"Freshman 15"

The Freshman 15 is not a myth. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, striking some of my good friends, men and women. There are countless causes for it. Some students hibernate in their dorm room all day, instant messaging, microwaving popcorn, or playing video games. For others, it is the three times a day all you can eat buffet, with ice cream available at every meal.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Every university has a fitness center available to its students. USE IT! Too often students live on campus, right next door to a gym and never venture inside to use it. It’s included in your thousands of dollars you paid in tuition, so you may as well take advantage of it. It’s also a great place to meet other students.

If you don’t have access to a fitness center or you still can’t work up the courage to make it out of your cave, try some home remedies. There are plenty of ways you can keep off the weight without lifting any. Online, you can find a plethora of proven fitness products.

In addition to this, eating dorm food does not have to be unhealthy. Many dining halls have salad bars, and remember, eat in moderation. Don’t sit down with a plate piled high with slices of cheese pizza. Instead, try to recall the little food pyramid you see on the backs of cereal boxes, eat balanced meals, the bowls of fruit you see in the buffet line aren’t for show, they are for you to eat. An apple a day just may keep the Freshman 15 away.