Every year at my high school we would host an event in which the previous graduating class would return to talk about their experiences as freshman in college. They would answer questions about their roommate circumstances, their favorite extracurricular activities, and living an independent life. Yet, even though these were informative, the unspoken question on everyone’s mind was: who gained weight?
After graduating I promised myself I would not be the girl that everyone gossiped about in the audience. So far, I’ve managed to avoid the infamous freshman fifteen. (Knock on wood for the remaining 3 months of the semester.) Or maybe I’m just in denial and too scared to actually use the scale I brought to school. Let’s hope the latter is not the case.
Most would agree that overall Hoyas have the reputation of being a fairly active and fit community. In fact, my roommate and I have observed that rarely do we see anyone who is “fat.” So, if for nothing else, being intimidated by the healthy student body provides sufficient motivation to be wary of the freshman fifteen.
I’m not going to pretend that I’m a Yates regular. Yes, I’ll go occasionally. Honestly though, I’m the least athletic person I know. I find zero pleasure in physical exertion. My idea of a good workout is managing to run a mile under 10 minutes or reaching the minute mark in holding a plank. I’m more of a Pilates girl, so I prefer to just put on a video in the room.
But, there are other ways of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through everyday choices. For example, taking the stairs (elevators are creepy anyways), staying busy on campus, not keeping snacks in the dorm (snacking is very dangerous), and resisting the urge to have pasta every night at Leo’s. Unfortunately excessive Georgetown Cupcake excursions or late night runs to Tuscany and Johnny Rockets are out of the question. (When it’s too tempting I fudge my definition of excessive.)
Not going to lie, it’s hard. When you have a hundred other things pressing on your mind, academic pressure, social stress etc. the last thing you want to worry about is your weight. The allure of binging on pretzels and Nutella or Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food can be all too appealing. Treat yourself once in a while for sure, but try to limit these guilt-free-high-calorie nights!
The main point is: don’t let yourself fall victim to the freshman fifteen! Trust me, it’s not a myth and no one is invincible. Look to your fellow freshman Hoyas for support. Get a gym buddy or make a pact to not keep snacks in the room. We’re all in the same boat and no one wants to discover that the reason their pants are tighter is not because they accidently left them in the dryer too long. Good luck!
Â
XOXO,
Hoya Saxa
Â
Georgetown Freshman Survival Tip # 6: Buy cute workout clothes! Add some bright colors and different styles to your gym wardrobe. It’s a great way to motivate yourself to stay active and feel good about going to the gym!Â