Attention freshmen, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all of those things you have been hearing about the notorious “freshman 15” are sadly but surely true. Maybe not for all people, but it certainly was for me and a good majority of my friends. So, I want to share some tips with you on how to avoid the unneeded and annoying extra pounds.

Truthfully, you may not pack on 15 pounds exactly—it could be less, and it could be more. But either way, it is important to get to the source and figure out exactly why this happens.

According to an article found on kidshealth.org; “College offers many temptations. You're on your own and free to eat what you want, when you want it. You can pile on the portions in the dining hall, eat dinners of french fries and ice cream, and indulge in sugary and salty snacks to fuel late-night study sessions”.

The article continues on by saying that during the first year or so of college, students tend to get less exercise than they did in high school. It also said that since many changes and new challenges come with college, stress comes also, which tends to lead to overeating.

So, just by knowing these few causes, you can stay a few steps ahead of the problem. Kid’s Health tells us that weight gain is not something to be afraid of, however.

“If you do gain weight, don't freak out. Take a look at your eating and exercise habits and make adjustments. In a study in which freshmen gained four pounds in 12 weeks, the students were only eating an average of 174 extra calories each day. So cutting out one can of soda or a midnight snack every day and being more active will help you get back on track”.

Besides the typical “get your exercise and eat right” remedy, there are other tips and tricks that can help to avoid putting on excess pounds.

“‘Eating snacks or mini-meals after every three or four hours can help avoid bingeing,’” said Dr. Diekman.” Diekman is quoted in an article written by Gabrielle Krastas of Great College Values.

The article goes on to explain, however, that this “snacking around the clock” so to speak, is meant to consist of very light, and very small portions.

Krastas’s article also suggests to always eat breakfast in order to keep metabolism high, and to avoid eating heavily at lunch time.

“According to Ace Fitness, ‘Studies show that weight gain is more common among those who skip breakfast.’ If you skip that first meal, you’re more likely to become famished later, leading to overeating." said Krastas.

For more tips on avoiding the dreaded freshman 15, visit www.greatcollegevalues.net! There are more ways than you think to stay fit during college.