I grew up in a household that was not healthy, to say the least. I don’t mean that my family wasn’t great–my parents were (and still are) supportive and kind, and my siblings and I got along about as well as could reasonably be expected. However, when it came to food and lifestyle choices, my childhood home was a mess. Cookies and chips were always available, and rules against snacking were pretty much non-existent.

I got fat living like this (obviously). At school, though, I’ve turned it around. Living in a dorm and eating at the dining hall, snacking isn’t so easy. Walking to class burns calories. It’s been great for my habits.

However, now I’m worried about how things will be when I graduate. When I’m keeping my own food in the house and driving to work, I fear I’ll just get fat again. How can I prevent this?

How we keep our homes has a ton to do with how we maintain our health. A fourth-floor walk-up apartment may be frustrating at times, but it’s a steady source of exercise. A home well-stocked with snacks and goodies may be comfortable, but–as you discovered in your youth–it’s not so good for the waistline.

So, what’s a person to do? Well, naturally, the best thing to do is to make sure your home encourages the right habits.

You’re not sure if you can do this when you’re on your own, but you’re actually already doing it. No, of course you don’t need to have all the food for dinner in your dorm room when you’re at college. However, it doesn’t sound like you spent your childhood cooking and devouring gourmet meals all the time. Your problem related to the snacks, and you’re allowed to have some of those in your dorm room. Yet, you don’t, which shows that you already have some of the willpower you’ll need to succeed as a healthy adult.

You will certainly need more food in the house if you shop on your own, but it’s possible to shop responsibly. Experts recommend heading to the grocery store with a full grocery list and taking care to stick to it. Open-ended shopping will get you in trouble, and so will shopping when hungry. Take care to avoid that, too!

It wouldn’t hurt to plan out your meals ahead of time, too. Eat plenty of protein and filling foods to resist the urge to snack, and go to bed before your after-dinner glow gives way to a rumbling tummy. Also, do your research, so you know what sorts of foods are best. Reliable information about lifelong nutrition can be found all over, including on this site from healthcare lawyer and philanthropist, Howard Fensterman.

Exercise matters, too. You may be commuting to work by car, but your home can be a source of workouts as you move into your professional life. A larger space means more room for workout equipment. Also, a neighborhood you’ll need a car in is also, most likely, a neighborhood that you can jog in. A pool makes a great workout option, too. Consider speaking to someone, such as the pros at a swimming pool contractor in New Jersey. You could install a basketball hoop, too, or set up simple games in the backyard.

Ultimately, what matters most is that your willpower and lifestyle. A home that suits that lifestyle, however, can be a great asset. The good news is that you’ve already proven you’re capable of losing weight and living in a healthy way. With some simple strategies, you can keep that success going for a long, long time.

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” Jim Rohn