Content warning: discussions of weight gain and weight loss. This article is not meant to encourage unhealthy eating habits nor are these suggestions applicable to everyone. If you are concerned about your eating habits or if you would like to speak with a counselor, please see the Mount Holyoke Health Center’s Resource Page, which includes the phone numbers for Counseling Services and the MHC nutritionist.
The Freshman 15 is a term coined by Seventeen Magazine in 1989 that refers to a common 15lb weight gain during the first year of college. There’s nothing wrong with gaining a few pounds, but if the Freshman 15 is something you’re worried about, or you’ve noticed some changes in your eating habits, here are a few things that might help you.
Disclaimer: I am obviously not a nutritionist, nor do I have any professional authority in making these suggestions, these are just my personal tips based on my experience.
1. Take the stairs. If your class is on the top floor of Clapp, or you live on the 5th floor of MacGregor, take the opportunity to get some exercise in by climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Every step counts! A little bit of exercise goes a long way over time.
2. Attend a drop-in class. There are so many fun drop-in classes, such as kickboxing and yoga, offered on a regular basis in the Kendall Sports Complex. They’re free and open to anyone on campus. The Eliot House (Center for Religious and Spiritual Life) also hosts Tai Chi every week in the Torrey residence hall. Drop-in classes are totally non-committal, so they’re great if you have a busy schedule but want to get some exercise in every once in awhile.
3. If portion control is an issue for you, eat at Blanchard instead of a dining hall. Because dining halls have the buffet-style set up, it’s common to get second helpings of food. While Blanchard has many unhealthy selections and fried foods that it’s best to stay away from, you have a limit of $7.50, i.e. you can only get $7.50 worth of food. However, if you’d really prefer to eat dining hall food, you can always use the to-go containers and portion your food that way.
4. Join a sports team or dance group. Sports like Crew/Rowing and Ice Hockey do not require previous experience, so it’s definitely worth it to try out for a team. Mount Holyoke also has several dance groups including Jhumka (Bollywood fusion) and Rainbow Jelly (K-Pop) that you can join.
5. Increase your water intake. Don’t drink your calories—avoid Starbucks drinks or anything high in sugar. Water on the other hand has 0 calories and is an appetite suppressant, so if you drink it before you eat meals you can feel fuller and more energized. Staying hydrated is important, so water is your best friend!
6. Take the long way. If you’re not in a rush, do some extra walking. By now you’ve probably figured out the fastest way to get from your residence hall to your class, but walk the long way there if you have the time. It never hurts to burn a few more calories, even if it’s gradually.
7. Try to stick to a regular eating schedule. Due to the busyness of college life, many students end up either skipping meals, forgetting to eat, or eating later than normal. Skipping meals actually messes with your metabolism and causes your body to conserve energy, so while you think it might benefit you because you’re consuming fewer calories, unfortunately you’re mistaken. Getting Blanch food at midnight and eating right before you go to sleep is not the greatest habit either—sleeping on a full stomach causes you to gain weight because your metabolic processes slow down when you sleep allowing your body to more easily store the calories as fat. Sometimes you don’t have a choice because academic/work schedules can be extremely hectic, so just take care of yourself to the best of your ability—that includes your eating habits.
Everything boils down to a combination of eating right and exercising, so don’t stress out if you gain weight because there are many ways to improve your habits. Most importantly, realize that gaining weight to a certain extent is also normal, so please don’t be too strict with yourself or obsessive about getting skinnier. As a rule of thumb, just be conscious about making healthy choices. Enjoy your M&C’s and your Antonio’s pizza, but keep yourself in check too.
Images [a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f]
If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email mt-holyoke@hercampus.com.