I've always been an athletic person. From middle school into high school, I participated in two rigorous sports, track and basketball; however, during my first year of college, I slipped up, and the result was horrific.
Besides a few times I tried to get back on a workout regimen, I essentially gave up working out during my freshman year. Not only that, I ate Chick-fil-A three times a week, drank more coffee than water, and I truly believe my body wanted to seek serious revenge on me multiple times a day. My first year at OU was a gigantic transition, and by turning to food and sleep when days turned strenuous, the transition ended up being much harder than it originally needed to be.
At the beginning of summer, as I settled into my room back home, I realized how uncomfortable I felt about myself, and I'm not just talking about the "freshman fifteen." My energy levels were tremendously low, my skin, hair, and nails were dry and helpless, and I couldn't walk around my block without feeling a pang in my side. Embarrassing. The end of May approached, and I merely couldn't take it anymore. I began searching for a running program to ease my way back into a workout schedule and quickly found a program that seemed right up my alley. Running has always been my go-to workout, and by sticking to a workout that I enjoy, I haven't given up once. In that case, you may have a different workout in mind that you enjoy doing most. Choose that workout!
The program I chose is an 8-week 10K running program with elements of running, performing cross workouts, and walking. I printed out the entire program, hung it on my wall, and found a running buddy to go through this exhausting adventure with me (my dad). Now, I am in the middle of July, currently on week 5 of this program, and I have never felt more healthier. It's funny because I'm crazy busy this summer with a full-time summer day-camp job, workout schedule, and vacation schedule with my family, yet I have 10x more energy than when I was barely doing anything freshman year.
With that being said, I am making better food choices, drinking less coffee, and drinking A LOT of water. So clearly, what you put inside your body is prominent to your overall health and energy levels.
I have fallen in love with this running program because it has taught me so much about myself that I didn't recognize before. I've learned more self-control by pushing my mind and body to go a little bit further each day, and I also realized the tremendous effects running has on my mental state. Running aids in clearing my mind of negative thoughts, stressful events or situations I've been a part of, and, at the same time, allows me to reflect on certain areas of my life that I'd like to grow in.
So, future freshman fifteeners, don't allow your mind to overtake your body. Freshman year of college can be dark and intimidating; however, almost everyone feels this way at least one time during their first year. I thought I was alone when talking about how daunting freshman year felt, but I wasn't even in the slightest. Use every day as a time to grow more comfortably into a routine. Yes, you have classes and study sessions, but you have other priorities in your life that you cannot abandon. Make them matter!
