In Training: The 'Freshman 15' phenomenon
Ah, college. A time for learning,
friends and fun and, for some, the
"Freshman 15."
Most people have heard the stories of people going away to college or university and coming back after first year weighing 15-plus pounds more than when they left. Many people don't even realize that they're gaining weight until they go to slip on their old skinny jeans that suddenly don't fit the same way. They may wonder if the pants just shrunk in the wash — maybe, but not likely.
So how can you avoid this epidemic that plagues students all over the country? College is usually the first time most people are off on their own, and this can be a big challenge for some. Now there is no one to tell you that you have to finish your vegetables or that having a vodka-cran doesn't really count as a serving of fruit. You are entirely responsible for what you consume and it's up to you to make smart food choices.
You want to stay away from over processed pre-packaged food and opt for fresh, live foods instead — the fewer ingredients the better. Not only will that help maintain a healthy weight, but eating fresh food gives you more energy and mental clarity; you won't just look good, you'll also have the astuteness to impress and pick up.
Pick healthy snacks like yogurt, fresh fruit and nuts and eat every two to three hours. If you go longer than that, you're more likely to overeat at night, which is already a dangerous time for students as you tend to snack more when you study.
If you think and plan out some of your meals in advance, you'll be less tempted to grab fast food on the go. This requires some preplanning on your part. Yes, I realize that being a student is stressful — I've been there — but if you can spend two to three hours getting ready to go to the bar, you can spare a little bit of time to think about your food consumption. Are you going to eat perfectly all the time? No. Sometimes that after-bar food just calls to us and that's okay. Don't stress out over it, just get back on track.
When we go away to school, most of us also stop being as active as we were in high school. You may dance up a storm at the bar on Friday and Saturday, but the rest of the week you're likely sitting around watching Jersey Shore and Entourage. You need to get out there and do something. Join an intramural team, hit the gym or go to a fitness class. Find something you really enjoy and get some friends to join in too, as that will make sticking to it much easier. Working out is also a great way to relieve tension and stress that can be brought on by exams and papers.
Make smart food choice and stay active to look and feel good. You don't have to be a victim of the Freshman 15 — the choice is yours.
Most people have heard the stories of people going away to college or university and coming back after first year weighing 15-plus pounds more than when they left. Many people don't even realize that they're gaining weight until they go to slip on their old skinny jeans that suddenly don't fit the same way. They may wonder if the pants just shrunk in the wash — maybe, but not likely.
So how can you avoid this epidemic that plagues students all over the country? College is usually the first time most people are off on their own, and this can be a big challenge for some. Now there is no one to tell you that you have to finish your vegetables or that having a vodka-cran doesn't really count as a serving of fruit. You are entirely responsible for what you consume and it's up to you to make smart food choices.
You want to stay away from over processed pre-packaged food and opt for fresh, live foods instead — the fewer ingredients the better. Not only will that help maintain a healthy weight, but eating fresh food gives you more energy and mental clarity; you won't just look good, you'll also have the astuteness to impress and pick up.
Pick healthy snacks like yogurt, fresh fruit and nuts and eat every two to three hours. If you go longer than that, you're more likely to overeat at night, which is already a dangerous time for students as you tend to snack more when you study.
If you think and plan out some of your meals in advance, you'll be less tempted to grab fast food on the go. This requires some preplanning on your part. Yes, I realize that being a student is stressful — I've been there — but if you can spend two to three hours getting ready to go to the bar, you can spare a little bit of time to think about your food consumption. Are you going to eat perfectly all the time? No. Sometimes that after-bar food just calls to us and that's okay. Don't stress out over it, just get back on track.
When we go away to school, most of us also stop being as active as we were in high school. You may dance up a storm at the bar on Friday and Saturday, but the rest of the week you're likely sitting around watching Jersey Shore and Entourage. You need to get out there and do something. Join an intramural team, hit the gym or go to a fitness class. Find something you really enjoy and get some friends to join in too, as that will make sticking to it much easier. Working out is also a great way to relieve tension and stress that can be brought on by exams and papers.
Make smart food choice and stay active to look and feel good. You don't have to be a victim of the Freshman 15 — the choice is yours.
