The Harbinger
Beating the freshman 15 myth?Wednesday, May 30, 2012 By Natalia Fernandez
Should high school seniors everywhere beware of the “Freshmen 15” myth of gaining fifteen pounds in their first year of college? A study from Ohio State University disintegrates this fear to an extent, showing that the average college freshmen only gains an approximate 2 to 3 pounds their first year. However it could escalate by ten to their second. It should also be taken into account that each person packs on the pounds differently--there is always that one person who downs three whoppers, two packs of fries, and a milkshake and still won’t gain a pound. “I lost weight, and we don’t cook for ourselves, we eat ramen and the only exercise we get is walking to class,” Matthew Llopis, MLEC alumni and now a freshman at Embry Riddle in Daytona, said Now despite if it’s 15 pounds or not, the average college student will gain weight. Why is this? For some, it’s quite obvious. You’re not exercising, you have the freedom to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, you don’t have your mother cooking for you, and you tend to eat out more often than not. Let’s not forget that slice of chocolate cake you had for your late night study session. Oh, and that Hot Pocket you grabbed on your way rushing to your next class. Another large contributing factor to this weight gain equation is the alcohol consumption in college, which causes unwanted excess calories. Add the stress and anxiety that come with being a freshman and you’ve created a sure-fire way to pack the fat. If you still don’t know why you’re gaining weight, then you’ve been lost to the land of denial. To battle this, many colleges offer gym equipment and work out programs, such as Zumba, aerobics, Pilates and yoga on campus. If you do find yourself gaining weight, the smallest change can make all the difference; things like cutting out soda or taking the stairs instead of the escalator. From just that can of soda alone you drink per day, you can cut out approximately 1000 calories per week. When current senior in Communications, Gabriel Gomez, was asked if he worried about the Freshman 15 and what we would do to beat it, he responded with, “The whole Freshmen 15 myth does scare me a bit, and I will be the first to admit that I won't hesitate to turn to junk food when I'm in a hurry. It’s cheap and effective. But a good way to prevent this is to have a couple snacks handy throughout the day. I think it will help tame the hunger until you find the time for a healthier meal, so I do consider a healthy diet and regular exercise is the best way to combat the myth.” |