Written by Arianna F.
You’ve probably heard the horror stories about gaining weight your first year of college. You’re away from those delicious home cooked meals your parents used to make you and now you’re responsible for feeding yourself (plus you don’t have a mandatory physical education class to attend). It’s easy to think that you might add a little extra padding. But guess what? You might not! For me, the “Freshman 15” meant losing 15 lbs. Let me tell you why:
Exercise
At Rutgers University–Camden, our gym is free—FREE. Need I say more? Everyone likes free things! If there’s one thing I’ve learned in college, it’s to never take advantage of something free. Gym memberships nowadays can be $10 to $30 per month. We’re college students; a free gym membership for the entire time you’re a student is just too sweet of a deal to pass up. You might as well take advantage of it!
College isn’t like high school; you’re the only person who decides the structure of your day. You make your class schedule, join the clubs you want, sleep when you want to sleep, and eat when you want to eat. Unlike high school, you don’t have classes back-to-back-to-back, then have to rush home to finish all of your homework, never having time for yourself. You can choose when to study, when to eat, and when to go to the gym. The gym will always be at your disposal.
Watch what you eat
Here’s where the food really gets you. If you live in the Towers and you have a meal plan, first-year students start off with the Deluxe Plan. That’s $1,836 per semester to spend on meals, drinks, and snacks.
If you have a meal plan, you quickly realize, “Wait… What am I going to do with all of this money?” You’ve paid for your meal plan dollars, so of course you don’t want it to go to waste. This is when most people think, “Ah, that’s where the ‘Freshman’ 15 hits you.” FALSE. Toward the end of the semester, I’ve noticed a lot of first-year students lend their cards to friends (or even strangers) to use up the leftover money. Chances are, you aren’t going to stuff your face with food all the time. If you do feel the need to spend all of your meal plan dollars, just make sure that you’re choosing healthy options!
Have a regular eating schedule. Eating at the same time every day can help keep your body in a routine, beat unwanted cravings, and reduce the probability of you gaining more weight.
Steer clear of the vending machines, if you can. They’re tempting, yes (especially when you are trying to survive a 3 hour lecture), but, come on. A $1.25 for a bag of air? You might as well just pack a snack or leave some emergency munchies in your back pack in case you need a pick-me-up. Compact, healthy treats like granola bars, yogurts, fruits, and vegetable packs are great go-to’s that will give you the boost you need to get through your day.
Also, drink lots of water. If you like to drink soda, coffee, or energy drinks, it might be your first instinct to drink them to stay energized, but that’s a temporary fix. Drink enough water to stay hydrated and you’ll be energized all day!
Stay committed
Like anything in college, success and balance depends upon time management and commitment. Maintaining a steady work-out and eating schedule keeps you at optimum health, focused, and can help structure the rest of your day (like study time and relaxation time). In college, you will learn that having a planner, calendar, and regulated schedule are imperative for thriving.
Surround yourself with positive influences
A lot of the “Freshman 15” can come from being lazy, not getting enough sleep, and eating unhealthy foods. Surround yourself with people who enjoy being active, don’t stay up too late, and choose healthy options. Find a group that has healthy habits that help you develop and maintain yours!
I hope this post help soothe some of your woes about the “Freshman 15!”