We all feared it, and yet some of us accepted its inevitability. The “freshman fifteen” seemed just around the corner. This was especially frightening to us body-conscious seniors, who talked about diets like it was our only job. I remember walking through the halls during lunchtime, seeing girls compare which protein bars had the least amount of calories for a “wholesome” lunch. Anorexia was almost a game to be won, like seeing who could eat the least while not being clinically sick. The same thing went with everything, makeup around boys, tans all year round, and all the other things we do to look a little better.
But here’s the good news: college girls are okay with pizza. Sure, we gain a little weight, but its weight we all probably needed. It’s our “happy” weight. These are pounds that came from the late night pizza parties you had with your new best friends, or the weight from consuming a bottle of wine and popcorn watching movies on Wednesday.
I’ve noticed a wonderful trend within how we handle our weight, as well. I hardly every hear the word “diet,” anymore, replaced with the much better “I need to eat more healthy,” or “I need to work out,” within my sorority and other groups of friends. Girls going on runs together is now much more common than girls skipping lunch together in college.
It all comes down to confidence and comfort. In high school, thrown into the drama of everyday teenage life, pressure to look good was overwhelming. But once we get into college, we are able to find people who really understand us. These people make the freshman fifteen happen, essentially. Yes, it’s your friends who are making you fatter. Being comfortable with you friends may make you forget about needing the perfect body. I feel like my entire freshman year I was in a daze, where my scale and mirror were completely irrelevant. I hadn’t even realized it until just recently.
Seeing new freshman in high school, looking at their hair, makeup, and skinny bodies, I can only hope this isn’t just the case for my friends and I. New generations are charging, as 13 year olds are starting to be prettier than I was at 17. Fifteen year olds are passing for 18. Luckily, if they experience the same haven I have in college, they’ll realize that the extra slice of pizza isn’t a bad thing. I may be biased, because I go to a university where being accepted is as common as maroon on campus, but id like to think that when you go to college you get to express yourself in other ways than just your body image. That’s not to say being completely unhealthy is the goal. But being so obsessed with “skinny,” instead of health, gets exhausting and has horrible affects to your mindset. Meanwhile, I follow about a billion girls on Instagram with fun workout tops and colorful foods who are enjoying their healthy meal. That’s the college I like. And when 1 pm roles around and you’re starving, regret nothing.
So, yes, go to Chipotle 3 times a week when you’ve been studying for 3 tests. Here’s to the Freshman 15, it looks good on you.
