For all of you incoming freshman currently buying last-minute dorm necessities, saying goodbye to friends and packing your life away, I have one piece of advice: do not fall victim to the freshman 15. While it may just be a worry in the back of your mind, please know that it is not a myth and can happen if you aren't careful. I have seen it with some of my own friends, and I am here to tell you that while it seems daunting, it can be avoided with a little hard work.

As I progressed through my freshman year, I grew to understand how and why people gain weight during the first year of college. First of all, the transition from high school to college is one of the most radical changes in a person's life. Many people get caught up in making new friends and adjusting to this new life that they forget to be health-conscious or stay active. In high school, between varsity sports and healthy home-cooked meals, we did not have to make as much as an effort to eat right or stay in shape. With the newfound independence, it is easy to neglect the healthy choices needed to be made in order to avoid the freshman 15.

When trying to blame weight gain on particular behaviors or actions, diet and exercise are the obvious ones that come to mind. What most may forget, however, is the lack of sleep and dangerous stress levels that college students experience. A combination of these two is a lethal weapon for someone trying to stay active or make healthy eating choices. Add an unnecessary amount of alcohol into the mix, and we have ourselves the perfect situation to gain weight.

After my freshman experience, as well as advice from friends and family who have gone through it, I have helpful tips and guidelines to avoid the freshman 15.

The first, and arguably most important, is centered around diet. The dining hall can be overwhelming during mealtimes, but remember that there is always a salad bar and other healthy options. While it may seem tempting, try to avoid drunk pizza deliveries and save those calories for something more worthwhile.

One thing that had a major impact on my workouts was finding the right gym buddy. Having someone there to drag you out of bed and to the gym before your 8:00 a.m. is surprisingly a great way to start the day. Exercise may seem like too much to fit into a busy schedule, but it's actually a great study break and stress reliever.

While on the topic of exercise, I highly recommend joining intramural or club teams in college. I joined the crew team, which kept me in shape, however, it was a massive commitment and is certainly not for everyone. Nevertheless, joining a team freshman year not only guarantees friends, but may actually have you losing weight instead of gaining the freshman 15!

On another note, let's talk about the parties. I speak for almost every college student when I say that going out, whether it be to a frat house or bar, is the highlight of the week. Many people get so wrapped up in the joys of pre-gaming that they don't realize how much they're drinking and how many calories are being consumed. While we all occasionally overindulge, don't be that guy who gains the freshman 15 from too much beer! I strongly advise to not only drink in moderation, but try to stick to lower calorie drinks like vodka, tequila and rum.

My final, and possibly most important, piece of advice on how to avoid the freshman 15 is to listen to your body. Do your best to avoid all-nighters, fuel yourself with proper foods, manage your stress levels and remember to hydrate. By simply living actively and being health-conscious, the freshman 15 can be avoided, and you can have a fun freshman year with jeans that aren't too tight.