The Freshman 15

Avoiding the Freshman 15

New students tend to gain weight very quickly when they hit the campus. Many things contribute to this weight gain including a lack of exercise, poor eating habits especially poor choices with the cafeteria food and obviously too much alcohol consumption, especially beer. (It is fascinating to hear some students turn down a cheeseburger due to its probable contribution to the Frosh 15 and yet they will consume excessive alcoholic, calorie-laden beverages on the weekends.)

Here are some tips for minimizing your potential for the Freshman 15:

Eat less more often for sustained energy. Eat 4 small meals a day including fruit, veggies meat and fish.
Know when to stop eating. This means no food within three hours of bedtime. Eating to close to bedtime can easily disrupt your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Eat live foods including fresh raw fruit, salad and either raw or slightly steamed vegetables. Packaged food that is "refined" or "processed" is dead food. Keep red meat to a minimum.
"Just say no" to bread, pasta, and rice - carbohydrates that sap your energy.
Avoid fried foods at all costs!!!
Sugar is your enemy. If you eat it you wear it! Also, sugar depresses your psyche and immune system making you feel sick and tired. Instead of that candy bar, grab a piece of fruit instead.
Drink water all day long. Try to have at least eight full glasses of water each day.
Stay motivated to stay healthy. Get a workout buddy and hit the gym regularly with your friend. If you can't get to a gym, give your body at least 30 minutes of movement per day - walk, stretch, dance, swim, hike, bike - you get the picture.

Video

The Frosh 15 video(316k)