How to Avoid the Freshman 15

College education is one of the most exciting phases of a student's life. Being exposed to an altogether new world with people of same age groups is a beautiful experience during college life. While attending college plays a vital role in the growth and development of the personality, there are certain negatives that creep into the life of a teenager, though quite unknowingly. Alcohol consumption and smoking, for example are some negative habits that students get addicted to, mostly during their college life. Freshman 15 that is an occurrence related to weight gain in first year of college or university students worries many students who don't want to put on extra weight. Avoiding freshman 15 is not something that needs herculean efforts from students. All it requires is to be consistent in practicing healthy habits. Let us know more about freshman 15 concept further.

What Exactly is Freshman 15

Freshman 15 is not a term that needs an introduction. In the US, students gaining weight, close to 15 pounds or less, are referred to as freshman 15. This term generically refers to weight gain of college students especially in the first year of college or university. While stress in academics and loads of assignments are cited to be reasons of lack of physical inactivity in college students, these causes of freshman 15 are just a tip of the iceberg. Some more prominent reasons are the fast food culture and alcohol consumption that promotes unhealthy weight gain. In short, poor lifestyle and eating habits contribute to freshman 15. Many hostels in the US colleges promote all-you-can-eat style and so gaining weight is not something that must come as a surprise to teenagers. Late night parties, alcohol addiction, fast food, beverages and drinks add a lot to weight

How Not to Gain the Freshman 15

Avoiding the freshman 15 requires an individual to follow numerous steps that have been discussed below.

Quit Bad Habits
Liberty in the first year of college life is something that students experience at the fullest. They're inquisitive and curious to try new things, though more due to negative peer pressure than self-assurance. Assuming whatever everyone is doing is right makes them vulnerable to unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking and drug addiction. Mostly, alcohol drinking and teen smoking are the habits that make students fall prey to physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and consequently weight gain occurs rapidly. Learning to avoid freshman 15, students have to ensure that they stay away from unhealthy habits that are biggest deterrents to weight control measures adopted by students.

Get Adequate Sleep
Loads of work and fast work culture has promoted late night working habits. Students sleep late nights due to numerous reasons ranging from partying to studies and hence they don't get adequate hours of sleep needed for a healthy body. Medically, it has been established, at least to some extent that lack of sleep and weight gain are interrelated. Remember, it's all about healthy lifestyle.

Stop Excessive Fast Food Eating
McDonald's and KFC are yummy to the core. While you must be a fan of lickonomics of KFC, remember that fast food in essence, is not healthy, at least, for your weight. So if you're a student who skips lunch or dinner and relies mostly on fast foods, remember, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages of fast food and you must ensure that you don't consume fast food in excess.

Engage in Lots of Physical Activity
Although, sports activities are not excluded in college curriculum, majority of the students stay away from it. While individual interest is not something that needs to be challenged, disengagement from physical activities is something that needs attention. Exercises, if not sports, are another way to stay fit and healthy and are vital for losing weight. If college students wish to avoid the freshman 15, then they must engage themselves in numerous physical activities that interests them.

Relax and Avoid Stress
Youth is the time to take up challenges, no matter how big they're, with grit, determination and courage. While youngsters brimming with energy and enthusiasm about their interest area subjects, perform brilliantly, those who're weak and find studies uninteresting and may get stressed to the core. Learning to avoid stress is necessary to avoid the freshman 15. This stress may further trigger several other negative traits in their personality.

Remember, freshman 15 may or may not occur to you in the first year of college or university. It's possible however, if you indulge in any of the above activities that are unhealthy. Hence, don't forget to engage in sports, physical activities whenever you get time and of course eat healthy! Freshman 15 will automatically be a distant possibility if you live a healthy lifestyle.