by Krystle Hernandez

Created on: February 04, 2009

So many of us have been faced with the frightful "freshman fifteen" first-hand. Yes, we spend our childhood and teen years as stick thin, carefree youngsters with absolutely no idea of the definition of a calorie, and no desire to learn the secrets of celebrity weight loss. Then, we hit puberty, and only a couple of years later, are thrown head first into the hormone-saturated, discipline-free, beer-flowing environment known as "College."

The term "freshman fifteen" was coined to refer to the typical fifteen pounds (and in many cases more) that young college freshmen put on during their first year of college. So, how exactly are you supposed to avoid the freshman fifteen or similar college weight gain? The key to surviving this fat filled phenomenon is to understand where the weight gain comes from and recognize ways to avoid it.

Inactivity.
Although you may not think so, college freshmen are generally more inactive than they were in high school. Throughout junior high and high school, students are often encouraged to participate in team sports. In most private schools, and many public schools, a physical education course or gym class is also required. But, when students get to college, there are often no requirements in terms of physical activity. Furthermore, the "team sports" that they are used to playing are typically reserved for more advanced players that have been recruited to play on the school's team. For those students who don't particularly excel at a sport, but still want to join a team, or just didn't make the uber competitive cut at the university-level, there are some other alternatives! Check out your school's website to learn more about any intramural sports that they may offer. In many cases, students will come together and form teams that play against each other within the school. Intramurals are a great way to meet new people, join a team, and find some new friends during your first year of college, AND they'll also help you stay fit. If you aren't into intramurals, you can usually take dance classes, or some other physically-oriented classes (such as martial arts) for college-level credits as an elective. Talk to your advisor and he or she will more likely than not be more than happy to give you more information concerning these courses. Finally, if you'd rather focus on your academics, and be more flexible when it comes to your work-out schedule, consider joining a local gym, or visit the student center's gym, where as a student, you'll will

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