Every student going into college has heard of the “Freshmen Fifteen” but they don’t really take it seriously or think about it while it’s happening. Yes, the obvious answer to avoid it would be “Well just stop eating so much”, but when you are put in such a stressful environment filled with lack of sleep, stress from homework, and a few nights of alcohol consumption those pounds start to sneak up on you and before you know it the “Freshmen Fifteen” has become a part of your life.
I personally grew up with a pretty healthy lifestyle: parents that stocked the fridge and cabinets with healthy and nutritious snacks. There was no temptation to eat sweet snacks because there were none around. But, when you move out of your house and into the dorm lifestyle, you are on your own and have decide for yourself what kind of food you want. For me it was a no brainer. Freedom to eat whatever I wanted! I finally could to eat sugar cereals, candy, chips, and Ramen! They were also the cheapest foods to buy. In my mind I was thinking “No way would I spend $10 on fruits and vegetables that would only last a couple days rather than getting a pack of 24 Ramen Noodles for same price and it would last me a couple weeks”. Learn from my mistakes and make the healthier choice when buying groceries. Sure the unhealthy foods are less expensive but they also do not fill you up as much eating a nice big salad with some chicken. In the long run you will be saving money because the extra money from buying the sugary foods will go to gym memberships, face wash, personal trainers, zit cream etc.
When you eat healthier it helps you feel better. When I started putting more fruits and vegetables in my diet and less fatty and greasy foods I started getting sick less.You have more energy, you sleep more soundly and a better attitude too!
Another very important part of avoiding the “Freshmen Fifteen” is going outside and doing something every day. It doesn’t have to be some strenuous workout that leaves you dead tired afterward because God knows that no one has the time or energy to do that every day with the course load that UCSD burdens us with. Some simple things you could do are go the pool and swim for an hour, play tennis, volleyball, or basketball in Muir, or just go to one of the two amazing gyms we have on campus. Balls and weights are easy to access at the gym so there’s no excuse to not get out there and play with some friends. You can also join some of the several intramural and club sports that UCSD offers. Getting away from the homework that lingers menacingly in your dorm is a great way to de-stress and let yourself relax.
Don’t let the “Freshmen Fifteen” ruin your first year in college. Try to put aside a little extra money for groceries and choose the right kind of foods for your body.
