Steer Clear of Freshman Fifteen

Picture this: You’re away from home and are on your own for the first time with all the freedom you want. There’s an eat-all-you-want buffet in front of you. What would you do? Eat, of course? Not really. Binge – that’s the word. rnA majority of us would be more than happy to have liberty and food in one go, which often leads to overeating. While overeating is one thing, not eating at regular intervals is another thing that can impact our well being. Irregular eating habits affect metabolism, which in turn leads to weight gain. In the case of students, there is a prevalent belief that college freshmen tend to gain about 15lbs during their freshman year, which has been popularized by the expression Freshman Fifteen. From confessional write-ups on Freshman Fifteen on how eating too much wasn’t a great idea, to personal essays marked by regret, Freshman Fifteen is one issue that several students are well aware of. Stress is one of the main factors that causes eating disorders in students. There are several reasons that add to the stress – from having to manage one’s own life to being in a new environment, students have several things to take care of. Also, the fact that they’re no longer in the cozy comfort of their homes, makes their lives more challenging. While stress is just one of the factors, there are other reasons like peer pressure and lack of self-control that affect students’ behavior. In order to steer clear of Freshman Fifteen, self-control and stress management, among other things, can work effectively. Students could do themselves a favor by remembering the following points to escape from the evil clutches of Freshman Fifteen: 1. Practice self-control – Did you notice that the emphasis is on practice but not on self-control? That’s because self-control isn’t a birth trait. It comes by practice. Lots and lots of practice. 2. The lesser sugar you eat, the better – Sugar tops the list of foods that add to your weight. Cutting back on desserts will be one of the best decisions to make, not just during your freshmen year but during your entire life. 3. Curb craving by eating at regular intervals – Eating small portions of food instead of eating one big meal can help bring down craving. 4. Learn to say no – When friends dare you to take up an eating challenge that is of Man Versus Food proportion, you’d be better off saying no. There must be a good reason behind gluttony being one of the Seven Deadly Sins. So say no and thank yourself later. 5. Work out, sweat it out – Even if you happen to overeat on rare occasions, don’t fret. You can sweat those extra calories out by hitting the gym or by simply walking a few extra steps than you normally would. Not easy-peasy but definitely possible. So Freshman Fifteen isn’t so scary after all. A little self-care and some self-awareness is all it takes to stay fit and fab! If you think you’ve cooler ideas, you’ll leave a comment or two, won’t you?