half of what you lose on a crash diet is muscle mass. And when you gain the weight back, almost 100 percent is fat.”

When traveling in a car, students should plan ahead and take food with them to keep their diets low in calories, she said.

King said, “Things like nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and even cheese and crackers are good snacks to bring with you because they contain more fiber and are lower in sodium and fat than things you might be tempted to pick up.”

“Eating out can be expensive from a calorie standpoint,” King said.

Marie Maxwell, a University Health Services registered nurse and Weight Control Nutrition Program coordinator, said fast food which is high in fat must be balanced off with fruits, grains and cereals.

King said students should avoid all fried foods and begin meals by having relishes first.

Maxwell said it is just as easy to eat at a salad bar or to stop at a fresh fruit market as it is to eat fast food.

A few days of fast food will not hurt, but will not help further down the road, Maxwell said.

King said pizza is a good nutritious food to eat while on break. She said it is a good representative of all four food groups. “The problem comes when you eat six pieces,” King said. “Having pizza with mushrooms, green peppers and onion would keep it low in calories,” she said.

King said, “If (you are) drinking and watching calories, make a conscious effort to use light beers or make wine spritzers with a diet, carbonated beverage and wine. This will cut the calories in half.”

Brazill suggested trying a white wine spritzer instead of beer because they are “light and much more refreshing.”

Students preferring mixed drinks will lessen the calories by mixing their drinks with water, King said.

King said eating before and during drinking will slow down the alcohol absorption.

“I don’t believe fat coats the stomach, but it does slow down the motility (activity) of the stomach,” King said.

Brazill said, “People tell you to eat a lot of fillers, but then you are talking about a lot of calories.”

She said students should fill up on unsalted and unbuttered popcorn, which is a whole grain with only 70 calories in three cups.

Even if calorie-counting fails, exercise can help balance the caloric intake, Brazill said.

Brazill said, “Exercise will start to break down your fat and help turn the fat into muscle.”

“My recommendation is to wake up to calisthenics on the beach to get a positive mental attitude and your body motivated for the day,” she said.