Ah, the famous freshman 15. Don’t take it as a joke, freshmen. It’s indeed real, and hits you quicker than you can imagine. It’s your first time away from home and you’re finally free! You can go out whenever you want and finally experience life without your parents’ eyes glued to you at all times.
Although freedom can be glorious, it does come with some drastic consequences, and freshman 15 is one of them. The location of UC Berkeley’s campus is a con in disguise. Although it’s great that you’re near a bunch of great food joints, they’ll taunt you into going out more often than you should. With partying, eating out frequently and no time to exercise, freshman 15 is just inevitable. But wait! Don’t be frightened! The Clog is here to give you some advice on avoiding that weight gain at all costs. It’ll be difficult, but we know you can do it.
Don’t eat out often
Eating out is one of the biggest reasons for weight gain and a very, very sad wallet. We know it’s extremely tempting to grab a bite at Gypsy’s or Artichoke’s after a long day of classes and studying. We’ve all been there, but don’t do it! Try limiting yourself to going out maybe once a week or every other week. Your body and bank account — which is already suffering from tuition — will thank you later.
Avoid having too many snacks in your dorm
Don’t stock up on snacks in your dorm. If you have a supply of all your favorite junk food, it will essentially be begging you to succumb to the freshman 15. Avoiding this habit will decrease your chances of stress-eating and munching on snacks throughout the night.
Go to the RSF
I mean, you’re already paying for it, so you might as well go. There are a ton of things you can do at the Recreational Sports Facility. Go and explore what works best for you. The RSF also provides group exercises led by instructors. The schedule of their classes can be found on the website. For most classes, you don’t have to sign up in advance, except cycling and circuit training. Group exercises are great if you have absolutely no clue what to do at the gym and don’t know how to use more than half of the machines but still want an effective work-out. Some of our favorite classes include circuit training, HIIT and zumba. If a big gym is not for you, there’s also a small gym at every residential unit!
Join P.E. classes
P.E. classes are a life-changer because they force you to exercise. If self-motivation is something that you lack or have a difficult time maintaining, then P.E. classes are perfect for you. Depending on which class you choose, you’d exercise about two to three times per week. Some classes include swimming, ballet, yoga, volleyball and taekwondo. All classes can be taken at all levels — beginner, low-intermediate, intermediate and advanced.
The freshman 15 is something that everyone fears, but remember that it’s OK to gain some weight. It happens to everyone and it’s not the end of the world. Love yourself for who you are, Golden Bears, and good luck!
