Ah, the Freshman 15. Defined by Urban Dictionary as, "when a first year college student comes back the following year and appears to have gained about 15 pounds," this idea every year makes its way into the mind of already nervous first year college students. Not only do these students have to worry about making friends, leaving the comfort of their own home for the first time, waking up for class on time, they also need to worry about whether or not they will gain trivial pounds.
For many first year students, this is the first time they have completely been away from home. For the past 18 or so years, they have had mom or dad buying their groceries, then preparing a whole meal for them. Most of the time the meals would be well-thought and balanced allowing the children never to think twice whether the food was good for them or not. It was perfectly set before them with the only responsibility they had to do is clear their plate.
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Like many first year college students, the idea of gaining the dreaded Freshman 15 scared me. It was daunting. Friends and family would tell you stories about when they went to college and inevitably gained the fifteen pounds "just like that". I would scroll through my various social media accounts, seeing people that graduated a year or a two before me also inevitably put on weight since they graduated high school a few years ago. Thoughts raced through my mind. What if this happens to me? What if I gain the Freshman 15? What if I post a picture on Instagram and people sit around and think about how much weight I put on?
As I entered my first weeks of college, this preconceived notion about gaining weight continued to prey on my mind. It was always there, knocking at my door. I started to overthink everything I put in my body. I couldn't seem to find the time to work out like I was previously accustomed to. Was the time I ate chicken nuggets at 2 in the morning going to be the thing that will push my body over the edge,making me suddenly gain the dreaded weight? Was it going to be partying in the middle of the week that made me gain 15 pounds?
Like most first year students, I inevitably gained the weight. Did I gain the whole freshman 15? To be honest, I am not sure. But did I gain some weight? Yes I did, but does it matter? No, it doesn't. It doesn't at all because here's the thing: no matter how much weight I gained or didn't gain, I was the same person that walked onto campus in August. Sure, my number on the scale may have shifted a little, but that was the only thing that shifted. My friends still liked me. My parents still loved me. I still got likes on my pictures and statuses. I made friends. Everything was fine, actually everything was better than fine. Life was great.
First year students, as you make your way onto campus in August or September, don't let this dumb, preconceived notion consume you. Eat that cheesy pizza with your best friends during finals week. What are you going to remember more, what you put in your body that one Tuesday night or the laughs you shared over that pizza? (Answer: the pizza because it sounds amazing) Release the thoughts about gaining Freshman 15. Instead, gain experiences, memories, love, inside jokes, and friends. Worry about gaining the good things and don't let the dumb Freshman 15 weigh you and your first year down.
