How NOT to gain the 'Freshman 15'

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By Alexandra Giamalva

Gaining 15 pounds freshman year is not inevitable, despite what people tell you. But, students do have a predisposition to put on weight their first year of college. This is usually due to increased freedom.

With no parent around to feed you nutritious meals or no coach telling you to run harder, students may have trouble eating healthy on their own or finding motivation to exercise.

The first way to avoid weight gain is to acknowledge that maintaining a healthy weight in college will be challenging. Students must understand that staying svelte will take effort, even if you had no trouble in high school doing so.

A large change for many college freshmen is the availability of alcohol. Most alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories. For example, there are about 300 calories in one margarita. One round of ‘ritas on 2 for 1 night is the caloric equivalent of another meal. Try to avoid these sugary drinks and stick with low-calorie mixers like diet soda and juices and you’ll save hundreds of calories.

Even though eating late is a no-no, you probably won’t remember that when you’re craving a cheeseburger after a night of drinking. Instead of driving through Jack in the Box to get your fix, get prepared ahead of time. Stock your dorm room with healthier versions of your favorite late night foods. Lean Pockets and fat-free hotdogs are (microwaveable!) lower calorie options but still satisfy your cravings.

At lunchtime, LSU provides many healthy options to students in the Student Union. Complete with a sushi bar, Blimpie and large salad bar, there are plenty of opportunities to fill up on vegetables and lean protein.

Typical dorm food like chips, cookies and Ramen noodles might be cheap, but are high in carbohydrates, sodium and sugar. Stock your dorm with snacks like popcorn, fresh fruit and yogurt.

The most obvious way to avoid gaining weight while in college is to avoid alcohol and junk food and exercise daily. But that’s no fun!

Instead, try to create habits that are easier to stick to and that can coexist with your lifestyle. For example, hitting the REC Center (It’s free to students! Take advantage!) just three times per week for an hour can make a huge impact on your fitness. Or, only indulging in pizza once per week instead of daily can also make a difference.

Eating right and exercising won’t only make you look good, but you’ll also feel good. Exercise and a healthy diet give you more energy, helping you to focus in class. Because, trust me, you’ll want to make good grades freshman year. It’s the easiest school will be.

Originally Published: Issue 701 - August 19, 2008

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