Most of us have heard about the Freshman 15, meaning incoming new college kids gaining the 15 dreaded pounds, but why is such a common element to college living? From experience, the Freshman 15 is real but it didn't stop at just my first year of college. I believe there is a way to stop this reoccurring curse from affecting our population and maybe prevent it from affecting our future students.
Sometimes we need that extra reminder that we are not alone when it comes to problems like this, and it's also good to be reminded what to do to stay healthy.
Why do college kids gain weight?
With a combination of stress, lack of sleep, pulling all-nighters and eating late, and unhealthy food options at the dining hall we can gain weight from all of it. Having no time, or less time, to workout is a large piece of the puzzle for me, as well as not having a stove in my dorm room. Without mama's home-cooked meals I eat easy, cheap, and consequently higher calorie food.
For some, alcohol is a new and exciting element to college life. The only problem being it is high in calories and will cause weight gain easily if not balanced with extra exercising and more sleep. Nothing is wrong with having fun, but make sure it doesn't get in the way of studying, classes, and being responsible.
The average calorie count in a can of beer (12 oz) is 154 calories. Here is a great site that lists not only the calories but which ones are better for you.
When it comes to food options: Do NOT eat just at the dining hall. I know that sometimes it is required to pay for a meal plan, and when that is the case just be conscious of your choices and proceed with caution. If you do have the choice, I would suggest trying to cook at home in the community kitchen may be more difficult than eating out, but in the end you will have the weight to show for it. I found a great list of food you can cook in the microwave like a boss – check it out here!
There are a lot of great articles out there that can help you make food in your tiny little closet of a dorm room, one of my favorites is this tasty article on Greatest website. The best one so far is the Mediterranean tuna lettuce wraps or the kale chips!
Stress is the largest cause of weight gain, and it's no easy task to deal with stress. Personally, I suck at this part but I know what the answer is: CALM THE HECK DOWN! Be sure to take breaks, eat healthy food throughout the day to feed your brain, and relax. Adulthood is not an easy straight path, getting through college is tough but it will be so worth it! Have fun on your days off, treat yo' self, and have fun in college! If the stress gets too much, consider taking less classes or lessening extracurricular activities so you can graduate and move to the next big change: being a full grown adult with a job (hopefully), a home to pay rent on, bills every month, and wishing you were still back in those good ole college days!
