Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Post

Do you remember the good old days in high school when you could eat anything you could get your hands on and not gain a pound? Well I remember it quite clearly. I was a cheerleader in high school. I was called the "little" one, so of course, I was the flyer getting all this attention of being called little and skinny made me get a big head and I thought I could never gain weight. Then when I graduated and was getting ready for college, everyone begins to warn you about the freshman 15. If you are not aware of this frightening term it means freshmen in college are more than likely to gain 15 pounds because they are no longer in the safety net of mommy and daddy. There are many temptations like fast food, the endless amounts at the dining hall and late night study sessions with ice cream, chips, and goldfish crackers. All the food your parents would not let you eat. I found out the hard way that gaining the freshman fifteen is not a myth. It truly can happen to anyone. I went from a size 0-2 to size 3-5. I no longer took nightly jogs as I had before. I began eating fattening foods and fast food, as I never had before. Then I decided to move in with my boyfriend. We had our own house so I was able to eat whatever I wanted. Sometimes, I would see how much he could eat and I would eat as much as he did even though I wouldn't be able to breathe I was so full. The weekends consisted of playing beer pong until the cups became blurry. Addutuibakkt, all the girly drinks were full of sugar and carbohydrates. When I recently stepped on the scale, I weighed 120 pounds, the most I have ever weighed in my life. I now go to the local gym, sometimes I am not very motivated until I step onto the scale again. I have started to eat healthy again and try to avoid fast food. So far, I have lost six pounds and am on my way back to normal. I am now at a size three, which is comfortable for me. If I can give you any advice is do not gain the weight in the first place. Avoid late night snacks, fast food and the large portions at the dining hall. Most importantly, you need to remember to stay active Take the stairs instead of the elevator and be smart with the choices you make. Who knows, they might end up calling it the sophmore slim-down. •

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