You've heard it time and time before, and you'll hear it again: "When you go to college, you won't look like you did in high school. You better watch out for the Freshman 15!" Well, I'm here to tell you that it happens, it sucks, and it's not the end of the world.
Like many people who enter college, gaining a few extra pounds is a normal, albeit annoying, issue with which they deal. For many of us, this is brought on by a combination of lessened physical activity, slowed metabolism, heightened stress, and changing routines/eating habits. And yes, even if you eat (mostly) healthy food, work out, and try to manage your stress, as I can attest, this can still happen. You'll be ok. It's not easy, but you'll be ok. You may even learn to love yourself a little more. I know I did.
No one is going to love you any less, so you shouldn't love you any less.
Putting on a little extra weight changed absolutely nothing in my life except the way I felt about myself. My family treats me the same. My boyfriend loves me more than ever. I actually made more friends after (I doubt there is a correlation, but it obviously had no effect on my ability to be liked or to be a good friend). I still had awesome grades. I was the same person, just a tad squishier. The day I realized that putting on a little weight did not make me less lovable or less of an awesome person, was the day I realized I needed to quit being so hard on myself.
Water is your best friend.
When I was really obsessed with my weight gain and desperately wanted it to all fall off, I began drinking water like an elephant at the watering hole. This in and of itself wasn't bad, but the obsession was the issue. I did learn, though, that drinking enough water is really one of the best things you can do for yourself and your body. I feel so good when I drink my water for the day. I sleep better, I have more energy, I'm in a better mood. Get your eight glasses, people.
Workout because you love your body, not because you hate your body.
Before my weight gain, I was working out regularly twice a week. After I began to notice a change, I (obsessively) began to work out three to five days a week. This, again isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't have the greatest intentions or mindset. I would go to the gym and kill myself on a workout, and then go back and harshly critique my body. It was so unhealthy. I often discovered the motivation to go was difficult to find. Then, I began to approach it differently. Instead of focusing on how my body looked (since change doesn't happen over night), I began to focus on how my body felt after a workout. I was in a better mood on days I made it to the gym. I was more encouraged to eat healthily. I felt more confident. Over time, I began looking forward to the gym, and I saw a transformation in the way I viewed myself. I began to see my body for more than how it looked, but also how it worked for me. My body allows me to run, lift, dance, hike, and so many more things that I am fortunate enough to have the capability to do. I began to appreciate my body in a whole new way.
Eat the salad.
Again, with the obsessiveness. BUT, I learned that eating healthily makes me feel good and doesn't have to be bland and boring. I can now make a killer salad with grilled chicken and vinaigrette, and I became a pro at the in-dorm smoothie. So, it's all about balance and allowing myself to eat food that is both tasty and good for me, and not punishing myself and eating only boring yet highly nutritious food.
Eat the pizza.
It's all about balance. There is absolutely nothing wrong with indulgence. Eat a slice of pizza. Reward yourself with Starbucks after a big success. Take a doughnut when they're being handed out for free on campus (which is surprisingly often). You just can't let that be all you eat. But I learned the hard way if you never let yourself relax and enjoy the occasional treat or junk food, it suddenly becomes really easy to binge on it when you get stressed and you think you can stop at one cookie. You don't have to stop having fun and eating things you enjoy to stay healthy, you just have to find that balance. Key word: BALANCE.
A number does not define you.
I quit looking at the scale. I am getting over the fact that I'm no longer a size two. I, instead, want a body that I feed and hydrate and love that works to the best of its abilities for me. I work to keep myself feeling healthy and strong. I sleep. I listen to my body when it says I need to take a break, and I am ok with having a lazy day. I know that those numbers mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. What's really important is the love I show others, the love I show myself, the work ethic I maintain, the joy I spread, the friend/daughter/sister/girlfriend/classmate, etc. I am, and the change I make in the world, just to name a few. I am so much more than how much I weigh, and there is no reason for me to let that slow me down. I am still capable, smart, beautiful, funny, dedicated, passionate, and caring. Those are the things that define you, the things that matter, and the things that stand the test of time.
