July 16, 2008
The Feared Freshman 15
The dreaded freshman 15, of course I had heard about it, and was determined to not become a victim. I played volleyball in high school pretty much year round so when I got to college and stopped exercising as much, partied and ate like I did in high school I soon found that I had gained some weight. So I started working out at least 3 times a week doing cardio and weights and walking or biking to class. I also realized that I didn’t need to eat as much as I did when I was playing sports because I wasn’t that hungry anymore. Adjusting was kinda hard at first, but now it’s just routine. My biggest weakness… candy, skittles in particular.
Ha, 15. Try 25, at least. And the saddest part is, u won’t even realize it til u go home & your mom takes the bread bowl away from u. Or until u compare high school pictures w college ones. I played sports throughout high school as well & when I was not working out every day & also eating just as much plus drinking way more booze…BAM, I was bigger. I didn’t really do any adjusting until the summer after freshman year when I went off to be a camp counselor… where we only ate 3 meals, no snacks, & were chasing little kids around all day. I think the main reason freshmen gain weight is that they stay up so late- studying or partying- u get hungry, or at least u think ur hungry. My main motivation was going to the rec center to watch the cute boys play basketball while I jogged above where they couldn’t see me. STAY AWAY from Whataburger. I swear I blame half my pounds on their stupid honey-butter-nugget chicken biscuits. If u must eat late night wait til u get home & have carrots or something healthy in ur fridge. Also- if u must drink, don’t drink beer. Vodka Sodas r probly the least calories & if u squeeze a bunch of limes in there u can barely taste it.
I know what you mean about the bread basket! My mom did the same thing to me with tortilla chips and salsa. And honey-butter-chicken biscuits are AMAZING! I hate it that they don’t serve them at night til 11:00! The weight thing is tricky. I stopped playing sports junior year of high school, so I got into my own work-out routine before college… But staying in shape is just harder in college! Having a different class schedule every day makes it hard to get into a regular routine – I found its best to just stop at the gym right after my last class, so I don’t even have to think about it! And don’t stress about hopping on a scale every day to weigh yourself…you might gain a few pounds, but as long as your clothes still fit okay you’re fine! You’ll lose it eventually!
Yea, like you said, once you get back into a more normal routine, like sleeping enough, eating better, not drinking as much, etc. You lose weight. But to help with the effects that college takes on your body I keep fruit, yogurt and granola around the apartment b/c they fill me up and aren’t bad for you. And whether you realize it or not, walking and biking to and from campus and classes is exercise, not like serious cardio or anything, but definitely better than driving. And if your campus is big or just inaccessible with a car because of horrible parking (aka: my school) biking is fast and there’s always a bike rack spot available! Wow.. I’m a nerd.
and if ur really cool you’ll get a sweet bike with a wicker basket like Rae’s…but yes definitely walk everywhere it gets ur blood pumpin. And don’t go buy pints of blue bell & down them in one sitting…not that I did…or do….
I’d have to argue for Ben and Jerry’s…Phish Food or Half Baked! But I definitely agree about the walking to class thing! I’ve had a bike at college for two years, but have never gotten on it b/c the first two days of school I fell off of a treadmill (twice) and fell down a flight of stairs – I decided that I’m too accident prone to handle a two-wheeler around pedestrians. But I’ve grown to love walking the twenty or thirty minutes to class. It’s a perfect time to call the mamma and its good exercise!
I always call my mom on my way to class! Haha, it’s like the perfect amount of time, cuz sometimes my mom talks too much and I can just be like, OH gotta go to class! I can’t believe you fell off the treadmill!! I love riding my bike, sometimes it can be difficult if there are a lot of people on campus so I usually leave a few minutes early as to avoid running people over. Now I have a route that is people free.
