The Infamous Freshman 15

Caroline Hughes, of Florida State University recently published a ULoop article about gaining the infamous “freshman 15″. That is, the pounds that college students gain from, presumably, entering an environment chock full of buffet-style cafeterias, liquor, beer and not returning to their high school sports team, gym class or falling short of their usual workout regimens. Hughes asserts, “Most gain weight when they go to college; boys and girls alike. If they don’t, they have superior genetics, the metabolism of a five year old, or they made it their goal to NOT put on the dreaded inches.”

Photo Courtesy of ‘Scene Magazine’ Post by Kyle Swenson

If I may be so bold, I think that’s a load of junk food.

My first fall semester and meal plan at Eckerd threw me into a cafeteria of artery-clogging, butt-bubbling, tummy-rolling, double-chinning pizza, french fries, stir fry, ice cream, burgers…well we’ll just stop there.

Hughes reveals that her late night trips to McDonalds & Fatty Fast Foods Associates (my own creation, not an actual name), and her participation in the world of college nightlife gained her 20 pounds of pure, college-earned fat.

I too, drank way too many empty calories and carbohydrates and indulged in more than my fair share of probably five times healthy portion-sized, unhealthy meals. I gained about 10 pounds. I didn’t notice the weight gain until January, when I put on my “go to” 5-year old, size two jeans, for the first time that Winter and to my complete horror, I had a muffin top!

On Monday morning, I promptly contacted my general practitioner to get a note to excuse me from the meal plan (I’ve suffered from chronic digestive issues since infancy, so it was legitimate), and vowed not to drink except for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. I bought an abundance of my absolute favorite sweet tooth foods that had never been available in the cafeteria: pineapple, watermelon, grapes, apples and oranges. But, you would never find my grocery cart without a big bag (or two) of greasy, salty potato chips, cookie mix and Cheez-Its.

I barely had to put in any effort to shed the pounds. I drank in moderation only on the above mentioned days, and kicked the cafeteria out of my diet.

I lost all the weight and two or three pounds extra in less than a month.

I, in no way, have the “metabolism of a five-year old, superior genetics”, or exercised with “the goal of NOT putting on the dreaded inches.”

So, Miss Hughes, I have to say that I completely disagree with your theory on the “freshman 15″.

Bottom line: don’t think that there is some magical switch that when you decorate your dorm room, your automatically doomed to gain weight. If you just consciously think about what you’re doing in the cafeteria and on margarita Mondays, tequila Tuesdays, wine Wednesdays, Tangueray Thursdays, Fleischmann Fridays, sangria Saturdays and Sailor Jerry Sundays, you’ll most likely not gain any weight. And if you do gain a little, now you know what to tweak to shed it quick and easy!

Last but not least, feel good about your body! From me to you, confidence is sexy more than any six-pack or size zero waist. The average height and weight for males 18-20 is 5’8.3″ and 150-160 pounds. Average 18-20 year-old women are 5’4″, and 125-130 pounds.