As we all know, college life can be hard enough with classes and studying. College students are often expected to balance their social life, courses, fitness and health.
There are endless unrealistic expectations that college students are expected to achieve in order to be “successful.” But with only 12 hours in the day, where do we find the time?
One of the biggest myths that float around the college campus is the freshman 15. Here is what you need to know: the freshman 15 is the notion that you will gain 15 pounds when you enter college due to outside factors.
Food can be a huge stressor for a lot of young adults in our society. This myth can create anxiety around eating, going to the gym and living a sedentary lifestyle.
According to Charlotte Markay and Oona Hanson, who write for the U.S. News & World Report, “Popular concerns about the freshman 15 are based on fear, not fact.”
This fear has people wondering: am I eating healthy enough? Am I eating too much? Should I be working out more?
The freshman 15 allows for eating disorders and body dysmorphia to run rampant on our college campuses and that’s not OK.
As a junior in college, I too have felt the pressure of the freshman 15 and where my body lands on the scale of desirability. During my freshman year would hyperfixate on what I was eating and how much I was eating to avoid gaining the freshman 15.
Enough is enough. We as a collective, need to put an end to this fear-mongering myth. Here are some things to remember when navigating the college life:
It is perfectly fine to not go to the gym. With the balancing act of school and internships, it is completely reasonable that there might not be time to go to the gym. Do not let people shame you for your priorities.
Additionally, there should be absolutely no pressure to go to the gym. The gym is intended to be a place to exercise and/or cope with stress. If you feel guilty for not going, you might not be going for the right reasons.
Secondly, weight fluctuation is a normal occurrence. Just like many others, my body weight has fluctuated substantially throughout the years. I have been very thin and I have been heavier and I was happy both times.
Happiness does not derive from your weight.
Please, please, please remember: food is fuel. You need food to properly function and feel good. Restricting food is the beginning of a slippery slope that can result in an eating disorder.
According to Markay and Hanson, “Most people gain no more than a few pounds their freshman year of college.”
Risking an eating disorder over a myth is not worth the negative repercussions to your health.
The transition from high school to college can be tricky for more than one reason. During these transitioning years, your body is also likely to change. Therefore, the body you had in early high school may not be the body you’re meant to have now.
It is important to appreciate all the things your body can do for you and treat it with the most respect. Just because your body does not look like someone else’s does not mean that yours is of less value in any way.
A positive aspect of our society is that beauty is within the eye of the beholder. Your insecurities may be someone else’s favorite thing about you. Don’t sell yourself short because you don’t look like how you think you’re supposed to.
I cannot stress this enough, if you are hungry, eat! Regardless of whether other people are eating or not, listening to your hunger cues can be one of the most important things you can do for your body.
Take care of your body and mind. You are worthy of happiness regardless of your size or what a myth tells you.