Fighting the "Freshman 15"

How many of us go to college worried that we’ll gain the freshman fifteen after being bombarded with a million horror stories? YIKES! Well, if you’re anything like me, you may not gain the freshman fifteen at all. No, no. I gained the Junior 20!

But never fear! Shani is here to give you some tips on how to keep your figure and stay in shape.

1. Cook if you can

This can be a time-consuming task but with friends, this can be a very fun and worthwhile activity. When we cook, we leave out a lot of preservatives and we can keep a better eye on what we’re eating.  Think about it.  What is really in that cafeteria food anyways? And who can pronounce all of those foreign ingredients listed on the wrappers of our favorite packaged foods? They are foreign to us and are probably foreign to our bodies too.

2. Fight the Finger Foods

I love fries! And I bet most of you do too.  But remember that it is deep fried in grease. And while burgers and chicken nuggets/strips are quite delicious, these aren’t necessarily the best sources of protein.  What I won’t do is encourage you to stop eating these foods.  We all want to enjoy what we eat. We just need to eat certain food in moderation.  So instead, try substituting a handful of for a spoonful of string beans. Instead of chicken strips, maybe try a salad with (grilled or breaded) chicken on it.

3. Always Stay Active

This is how I avoided the freshman fifteen.  I joined my college step squad and I went to the gym to play squash regularly.  Find fun physical activities, ones that won’t make you dread running around, sweating and hopping up and down. Swimming, for example, is a great way to stay in shape.

4. Limit the “Love Pudge”

Beware! It’s easy to get in the rhythm of staying in with your significant other.  And with them reminding you everyday of how beautiful you are, you’ll forget that going out on dessert dates and cuddling on a couch too often leads to weight gain. Try not to get too attached to them because you’re in for a serious strike to your ego if you’re not happy with your body when you break up; they won’t be there to lift your spirits and remind you of how beautiful you are anymore.

This is how I gained my Junior 20.