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The freshman 15 is definitely not a myth. I think it has been revised to the freshman 40. When I started college, I was about 150 pounds. I started to live off of a vending machine and constant soda. I think my final weight at the end of the year was around 170 pounds. One of my friends gained 50 pounds in her freshman year. Now that we're seniors, we've slimmed down.

HOW TO AVOID THE FRESHMAN 15:

BE AWARE that you could gain weight your freshman year. Many of the kids in my class said in the first week of class that they were not going to gain weight. They did. If you stay conscious of what you eat and that you need to work out, then you should be fine.
AVOID VENDING MACHINES. They are filled with pure evil (and sugar). If you must eat from a vending machine (I know how between class meals are) then choose the healthiest thing. We have animal crackers and baked chips. Those are better than a Twix and a Mountain Dew.
DRINK WATER or diet soda. Don't waste your calories on a regular soda. Drink water, tea, lemonade, or diet soda if you must. People who drink more water weigh less.
PUT DOWN THE RAMEN! Eat salad, fruit, soup, and cereal. Try to eat healthy. That means stay away from Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, or other fast food places that are so convenient that it's just tempting. Subway is better than a Big Mac. This will take some work and restraint.
EAT BREAKFAST. Even if you live in a dorm room, you can have a mini-fridge where you can keep milk. Buy lots of cereal like Cheerios, Special K, Kashi Go-Lean, or anything healthy. Don't go for Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs. If you need sweetener, use Splenda or Equal. You don't need sugar.
GET OFF WORLD OF WARCRAFT, and go work out at your gym. You're paying for it. You better use it. Some gyms are open 24 hours and some are right in your building. Get together with friends and work out together or play basketball, softball, volleyball, or ultimate frisbee. Even hackee sack is better than sitting at your computer.

Always stay aware of what you're eating and how much exorcise you're getting. Write in your school schedule a work-out time. Don't always eat pizza and drink beer (Hey wait, you're freshmen! You shouldn't be drinking beer! Alcohol is bad,
m'kay?). Alcohol is the easiest way to put on weight because it's just empty calories. Every time you get drunk, you add on a little more weight. Even if you're an athlete, you won't look like one because of all the drinking you do at parties. My roommate and I used to make fun of a girl because all she did was drink, and she was on the tennis team. She didn't look like her teammates. Also stay away from any other drugs. Marijuana (or pot or weed as the kids call it) causes the munchies. Munchies make you fat. DON'T DO IT! (Drugs are bad, m'kay?)

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