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The freshman 15 is undeniably a myth. First-year college students who gained those dreaded 15 pounds do so because of their low self-esteem: How one feels when one matriculates at his college or university will be the determining factor in his weight gain, at least as far as his relationship to his fellow college students are concerned. Thus, this article will delineate those factors which are the primary causes in these first-year collegians' weight gain.

GETTING RID OF EXCESS BAGGAGE

Today's college student comes to college with far too much baggage. He seems to think that he would be more popular if he pretends to be something he's not, rather than showing his fellow students his mettle - just what he is made of. Thus, if he's battling low self-esteem, then he would have a tendency to not be as studious in order to maintain his popularity with the herd or group. So, it's safe for him to hide behind all this baggage, instead of being the responsible young man that he aspires to be.

Also, that principle works conversely with the student who is not as cerebral or studious as the one in the aforementioned scenario. This student will try and keep our more studious one from his ultimate objective of honest scholarship. If the studious student falls prey to this hoke, then he will drown his problems in food. The thing to do is get rid of that excess baggage that is keeping you from realizing your full potential.

AVOIDING EXTRA EATING OR HAVING SECONDS

Additionally, overeating is a direct consequence of a person's low self-esteem. And today's colleges have made the social phenomenon of the freshman 15 theory a foregone conclusion in the lives of these hardscrabbled young people. For example, when I visited a local college in Atlanta to attend a workshop, me and a couple of colleagues of mine decided to eat in the school's cafeteria during break. When I entered the cafeteria, I was impressed with the range of options on the menu: two and three kinds of meats, vegetables and all-you-can-eat buffets. It is no wonder that a young person enrolling in college for the first time, and who had a low self-esteem, would fall prey to this social phenomenon of the freshman 15 theory: He will drowned his problems by overeating. To combat this urge to overeat, you need to develop will power or to eat only nutritious meals; but avoid overeating at all costs.

ALCOHOLIC INTAKE

Another factor in the lives of these young people who battle the freshman 15 theory is their ingesting of alcoholic beverages. When you're in college, you have a lot of freedom to do anything you want to do. You're no more "Daddy's Little Girl" so you compromise to become part of that clique because this is the in-thing to do. You don't have to cater to the whims or fancy of all those social drinkers out there. You need to be your own person; to exhibit your own uniqueness, and you will eventually see a changed person as you progress in your college career.

CONCLUSION

Finally, If you would get rid of all that excess baggage, avoid overeating or going after seconds and keeping your alcoholic intake to the very minnimum; and most importantly, exhibiting your uniqueness to your fellow students, then you will see that the freshman 15 theory is nothing but a myth.

Learn more about this author, Roger Crain.
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