When your family assumes you’re pregnant because you are significantly fluffier come Christmas break freshman year (true story) it is time for a reality check…. You have become victim to the Freshman 15. Those three words instill fear in some of us, while others regard them as merely a myth. From experience I will tell you: The Freshman 15 is very real. Transitioning from dining in the comfort of your parent’s kitchen to combatting herds of starving students at the HC burger buffet can be jarring.
While the HC tempts freshmen with countless unhealthy food choices, I wouldn’t award changes in diet to be the sole contributor of putting on the pounds. I’m here to tell you WHY so many students noticeably gain weight during their first year of college.
The factor that single-handedly wins the award for fattening up our freshman is *drum roll*….you guessed it: Partying.
This word that gets you through the week can also be used to encompass the easiest way to gain 15 pounds in one semester. In a single word we cover the effects of booze, 2:30 a.m. trips to The Pie, sleep deprivation, and stress.
Now I’m not trying to kill your vibes by reiterating what you probably already know. However, you will thank me later if you can find balance within the borders of the party scene before finals and the holidays hit you like a bag of bricks.
Boozing can be fun in moderation, it is poison after all, but, adding an extra 4,000 calories to your diet every weekend can take a significant toll on your body. One must consider the actual significance of what they are sipping on. You know that apple ale you love? Drinking a six pack of apple ale compares nutritionally to eating over 5 chocolate-covered doughnuts.
Just like your money in college, you also have to budget your caloric intake. If you continue to dive deeper in the hole it becomes harder and harder to get back out. You are better off choosing to eat cleaner and drink less than try to dig yourself out in December after you’ve buried yourself alive.
Booze does not add calories all on its own but it also calls junk food in for back-up in the wee hours of the morning – specifically when you should not be eating. This phenomenon contributes heavily to progressive weight gain. It is inevitable to put on pounds when slamming Del Taco at 3 a.m.
Sleep deprivation is another common side effect of partying. Countless studies have proven that lack of sleep is a leading factor to weight gain. Research reveals that when you do not get a full night’s sleep (anywhere between 7.5-10 hours) your stress hormones run higher. Stress hormones increase your appetite. When you are sleep deprived your mitochondria in your cells start to shut down, therefore your body is unable to process sugar. That’s when those apple ales you drank get stored as fat.
Three tips to outsmarting the Freshman 15 go as follows:
Tip 1) Use moderation. Moderation is key when it comes to drinking, staying up late, and living a balanced lifestyle.
Tip 2) If the party is not worth it; tap out! There is nothing better than waking up on a Sunday morning well-rested and feeling glad that you didn’t waste empty calories on those extra beers trying to make the dead fraternity party lit. Treat yourself to some French toast.
Tip 3) The most important thing to remember as you navigate your freshman year of college is to love your body and love yourself. Beauty DOES come in all shapes and sizes. The point of this article is to encourage you to care for your precious health. Take care of your body because it is the one thing that you will ever truly own as yours and yours alone.
As the Biebs so very eloquently put it: