Everyone has heard of the Freshman 15, right? The 15 or so pounds that freshman supposedly put on while trying to adjust from life away from home. For some people, the freshman 15 is a reality, and for some lucky individuals it’s a myth. For me, it was a harsh reality.
In Grade 12 I could eat whatever I wanted, however much I wanted, and not gain a pound. I guess my metabolism was on my side, but it also helped that I was having healthy home-cooked meals from my parents. However, as soon as I moved out to go to university my eating habits worsened. No more healthy dinners every night. No one was there to force me to eat my fruits and vegetables, and no one was buying food for me (grocery bills can add up). I fell into the habit of quick and easy dishes, microwave lunches, and a whole lot of pasta. I already noticed that I was getting winded easier than usual and some of my everyday activities were becoming more difficult. I felt sluggish, bloated, and not like myself. I knew I wasn’t healthy.
When I went home for the summer I realized I had gained 25 pounds in 8 months. While this isn’t super unhealthy right now, it is building unhealthy habits. The habits I form now will only get more difficult to break the longer I’m stuck in them. So even though I’m half way through second year, my new year’s resolution is to be healthier and finally get a handle on the “Freshman 15”. I made the resolution to be healthier last year and it didn’t exactly pan out. This year I really need to stick to it. Not for beauty’s sake, but for my own well being. My plan isn’t to lose weight, but to limit how much I gain to stay healthy. My habits aren’t healthy, and I recognize that. I want to fuel my body with the nutrients it needs.
My goal for now is to start with healthy meals. I will indulge myself, I am human after all, but my focus is to physically prepare and cook healthy meals for the week rather than falling back on microwave dinners. I’ve already made a couple of meals and I have so many more recipes pinned on Pinterest that I can’t wait to try. My goal isn’t to change how I look, but to change how I feel. Not sluggish or winded, but like my usual self again. I want to nourish my body, not just fill it. Plus, with the amount of money I spend on buying snacks and takeout I could save that money or use it to treat myself to some self-care days. I want to make the progression into living a healthy life.
The saying “you are what you eat” is very true. What you eat has so much power to change how you feel. From now on I want to fuel my body with healthy foods, and become a healthy person. Every body is beautiful and I still feel beautiful, but I don’t feel healthy. I’m looking forward to a year of good food and good feelings.