What’s the Skinny?

Summer time comes and goes and the University empties up and fills back up accordingly. However, I cannot help but notice that this year the student population seems a bit less….full? Examining the statistics, it sure as anything indicates that there are no less students. Yet, I still have the same pressing feeling that the school seems a bit smaller. And then it hit me. Standing in CVS flipping through a magazine, I saw an ultra skinny Guilianna Ranic staring back at me. All her eyes were saying was, “Please feed me!” That “aha” moment made me realize, that’s where all our school had gone…too far down the skinny path.
 

Sometimes I wish I could just stand at the top of the Rotunda and yell down to all girls, “Ladies, you are so incredibly beautiful just the way you are!” Way too often have dinner and lunch dates been passed over, because girl friends have been too concerned about packing on too many pounds. According to healthyplace.com, one third of college woman develop “disordered eating” habits during college. Listen to that, ladies, 1 in 3! That means of you and two other friends, there is a high chance that at least one of you suffers from some problem with food. This trend needs to come to a stop and the only way to make a difference is for everyone to finally embrace the beautiful bodies they have been given by their mothers. Don’t get me wrong, this is all being written by a self-proclaimed health nut. However, there is no excuse for skipping a meal, or refusing to feed a growling stomach…all in pursuit of looking like a malnutritioned college student. Here are some things every girl should strive to do, and I guarantee you life will feel a bit less stressful.

Buy a new dress
Finding that beautiful piece of fabric that drapes your body in all the right places will do wonders in making you feel like you are in your best shape. Some things that looked great three years ago may no longer be flattering and that is nothing to fight against. It just gives you a great reason to spend some time hitting the racks at Duo.
 
 Indulge in Ice Cream
I find it sad how often girl friends congratulate one another for being “strong” enough for not enjoying ice cream when you craved it. Just listen to that sentence…you “craved” something and denied your body of the satisfaction of a good treat. With all the stresses of classes and the pressures of school, the least you could treat your body to is some sugary goodness, and even that can be enjoyed keeping a healthy body in consideration. Enjoy a delicious “Wow Cow” at Arch’s, with low calories per oz., and invest in some delicious Weight Watchers Ooey Gooey Brownie. That will be sure to give your body the satisfaction it demands.
 
Say Yes to a favorite Childhood Treat
Toast, butter and sugar? Chocolate milk? A big, juicy cheeseburger? It is refreshing to the soul to occasionally indulge in a treat that was so perfect, when a perfect body was the last of your worries. Obviously, indulging all the time in carbs smothered in buttery goodness will lead you nowhere towards happiness (and your poor heart will never forgive me). Yet, sometimes it’s great to just let your body be a little bad in order to appreciate just how good you’ve been about those vegetables!
 
Obviously all this advice is easier said than done, as when walking to class the twenty beautifully fit girls running make that candy bar seem no more appealing. However, just realize that all of us are active girls, with stresses on our minds and bodies that are immeasurable to us today. A little indulgence, along with a little break from the gym will do no harm to our images. Instead it will make our University get back to its healthy, full self.