Before starting, I want to state that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with gaining weight. All bodies are beautiful, and everyone is deserving no matter how they look. On the flip side, there is also the aspect of health that is important to uphold, not for aesthetic purposes, but as a form of self-care and respect. Of course, weight is certainly not the only determining factor for how healthy a person is, but can be used in conjunction with other methods.
With that said, I wanted to address the phenomenon known as the “Freshman 15”, a pretty well-known idea that the stress and lifestyle changes freshmen face lead them to gain 15 pounds. The Freshman 15 is always regarded negatively as if our bodies’ natural response to dealing with all these stress factors is unacceptable when in reality, it’s completely normal and something we shouldn’t be so deathly afraid of.
With that said, I wanted to address the phenomenon known as the “Freshman 15”, a pretty well-known idea that the stress and lifestyle changes freshmen face lead them to gain 15 pounds. The Freshman 15 is always regarded negatively as if our bodies’ natural response to dealing with all these stress factors is unacceptable when in reality, it’s completely normal and something we shouldn’t be so deathly afraid of.
As someone who’s just been in college for 2 months, I’ve somehow been able to take care of my body alongside the crippling stress of neverending deadlines and impending failures. Again, I strongly encourage everyone to shift the attention away from how your body looks, but rather how it feels, so here are some of my tips:
Diet over exercise
When I say diet, I don’t mean some caloric deficit or crazy restriction such as keto; I’m just talking about the food you consume on a daily basis. As many studies have shown, being “in-shape” or “fit” is heavily dependent on your diet, and it’s nearly impossible to outwork a bad diet.
However, this isn’t the most important point. For me, eating a healthy diet means feeding my body with nutritious vegetables, fruits, grains, carbs, protein, and more. If I am craving ice cream or donuts, I’ll eat them and not feel guilty for nourishing myself. When I eat, it’s not about how many calories are going in versus out, but rather how the vegetables will keep me satiated, and the fresh fruits will provide me with a burst of energy. It’s all about perspective and having everything in moderation.
Still exercise
Similarly, I don’t view exercise as a form of self-punishment or burning off the food I ate; it’s such a toxic mentality that has somehow become normalized. I genuinely enjoy exercising and allowing the endorphins to spread throughout, lifting my mood while improving so many aspects of my health. I love running around the neighborhood with the fresh air hitting my face, I love feeling that slow but oh so satisfying burn with at-home workouts, and I love the sensation of being so out of breath but proud of pushing through. Aside from maintaining a physique, exercise is clinically shown to reduce stress, improve mood, increase brain function and clarity, and so much more. Find something you love and try to block out some time slots every week. If you can pull out 20 minutes from scrolling on TikTok or 10 minutes from sleeping in, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the time, especially once you start feeling the positive effects.
Sleep actually matters
Trust me when I say that I’ve had my fair share of sleep deprivation throughout high school and college so far. Supposedly, 7 to 9 hours is the magic number, but it’s pretty hard to do that for most of us. Still, I really, really try to get an acceptable amount of sleep every night. Studies have proven that those who are consistently sleep-deprived are at a greater risk for obesity, heart disease, increased cortisol (a stress hormone) levels, and more. Personally, the thought that this will decrease my cognitive abilities and reflect poorly on my grades is enough to scare me. All I’m saying is: prioritize your sleep and it’ll pay off in the long run, including avoiding the Freshman 15.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remind ourselves that our weight is probably one of the most insignificant things about us; there’s so much more in life to care about. Look at this list as ways to love and take care of yourself, and think of the Freshman 15 as nothing more than our bodies’ natural process. Health and self-love come first, even when facing an even scarier phenomenon known as college.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
Diet over exercise
When I say diet, I don’t mean some caloric deficit or crazy restriction such as keto; I’m just talking about the food you consume on a daily basis. As many studies have shown, being “in-shape” or “fit” is heavily dependent on your diet, and it’s nearly impossible to outwork a bad diet.
However, this isn’t the most important point. For me, eating a healthy diet means feeding my body with nutritious vegetables, fruits, grains, carbs, protein, and more. If I am craving ice cream or donuts, I’ll eat them and not feel guilty for nourishing myself. When I eat, it’s not about how many calories are going in versus out, but rather how the vegetables will keep me satiated, and the fresh fruits will provide me with a burst of energy. It’s all about perspective and having everything in moderation.
Still exercise
Similarly, I don’t view exercise as a form of self-punishment or burning off the food I ate; it’s such a toxic mentality that has somehow become normalized. I genuinely enjoy exercising and allowing the endorphins to spread throughout, lifting my mood while improving so many aspects of my health. I love running around the neighborhood with the fresh air hitting my face, I love feeling that slow but oh so satisfying burn with at-home workouts, and I love the sensation of being so out of breath but proud of pushing through. Aside from maintaining a physique, exercise is clinically shown to reduce stress, improve mood, increase brain function and clarity, and so much more. Find something you love and try to block out some time slots every week. If you can pull out 20 minutes from scrolling on TikTok or 10 minutes from sleeping in, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the time, especially once you start feeling the positive effects.
Sleep actually matters
Trust me when I say that I’ve had my fair share of sleep deprivation throughout high school and college so far. Supposedly, 7 to 9 hours is the magic number, but it’s pretty hard to do that for most of us. Still, I really, really try to get an acceptable amount of sleep every night. Studies have proven that those who are consistently sleep-deprived are at a greater risk for obesity, heart disease, increased cortisol (a stress hormone) levels, and more. Personally, the thought that this will decrease my cognitive abilities and reflect poorly on my grades is enough to scare me. All I’m saying is: prioritize your sleep and it’ll pay off in the long run, including avoiding the Freshman 15.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remind ourselves that our weight is probably one of the most insignificant things about us; there’s so much more in life to care about. Look at this list as ways to love and take care of yourself, and think of the Freshman 15 as nothing more than our bodies’ natural process. Health and self-love come first, even when facing an even scarier phenomenon known as college.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆