We’d all be lying to ourselves if we said we’ve successfully avoided the freshman 15 (or at least the freshman 5) as college students. Most people dread their first year of coping with classes, stress, strange sleep patterns, and adjusting to college food. After I gained the freshman 15 (even as a collegiate athlete), I made a promise to myself that I’d figure out a way to stay in good health even through all the stressors of school. Here are a few tips to help you find a balance as well.

Be okay with gaining a few pounds!

First of all: it’s NOT the end of the world to experience the freshman 15! Know that your body takes a while to adjust to new food, new eating habits, and the countless other things we experience in college. Don’t think less of yourself or have a negative perception of your body just because you feel like you’ve gained (or even lost) weight - it’s normal to fluctuate!

Look at your diet:

Do you grab a cookie every time you leave the dining hall? Maybe sneak in a soda every now and then during lunch? Try to avoid doing so. Now, when I say look at your diet, I don’t mean go on a DIET. Just make sure you don’t drink or eat unhealthy foods too often, which is very easy to do when everything you want is at your fingertips. Maybe try the local farmer’s market or trade up a burger up for a salad.

Late Night Snacks and Study Habits:

Let’s face it: who doesn’t want a snack during an all-nighter essay writing session? If you’re feeling like you need a bit of brain food, try one of these following options:

• Take an active study break; your brain needs a rest. Try studying for 15-20 minutes then take a short break. During your break, you can stretch, take a quick walk down the dorm hall, even do some jumping jacks. Whatever you do, make sure you're up and moving
• Need a snack? Grab a handful of nuts or maybe an apple and peanut butter. Try to stay away from pizza and french fries at the late night cafe
• Drink a spoonful of Chia seeds mixed in water to give you energy

Choose Different Snacks:

Here are a few snacks you can try during your study breaks or even throughout the day between meals:

• Popcorn
• Fruits with (or without) nut butter
• Crackers and hummus
• Nuts and dried berries
• Chopped veggies
• Protein smoothies
• Homemade trail mix

Exercise!

Try an intramural sport or hit the campus gym a couple days a week (a gym session doesn’t have to be long, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour will be better than nothing), take a long run, or do some crunches in your dorm between classes and lunch. Walk a lot or ride a bike to the store instead of driving. Do something active! Also, take advantage of outdoor activities and fitness events on campus! Here are some Whitman College-run fitness events you can partake in:

• Whitman Triathlon
• Move Your Phit Color Run
• Women’s Volleyball Spring Grass Tournament
• Annual Anchor Slam

Mentally be on board with your goal

Try to fully dedicate yourself to reaching the goal of finding your ideal body image. Whatever that image may be for you, do at least one thing a day to reach it. Tell yourself, “I can do this,” don’t be afraid of working at it. And please, please, PLEASE don’t be obsessed with changes in your body (no counting carbs or freaking out over calorie intake); simply be aware of what’s going into your body and take this process as slow as you need to.

Remember: Don’t get caught up in the negativity of the freshman 15. Be positive and love your body no matter what it looks like. Don’t push the diets too far, just make better choices. Love yourself and love your body! It’s just growing pains…