Everyone comes into college so excited for what's to come: parties, your own schedule, and freedom sound so nice to all of the 18-year-old students fresh out of high school.

So many adults and college alum try to throw in their two cents before you leave and one of the main things they'll say is "watch out for the freshman 15!" What is this exactly? The freshman 15 is a slang expression used to address the weight new college students often put on in their first year. New students originally brush off the warning and don't think much of it until they come home and those same people that gave the warning state something along the lines of "Wow, how was the dining hall food?" or "Hey, you definitely look different!"

This epidemic of the freshman 15 can 100% be very real and something to watch out for, or can be something that is a complete fallacy. You may gain more than 15 pounds in your first semester alone, but your roommate may be getting skinny and losing all sorts of weight.

It is completely up to you to determine whether or not you will make the freshman 15 a reality for yourself. If you are the type of person who frequents the dining hall multiple times a day but never even walks past your campus rec center, you may be more likely to gain that weight from the all you can eat nature of the meal swipes.

This being said, the best advice I can give for keeping off those pesky pounds is to walk everywhere.

Personally, I lost a substantial amount of weight freshman year from walking across campus to and from classes daily, and the occasional visit to my campus gym. I also didn't opt to purchase a meal plan as it wasn't required of me. Meal plans and dining hall trips are a very large contribution to a freshman's weight and I feel that my decision to not be a frequent flyer at the dining hall helped me keep off the weight.

Even if you are one to go to the dining hall, whether it be because the meal plan is required or just a cost-effective and convenient option for you, there are other options than the pizza and chicken tenders that are usually offered daily. If you are someone who is cool with gaining weight, that's fine too - do you, boo! However, if you don't, a good option would be for you to explore the salad section of the dining hall at least once a week and mixing in veggies and healthy fats to every plate you make there.

Another big cause of the freshman 15, mostly for women, is the sorority meal plan. It is dangerous, let me tell you. Fried Fridays and the all you can eat things are not a good combo, especially when trying to combat the freshman 15. Just keep in mind, this weight is totally avoidable if you chose to take control of your eating habits. Especially if you are part of greek life and your sorority's chef is the bomb, grab a sister and head to the gym! You could also eat smaller portions or opt for healthier options on some occasions! Most sororities and dining halls for that matter offer more than just the one daily hot entree. Take advantage of your other options if you're trying to heed the warning those adults gave you prior to your first year of college.

Also, be aware of your alcohol consumption (and drink responsibly). A lot of people do not consider the number of calories that alcoholic beverages contain, especially the sugary ones. Vodka crans may taste good going down, however even though the vodka has a very low amount of calories, the cranberry juice has so much sugar and so many calories. Beer also may seem like a feasible option as the alcohol content isn't that high and it's safe because you can open the can or bottle yourself, but beer is actually one of the most fattening drinks there is. Beer bellies are real and that senior in Pike that you see with a little pudge, started freshman year when he couldn't lay off the beer or all you can eat pizza at the dining hall.

The freshman 15 is about more than the way you look, it's also about your health. College gives you many opportunities to gain weight, but also to lose it. Many campuses have healthy living initiatives, clubs, exercise classes, and gyms free of charge to students. Keep yourself in mind and make sure you put your health first throughout college.

You will not only have an easier time walking uphill to class and doing everyday tasks, but you will also feel more confident that you conquered, and avoided the freshman 15.