Curious question about Freshman 15?

[countrybelle]

So basically do you think its really that hard to keep the freshman 15 off? Personally I don't I actually lost well over thirty plus pounds since I started college but I was looking at some of my friends pics and some of them pardon my language here blew up like a whale, I just don't get it...now y'all don't start thinking I have anything against plus sized individuals because I don't some of the most influential people in my life are plus size, I just simply want to know if you think its hard to avoid freshman 15 or not.

Now I know budget and timing and all are contributing factors but I'm on a budget and my time is fairly limited and like I said I lost thirty plus pounds and am a complete and total health nut now

[Anonymous]

Well, it really depends on the person, but there are a lot of things that can contribute to weight gain when someone starts college:

1. May be buying/cooking their own food for the first time; may have limited money and/or have limited access to a kitchen to cook meals or space to store food; might not have much knowledge about how to eat healthy.

2. May be required to be on a "meal plan" if living on campus, so they mainly eat cafeteria food.

3. Drinking/partying - alcohol has a lot of calories and people don't usually make healthy food choices when they're drinking either.

4. May have been involved in sports in high school but not in college.

5. Stress-eating (i.e. eating junk food when cramming for exams).

6. Might not feel like they have much time for exercise (i.e. busy studying or have a busy social life).

It sounds like you made it a priority to budget your money and time to be fit and healthy, but other people might not prioritize their health in the same way you did, or might not think of it at all.

[rachiee]

I think the people who are aware of it and work hard enough to make sure they don't gain it are the ones who aren't affected by it of course. But the majority of freshmen have a lot more on their mind other than their weight especially in a big college with a lot of different things around them. A lot of the girls I graduated with are huge now but I also have a few girlfriends who took the opportunity of having a gym on campus to their advantage and are now more fit than they ever were in high school. It just depends on the person. I hate when people say that they have nothing healthy to eat at college. You have a cafeteria (at most schools) that I'm sure you can pick and chose the right things to eat.

[toolt00l]

I lost wait at the beginning of my freshman year. I know a lot of people who did.

Freshman 15 comes from kids who get so wrapped up in the social life that they would rather go out and party ( sometimes causing beer bellies and pudginess) or just hang with friends instead of work out/exercise like they had more time to do in highs chool. It can also come from the cafeteria food and being able to eat almost whenever you want.

I lost weight because I lost a little bit of muscle. Didn't have a lot of time to go to the gym and I have a high metabolism so I don't get fatter, just skinnier. I also barely drank which has an affect on it too.

I'm actually trying to gain weight again. Its hard! hope that helps

[countrybelle]

What is it with guys wanting to GAIN weight? Lol I thought the key social concept was to LOOSE weight haha

[toolt00l]

haha well usually guys who want to gain weight are guys who are either skinny or in good shape already. When I was a senior in higschol I was ripped. I'm still in good shape now but not as much as I used to be... I want to gain that muscle back/gain mass hence "gaining weight". Guys like the idea of being big and manly. If they're too skinny some might feel a little inferior.

[countrybelle]

Hahahaha ahh yes so true lol I never quite fully understood, my boyfriend never explained it and he's obsessed with getting jacked and mind you he's huge muscle wise to begin with, so thank you for clarifying for me ha ha :)

[toolt00l]

of course!

[WoIIie]

The freshman 15 is a myth, though people that tend to be unhealthy go downhill fast after High School.

[Darkfairie17]

I don't think I gained weight because of the Freshman 15, my diet got better when I left my parents house. They always had junk around. My weight gain was from thyroid issues. Some people over indulge in drinking and what not so I think that is why people gain.

Drinks have a lot of calories, same with bar food. So if people are going out a lot that could be why.

I think it can be hard for people who have bad eating habits to avoid the Freshman 15 because they are not used to eating healthy. So when they get older, like early twenties, they find it hard to keep the weight off. And a lot of people in college are in their early twenties or older. So I think that is another factor.

[PHLove]

The Freshman 15 isn't real, people gain weight at college from lack of self control and/or not going to the gym (and most of the time if your school gym isn't free you can get a discount at a local one). And even if you don't go to the gym I got a workout every time I went to a party and wound up dancing for 3 hours. I weighed 102 pounds when I started college, when I left I was 110 pounds...the only one who notices the difference is me.

[sephora]

Well, I live on campus and it is easy to gain it, but you still have the option to eat healthy foods. Personally I have not gained the freshman15 thankgod. lol I think it just depends on the person.

[countrybelle]

Lol I live on campus as well and we have healthy options tons of options and rarely anyone eats them and when they do get the freshman 15 they complain wondering how it happened

[sephora]

oh I see ahah, it sucks that the vegetables they do serve are drenched in butter so it kinda defeats the purpose. I'm pretty good at telling myself no when I see fries, or other fried food aha.

[countrybelle]

Haha sameee here lol...and your right it does defeat the purpose but still a veggie is a veggie

[Anonymous]

i think since you're on your own and have more freedom and control over your diet, your weight either goes up or goes down.

for me, I've lost 9 pounds (unintentionally) since college has started

[countrybelle]

True very true and yay good for you! Even if if was unintentional lol

[Opinion Owner]

haha I'm trying to gain the weight back actually. I was quite skinny to begin with so now I'm really underweight. (high metabolism problems...haha)

[countrybelle]

ohhhhh hahah well in that case good luck? I don't know hahah

[Opinion Owner]

haha thanks. yeah, I know its weird. you hardly ever hear people wanting to gain weight. I'm 5'9" and 113 pounds...

[raptor]

It seems you experienced the Freshman 15. It refers to both weight gain and weight loss.

[countrybelle]

i was referring to the freshman 15 in a negative context, I lost weight I didn't gain

[raptor]

I got that. What you wrote for the description gave me the impression you thought it only referred to weight gain, that's all.

[countrybelle]

I apologize then for the misunderstanding