Avoiding the ‘freshman 15’?

rentscouter.com “Freshman 15″

Are you worried about keeping your figure after starting college? Have you heard rumors about the freshman 15? Here are some great tips, facts and suggestions to keep up your spirit and keep off the extra pounds.

First, I would like to define the freshman 15: as a college freshman, new to boarding life, it is thought that you will inevitably and/or potentially gain weight during the course of your first year. (The rumored amount of 15lbs) Wikipedia describes the freshman 15 as, “an expression commonly used in the United States that refers to an amount (somewhat arbitrarily set at 15 pounds) of weight often gained during a student’s first year at college.”

Does this rumor have any truth to it? Well, a recent Ohio State study reports that “Rather than adding “the freshman 15,” as it is commonly called, the average student gains between about 2.5 and 3.5 pounds during the first year of college.” This makes us wonder why then the 15lbs rumor came into play.

Personally, I find the contributing factors to this myth to be:

1. Stress
2. Alcohol
3. “All-you-can-eat” dining
4. Decreased amounts of exercise

Each of these is a potential ‘risk’ factor to weight gain, however when living a healthy lifestyle, they become less of a threat. However, studies show that no more than “10 percent of college freshman gained 15 pounds or more (and that) a quarter of freshman reported actually losing weight during their first year.”

Tips for living a healthy lifestyle and not falling victim to the contributing factors listed above:

Stress: As a college student, feeling some level of stress is somewhat inevitable. Many studies have attributed stress as a potential cause/factor in weight gain, as seen in this article by WebMD. However some techniques like learning time management, getting enough sleep, and making sure you have some relaxation time in your schedule can help.

Alcohol: The same Ohio State study referenced earlier found that heavy drinkers gain more than those who do not drink heavily. If you are someone who does drink a lot, it is important to know what it is that you’re drinking. Some sites, such as “Get Drunk Not Fat” provide comparison charts of calorie intake per shot, glass, etc. (For example 1.5 oz (1 shot) of Bacardi 151 Rum has 183 calories. So three shots of Bacardi is about the same amount of calories as a McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese.)

“All-You-Can-Eat”: Many dining halls have unlimited swipes, or large meal plans. With these programs, it is important that you don’t over-consume and that you are eating well balanced meals.

 Decreased amounts of exercise: You may think that by living on a campus, you’re getting enough exercise by walking to class. However, if you were an athlete in high school, or someone who was relatively active, these comparisons will not even out. Many studies by institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, suggest at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.

Until Next time, keep healthy and see how you can prove the rumor wrong!