Hi! My name is Karlee Stewart… and I’m a foodie. Yes, there, I said it; I like to eat. I like to try new foods savor many familiar favorites, and most of all, I like to do it often! As a junior journalism major and Her Campus writer at Northeastern University, I’m like many other collegiettes™ and have struggled with my weight throughout college.
As much as I enjoy my quality time with a warm brownie, a cheesy slice of pizza, or an order of deep fried eggrolls– I’m ready to make a change that doesn’t include quite so many double takes in the mirror.
Let me give you a little background on my more recent battles with my weight:
I left for a semester of study abroad in Rome on August 31, 2010. I made my way through my first week with six plates of gnocchi, at least four trips to the pizzeria, quick stops for bread, olive oil and balsamic at almost every corner, a day of a marvelous little rice and cheese ball called Suppli, and of course, many tours through the gelato shop.
Most collegiettes™ I know would have stopped themselves after the first three whole pizzas, but I told myself I’d be going on an eating tour of Rome ala Julia Roberts in Eat Pray Love, and that’s exactly what I did—except I didn’t stop at Rome. I also ate my way through Florence, Venice, Perugia, Dublin, Paris, Marrakech and Berlin. Needless to say, I was full.
You would think I would be as big as a house by now – but my preservative free, fresh vegetable and homemade approach to eating in combination with walking EVERYWHERE took my extra baggage right off and I found myself having to buy new clothes – in a smaller size!
I went on like this all semester and came home feeling fabulous and cultured, being praised by friends and family for how great I looked. I did what I wanted and ate what I wanted and I reaped all the benefits of a girl who’d spent the semester in the gym. I had beaten the system.
Well, the story gets a bit bleaker here – I came home, elated to be back in my own country where Chipotle and Clam Chowder reign supreme, and I soon noticed I wasn’t fitting into those new clothes; I was back to being a foodie in a country that doesn’t exactly work with my particularly hearty appetite. I was back in search of a healthy diet.
So that brings us to today. Today I am making a change. With the help of SELF Magazine’s Jumpstart Diet I am going to get back into shape and start feeling good about myself again! I am over feeling tired and frumpy. It’s time for this collegiette™ to get back into bikini-ready shape—but I can’t do it alone!
If you’re feeling out of shape and not-so-sexy these days, join me! Read this blog and sign up for your own Jumpstart Diet! This isn’t going to be easy, but if we become accountabuddies (keeping each other accountable and in check!) we can do it! Let’s set a goal and stick to it!
Keep up with me and my battle to Lose the Freshman 15 by following me on Twitter @KarleeStewart and follow the latest tips, advice and news from @SELFmagazine and @HerCampus !