Freshman 15

[Twilight]

Hmmm, so I visited Georgetown College today since I had no school. It was pretty awesome. The girl who set up my tour also had lunch with me. When I told her I was an Atkins girl, she told me she was on South Beach. She said that she was actually dieting because she gained 20 pounds in 3 months her Freshman year.

Scary. More so because I noticed that 15 is a rather optimistic name for it. I've heard about people who've gained up to 40+ pounds their Freshman year of college.

What is it that makes it so hard for people to eat in a more healthy way when they're in college? And why, after they realize they are gaining weight, don't they start eating smarter? Why do they let it get so out of control?

I hope I'll be able to make better choices, because I don't want to ruin all my hard work when I get to college. Maybe I'll get a good roommate and we'll take care of each other. =/

How did all of you fare in your early years of college?

[ValidRouge]

Tori, this is a great topic. I work at a University, one where 90% of our students live (and eat) on campus. I think the following things contribute:
* students are away from home
* away from eating meals prepared by at home by their parents
* easily available "fast food" options (my school has chik-fil-a, einstein bagels, sub shop, pizza, etc.)
* eating these options in the middle of the night
* no structured physical ed--it's up to the student to make sure they get physical activity.
* its up to the student to make sure they are eating healthy--and many of them do not.
* eating junk food causes you to want to eat more junk food...and the cycle is worse at college because everyone is eating junk food. It's a carb FEST.

[2big4mysize]

yep and don't forget the snack machines close by if not on each floor of a dormloaded with soda and candy. if you want healthy snacks youhave to plan and go shopping or have mom send them from home and then store them were your roommate and dorm mates will not help you eat them up the day they arrive while visiitng.

[Twilight]

This whole college business really worries me. I noticed that off-campus restaurants are really expensive whereas on-campus dining halls aren't. I was wondering, is it typical of a university to have some sort of on-campus grocery store or something? I've only visited 2 and I haven't been introduced to any so far.

[2big4mysize]

not a grocery store like you got at home ay all. usually just snacks and smal items for the dorm or laundry. Student stores usually sell books and supplies along wioth junk food.

The cafeteria food can be very healthy of you chose to pick carefully. but many folk just plain over eat when they get to college. Some casue carby foods are cheap and filling and others cause the idea of all you can eat goes to their head.

[higgies]

The dining hall is typically purchasd and paid for as opposed to you going and paying for a restaurant or groceries. There are plenty of healthy options in a cafeteria, it's up to you to make the right choices. I know for me...

It was overeating in the cafeteria, eating late at night after drinking, and lots of beer...don't forget the beer. Most college freshmen go wild being on their own for the first time. So you get lots of beer. I know on a night of drinking, after eating all day in the cafeteria, we'd get delivery from this pizza shop that had a deal for a 10" pizza and a 6" sub for like $3.50. So needless to say, I had that a couple times a week in addition to the regular food I ate in large quantities.

I gained about 50lbs my freshmen year in college...

[theredhead]

My DD18 is a freshman at the University of Oklahoma. Now, she's always been slender, but she's very conscious of trying to eat healthy most of the time. OU has an amazing array of places/things to eat on campus. I think I read that they have something like 150 eateries on campus! She can get anything she wants and they really cater to all types of dietary needs and preferences. She vowed not to gain the freshman 15 and has actually lost 3-4 pounds. My point is that there ARE colleges out there (obviously, the larger ones) that have some really good food options. She really loves OU!

[not2late]

I gained 15 during freshman year...and proceeded to steadily gain every year after that. I kept telling myself gaining weight is normal for college students, I'll lose it over the summer. Well...that didn't work for me.

My advise to any college student is to not be fooled into thinking it's "normal" to gain the Freshman 15. It's not! Don't let "living in the dorms" or "living on my own" be the excuse to let your eating and lifestyle habits go.

Be mindful of what you eat, how much you eat and exercise daily. It'll save you the hassle of having to lose those 15 (and more) pounds later on.

[Twilight]

theredhead- Whoa, it's good to know that it's possible to avoid the dangers of college lifestyle.

not2late- I'm definitely not going to let any weight gain exceed 5 pounds... not that there will be any gain, of course... **cough**

[not2late]

Good for you. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, but be mindful for what you eat and how much.

I went to a small college. My meals were included in the room and board. So I didn't have to pay for individual items. My college had set meals and a salad bar. The meals were limited to 1 serving--fine. The salad was unlimited--fine. BUT there was always ice cream----at least 4 flavors. If you wanted to eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was self serve too. So you could take an unlimited amount. Also present was at least 10 varieties of dry breakfast cereal. It was self serve too. And of course, unlimited sodas.

So me being "healthy conscious" rather than eat a few scoops of ice cream, I used to have a bowl of granola for dessert, and I use to wrap another bowl full in a napkin for snacking later on.

As you can imagine, I gained weight as easily as the ice cream eaters.....

So just be careful.