Beating the Freshman 15
By Evans Erilus, M.S.
Northeastern University Residence Director
College... the Mecca for new beginnings, self-discovery, and the reinventing of one's being. It can be a very taxing time for many students, many of which are fresh out of high school and eager to dive into any and all things that the environment may provide. This includes new friends, new sights, and a rapidly evolving wardrobe... as you just cannot seem to get the last button done on those shirts anymore.
I am talking about the dreaded "freshman 15." It happens to many college students in their first year away from home, and can be attributed to many factors. However, many of the most popular ones serve as the primary reason behind this phenomenon.
Stress: Few things are more difficult than the shift from high school to college. Many struggle with this newfound independence, and feel the stress of personal, academic, or social issues beating down on them. In some of the worst instances, it is a combination of the three.
Lack of exercise: In high school, you played three sports, lived near a community playground/park/court, or had someone to take you to dance classes. With all the transitions associated in going to school, it is easy to toss a trip to the gym out of the window.
Easy access to unhealthy snacks: French Fries, potato chips, pizza, onion rings, and tater tots... name it, it's there. Additionally, many of the aforementioned foods have little to no nutritional value.
Late-night eating: The great thing about college is the moments you share with new people. Many of those moments may involve late-night conversation into the wee hours of the night, 24-hour online video game sessions with other members in your hall, or late night study sessions. The longer you are up, the more likely you are to eat.
Cafeteria options: The salad bar may be the best option, but too often the Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Ribs, and Macaroni and Cheese prove to be too much to turn down. These food are high in fat, cholesterol, and calories... in moderation, they have some nutritional value. Unfortunately, college is oftentimes an era filled with excess, which brings us to the final point...
Alcohol: Beer has many empty calories, and the mixers associated with hard alcohol are never a good option. Additionally, beer is usually the major contributor to the weight gain because of its empty calories, and typically has less alcohol by volume. This makes it especially easy to keep a solo cup on hand for the duration of a 6-8 hour drinkfest.
So, how does one counteract these problems? It's simple: exercise, healthy food options, weaning off of alcohol, and avoid eating food late at night. Of all of these, however, consistent exercise can be most effective weapon against the freshman 15. Working out helps build and strengthen muscle, while engaging in cardiovascular activity helps burn fat and calories.
All college students should include some type of exercise in their daily routine. Freshmen who work out regularly, tend to be able to "cheat" a little (eat un-healthy foods occasionally) and not worry as much about gaining the weight, because they can burn off the extra calories.
Now you have the knowledge, folks... Let's use it and put the freshman 15 to bed... PERMANENTLY.