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Sep 10, 20182 min read

Advice | How To Avoid the Freshman Fifteen

By Thomas Schaal

September 6, 2018


The freshman fifteen is one of the scariest things a freshman gets to face upon starting their first year of college. In fact, researchers at the University of Alabama estimates that about 70% of them will get to face it sooner than they think (although the numbers are more around the range of 12 pounds rather than 15). These extra pounds can come from a variety of sources which is exactly why Omnibus wants to inform you on how to avoid this fate and hopefully how to feel much healthier by making use of the fantastic resources we have on campus. The most obvious sources of weight gaining behavior for college freshman stems directly from over-stressing, ignoring the need for healthy eating, and not prioritizing physical activity.

  1. Take Needed Breaks: Starting college is without a doubt one of the biggest transitions we’ll face in our lives so it’s no surprise it comes with a massive amount of stress. That stress normally leads to overeating which can kill your dreams of avoiding those extra pounds. However, while college is about studying it’s also about finding new and exciting things to do like joining a youth group, volunteering, signing up for theatre, or whatever else peaks your interest. As long as you’re keeping college life interesting, you can effectively shrink stress and thereby minimize the pull of negative eating habits.

  2. To-Go Meals: Time for breakfast eludes so many freshmen which generally leads to either skipping the meal or over-saturating it in sugar. Breakfast isn’t called the most important meal without reason, skipping it hurts one’s metabolism and can easily lead to those pesky extra pounds. To combat that, the cafeteria offers a “to-go meal” which allows students to quickly run in and grab what they need before class starts.

  3. Get Moving: The Wellness Center has so many fun activities and exciting activities in it you’ll forget that you’re actually being active. Working out doesn’t have to come from traditionally weight lifting or running but can come just as easily from the wonderful zumba classes held at the Wellness Center to the epic rockwall that will make you feel that much more satisfied when you make it to the top.

In conclusion, these tips are not only meant to be a way to avoid the freshman fifteen but can also greatly improve your health and make you feel much better overall. By starting positive and healthy habits out early into freshman year, you’ll be that much more equipped to maintain that lifestyle throughout your entire college career and even as you move out into the world beyond.


Photo Credit: Wix Photos

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Infuse Student Media or Southwest Baptist University.

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