Typically the first semester at a college or university is a transitional period for a college freshman, where they break apart from the rules and regulations of their parents to become self ruling young adults. This change of lifestyle removes the parental guidance teens have lived with their entire life. In this new environment, a college freshman is able to go as they please, do what they please, drink and eat what they want, when they want.
Causes of the Freshman 13
The causes of the freshman 13 may seem to be common sense for many people, but others struggle to understand why they gain so much weight during the first year at a college or university. Here is a list of a few of the causes of the freshman thirteen that should be avoided as much as possible:· Lack of exercise
· Eating late at night
· Keeping unhealthy snacks on hand (in the dorm room)
· Eating unhealthy cafeteria food
· Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol · napping too much
· caffeine in the evening
Freshman 13 Facts
Contrary to common belief, most freshman college students do not gain 13 pounds. Recent studies show that on average, most freshmen gain 5 pounds. Note: This is just an average, indicating there are students who gain much more weight than that, and some students loose weight.
The Freshman 13 Challenge
The freshman 13 challenge is to stay fit and eat healthy while maintaining a very busy schedule. Most college students are constantly on the go, which makes it more difficult to find time to exercise, and to eat right instead of just grabbing "fast food". Challenge yourself to make healthy eating and regular exercise part of your daily routine to help avoid the freshman 13. Instead of riding the bus everywhere walk thru the campus and site see ( it is truly a beautiful campus).If you can, instead of eating big meals through out the day, try and eat small meals to speed up your metabolism. Also due to the heat in Tallahassee I advise you to always carry water with you. Drinking too much juice and soda will dehydrate you and add unnecessary sugar to your body. Also, in college you will experience many BBQ’s, this is fine but don’t overdue yourself with the greasy foods. Also FSU’s gym is free to any FSU student, take the time to visit the gym and see what you like. They also offer classes such as Zumba, Kicking Boxing, Spinning, and much more. I know we all tend to eat what taste's good rather then getting the nutrition we need, but lets balance it out. For example, pizza taste amazing, but not at 3 am. Think smart, Think bright, Think what is best for you, Think for your future.
Here are 13 easy ways to adopt a healthy food attitude:
· avoid eating when stressed, while studying, or while watching TV
· eat slowly
· eat at regular times
· try not to skip meals (this is something that happens a lot in college)
· keep between-meal and late-night snacking to a minimum
· choose a mix of nutritious foods
· pick lower-fat options when you can, such as low-fat milk instead of whole milk or light salad dressing instead of full-fat dressing
· watch the size of your portions
· resist going back for additional servings (this is hard for me, yikes!)
· steer clear of vending machines
· avoid eating too much fast food (Mc Donald’s is walking distance from campus, O_o)
· keep healthy snacks like fruit and vegetables on hand in your room
· replace empty-calorie soft drinks with water every so often
Real Freshman 13 Weight Gain Stories
-Michigan University
