TEEN CENTER :: COLLEGE CENTER : FRESHMAN JOURNAL

FRESHMAN JOURNAL: APRIL 17, 2007
'The Freshman 15 Was Real, and It Was Happening to Me.'

Ashley C. Sawyer

"Wow, we're so proud of you and glad that you're enjoying college, but my, my, did you put on weight Ashley?" I stared in disbelief as this backward compliment came from the mouths of several of the women from my church. In my mind, I responded with "My, my, do you have a few more grey hairs?" Or perhaps an "Of course Mrs. So and So, I have put on weight, but looks like you've done the same." However, never would I let such a rude response come out of my mouth, but I could not hide it in my face that my size had, shall we say, adjusted since I started college.

From what I have heard, it happens to many of us. I am not sure who coined the term, but it is often called the "Freshman 15." It represents the pounds a college freshman is expected to gain during his or her first year. Personally, I resent the title. It is hard for anyone who is not in our position to understand how difficult it is to maintain the same weight we had before we started staying up late nights to work on last-minute papers, study for exams or go on Facebook. The food we eat, of course, is not the most nutritious. Most of us eat processed dining-hall food throughout the day-chicken fingers, French fries, burgers and oh, a salad. Then in the evenings--once the dining halls have closed--we consume Buffalo wings, Chinese food and pizza.

Now I must pay the cost for my change in lifestyle.

"Wow Ashley, put on a few pounds there?" my mother said. I already realized it, but I know my mother and family could not pass up an opportunity to remind me of a part of myself that needed improvement. Of course, my brother had to add his own insight on the situation, with a "Yeah Ashley, you look like an elephant." I know that my brother's comment was a huge exaggeration but it helped get the point get across. Thankfully, I do not have a mother who will torment me or constantly remind me of something so miniscule, but my brother has no trepidation about torture.

This must be some type of punishment for my past wrong doings. I always used to think that I was invincible, and the things that happened to other people would never happen to me. I used to secretly laugh at my older friends when they came home from college with a few extra pounds. I liked to mention to people how "So and so had 'blown up' in size." Never did I imagine that it would be me on the other end of those jokes.

When I went shopping for Christmas gifts for my family, I purchased a pair of jeans for myself. I could fit into them with ease, but a few months later I was in for a surprise. I tried them on again when I visited home for Spring Break and had problems buttoning them. Then suddenly the button popped off. I "suddenly" realized that I was not a size 6 anymore, and that I could no longer try to convince myself otherwise. The Freshman 15 was real, and it was happening to me.

I would like to note that a person's weight should not become an obsession, and there is no such thing as a perfect body or weight. But I do have an ideal size that I like to maintain in order to feel comfortable and healthy. When I began to examine the lifestyle I have picked up in college, I recognized the connection between my weight increase and me running myself ragged. I allowed myself to procrastinate on assignments and become overly invested in several different extra-curricular activities. I had not set aside time for my own health. Perhaps the Freshman 15 is a reminder that we need to take a break and exercise or do whatever necessary to maintain good health.

The Freshman 15 is a unifying factor in that it is one thing almost all college freshmen have in common. But I cannot pretend as if I have been completely helpless in the matter. I did make some choices that helped add on the pounds. And recently, I made the choice to be happy with who I am as long as I have done my best to stay healthy. So going into next semester, I plan on making time to exercise regularly, avoid making excuses, eat earlier rather than right before I go to bed at 2 a.m., and if I lose the weight, great, and if I don't, that's OK too.