Getting fat?

Getting fat?
By CJ Brown

There have always been horrendous accusations about the ‘freshman fifteen.’ Urban Dictionary defines it as a phenomenon, and it is one. The reason for this is that most college campuses provide junk food resources that don’t require any real money (and often are open late at night), as well as the common practice of beer consumption in massive quantities.

Sophomore Courtney Smallwood was one of the lucky ones- only because she has strong commitments to physical excellence as a cheerleader, “….working out 3-5 times a week.” Courtney added, “Try not to give in to the junk food. That’s the biggest problem.”

Adding to the theory of prevention by sports is sophomore softball player Emily Pusti. Former high school athletes used to eating whatever they wish and keeping it off due to playing on a team “…should be careful if they don’t keep up the athleticism in college, because the metabolism slows, too.”

She continues, “… gaining the freshman fifteen is not something that really happened to me, but I’ve noticed those who were athletes in high school… gain weight because, along with the stress of being a freshman, their bodies aren't getting the exercise they’re used to.” Emily added a crucial side note, “…many freshman experience with alcohol.” This is so true; however, beer bellies are a whole separate story! Emily concluded with, “Keep eating the right way and stop drinking so much!”

Daniel Spears fell contrary to Emily’s advice. “I didn’t put on freshman fifteen… I put on freshman twenty!” He admits this is because of a fondness for beer and living solely on the most enticing cafeteria food, which is “…unhealthy!” He plans to lose it this summer by running daily and lifting weights regularly.

Holli Slipher is a senior and a serious veteran to observing the epidemic of collegiate weight gain.

“I actually didn't gain weight. I put time in at the gym and because I was living on campus, I walked to class every day.” Holli added important tips: “… Eat healthy, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods, and exercise - just walking around campus will keep you in shape.”

Occasionally, you have someone so afraid of the freshman fifteen that they avoid it enough to actually lose weight their first year in college! Freshman Ryan Day has lost twenty pounds his first year at Marian. “I didn’t keep any food in my room, and I didn’t drink any soda,” said Ryan.

These are two common pieces of advice for those seeking weight loss, or at least NOT weight gain. First, cut out soda! Just making that one simple diet change, removing soda and other un-naturally sweetened drinks such as sports drinks and juice drinks, could enable you to peel off the pounds, up to 15 pounds in one year. In fact, a recent scientific review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition pointed out that a mere 12 ounces of sugar-laced soda daily could pile on 15 pounds in a year. Moreover, a 42 oz. soda contains about 410 calories and around 35.28 teaspoons of sugar!

Second, keep from munching out of boredom! Chips over South Park add extra calories, and they can really add up. Third, cut out dessert (especially in Cooling Dining Center)! Four, eat breakfast! A multitude of studies prove that eating in the morning boosts metabolism and helps you burn food faster and more efficiently throughout the day. It also helps to eat protein before bed.