Fighting the Freshman 15
By Amanda Walloga
But what is the infamous ‘freshman 15’ exactly? Common knowledge indicates that it’s when first-year college students experience a dramatic increase in weight when they first get to college. There are several factors that are perceived to be the reasons as to why it happens and how to fight it.
Kaijia Gao, freshmen from China, claims that when she gained weight at the beginning of this year, the food offered at the dinning court was definitely the biggest reason why.
“Here, there’s so much ‘junk food’ being offered…the food I have at home [China] has a lot more vegetables,” says Gao. She expresses so much distain for the fatty foods available, and feels that the school should consider removing those options if seriously wanting to help students fight the ‘freshman 15.’
Gao explained that the food she’s use to eating has not only more vegetables, but also less sodium, less fat and less sweets. Another observation Gao had was the availability of soda and how much students seem to drink it everyday. Back home in China, Gao explains, soda is rarely accompanied with meals and consumed during the day- water is what she drinks almost all of the time.
It seems that Gao emphasized the drinking soda often, having burger and fries everyday, the lack of exercise and sleep were the main reasons why she gained weight after only three weeks of attending Hood.
Many individuals are talking about mindset and say that it’s the most impactful factor.
Gao brought up having positivity; having a positive mindset helps get you thinking healthy, in order to BE healthy.
Incoming freshmen are usually hammered down with the warning “don’t gain the freshman 15” right when they’re going off to college for the first time by friends and family. But really, is it just the eating habits of freshmen? Is it possible that there are other factors that contribute?
Many students seem to think that the ‘freshman 15’ is due to a combination of eating unhealthy, lack of exercise and stress. Many students at Hood College feel that having a positive outlook is the best way to fight the freshman 15..
Hood College gym employee Lauren Lesko says that, “Having a good mindset is really important for staying healthy.”
Lesko explained that making exercise apart of a weekly routine helps students to maintain body weight and manage stress. Lesko said that working out increases motivation, gives you more energy and helps get you in a more positive mindset.
“Trying to stay healthy is really a mental thing, not a physical thing,” says Lesko.
Moving away from home to college is a “harsh whip lash from reality,” she said. Working out helps relieve that stress and reduce the chance of poor eating habits from developing.
Eating unhealthy is a choice made by the individual, not a forced option our dinning court makes for students, says Lesko. Students have the choice to make wise health choices or poor health choices.
Laura Shriver, a freshman at Hood, says she avoided gaining weight by sticking to a healthful, vegetarian diet.
She said everyday she drinks milk everyday and a lot of water. She avoids soda and walks everywhere. Along with these daily steps, Shriver maintains a positive mental outlook.
Even though many individuals and health experts advise working out, Shriver explains that the ‘little’ health conscious things you do everyday have a bigger impact than working out.
She suggests eating healthful snacks instead of fatty foods. Shriver says that she snacks on ice cream, and that seems to fight off cravings for fatty foods.
According to DeDe Trap, registered nurse at Hood’s Health Center, it can be difficult to see if there are weight-gaining trends among our fellow freshmen and whether or not.
How much sleep a student gets, amount of stress, whether or not a student smokes and importantly the student’s mindset- these factors weight in a lot.
Daily exercises like walking was what Trapp recommends for students trying to get exercise in their day. She explained to me students should make walking to places as their exercise because of how effective it can be.
Trapp excitedly brought up the “fitbit” and how some Hood faculty & members are getting the fitbit and LOVING how effective it is.
The fitbit is an online and mobile app that helps track weight, food intake, water intake and goals for loosing weight.
She explained that if more freshmen had the fitbit, more freshmen could be getting more exercise and possibly reducing weight gain.