Let’s face it: our years spent in college are probably the unhealthiest of our lives. Our bodies may be young and resilient, but the wear and tear the majority of college students (including myself) inflict upon themselves in a short four years is insane.
We stay up all night, we shoot bottom shelf liquors like heathens and we don’t always nourish our bodies with feel-good foods. Did I stop at McDonald’s last night for a chocolate milkshake? Absolutely. Did I need it? Absolutely not.
College is hard. Typing that sentence out felt so elementary but it’s true. Those three words adequately summarize my experience and countless others. As I moved off-campus and into my own apartment, I realized just how difficult adulting can be.
Unlike freshman year, I have to cook and clean for myself. I really miss the dining halls. Even though the food was scary sometimes, I didn’t have to labor over a hot stove for it. Now, my meals end up equally as scary, only to be supplemented by a huge waste of time on my part! It’s frustrating and I’ve admittedly shed a few angry tears over the matter.
I went into this mess in the midst of COVID. I can’t pine over the situation too much, but I know for a fact I wasn’t taking good care of myself during that time. I rarely left my dorm, I didn’t eat mindfully, and I didn’t step foot in the gym once. Surprisingly, the freshman 15 didn’t catch up with me.
Life has becoming increasingly normal over the past few months and I am so grateful. I’m back in the gym, I spend far too many hours of the day on campus and I do a decent job of eating well. Boom. I’m 10 pounds heavier.
This isn’t meant to be a sob story or a trauma dump. I’m quite happy with the way I look. I look the same I always did. The only thing that has changed was the number on the scale.
Maybe it’s muscle or maybe it’s fat. I don’t know. Either way, it’s disheartening to see weight gain when you’ve become accustomed to seeing a certain number for years. It doesn’t make much sense to me. I’m in the gym five or six days of the week. In my head, the number on the scale should be trending downwards, but then again, I’m not too knowledgeable in the realm of fitness.
It’s funny how the change in number has completely warped my perception of myself. I think I look exactly the same. My friends, parents, and family also think I look exactly the same — but why do I feel so different?
I’ve started to learn that I’m growing as a person; it’s unfair to expect my body to stay the same. I’m putting in the work, eating (mostly) good foods and for the first time in a while, I’m genuinely taking care of myself. I write in my silly little journal, take silly little yoga classes at the IM building and I enjoy every sip of my silly little smoothie because it keeps me happy.
This stage of life, as wonderful as it is, can also present thousands of challenges. A body in motion truly stays in motion, but don’t let the run around consume you. Resting, mindfulness and alone time are all essential. Find time for these pieces and practice them as often as possible.
Life is all about balance and acceptance. Higher education likes to throw some curve balls, I know, but stay resilient. Your mental, physical and spiritual health are insanely important. Don’t sacrifice these pieces of yourself in the process.
Enjoy your meal (even if it’s unhealthy), find a hobby that allows you to stay active and cherish every minute. Your four years in college will fly by. Find your balance and go from there! It has worked wonders for me, I’m sure it’ll do the same for you.