What is the freshman 15 and what contributes to it? The freshman 15 refers to an observed phenomenon in which incoming students to college often gain significant amounts of weight. There are several factors that contribute to this.
New eating habits can become engrained in your lifestyle. This includes diets of fast food, chips, soft drinks, pizza at late night, etc. People also start eating while studying without too much moderation while studying for next-day exams and getting adjusted to new lifestyles of working. As the sleep schedule shifts later towards the night, there is more mindless eating later at night. It is easy to get in the trap of emotional eating, as people face new stresses when adapting to the new lifestyle. When you’re not incorporating enough exercise into your routine, then also you may gain a lot of weight. And finally, with alcohol and other unhealthy habits, it is easy to forget moderation and continue weight gain.
How can you avoid this? Colleges have so many fitness opportunities, whether they are spin/biking classes at the gym, recreational sports teams, amazing gym facilities, swimming pools, or personal trainers. Remembering to keep your sleep schedule organized and timely will also help you maintain structure in your life. Calorie counters can be annoying, but also make sure you remember not to exceed your calorie count by too much. Finally, try to find nutritious meals every so often to supplement any meals that may not be as healthy (cookies and other junk food)
It is important to remember that transition is a normal and healthy part of your life. Gaining weight is not permanent and can be totally well-deserved aspect of adjusting to a new life. Remaining conscious of your fitness, however, can help minimize weight gain as you first set foot on campus.
That’s it for now. Stay safe and ask us if you have any questions.
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