<p>I lost weight my freshman year, but as a sophomore I’ve more than made up for it this year. Being abroad in a country of much delicious chocolate is problematic. Sad thing is otherwise I’ve been healthy; I run six miles about four days a week and eat a ton of fruits and vegetables. Nevertheless, I’ve gained 15-20 pounds easy this year.</p>
<p>Whenever I’m in college I tend to lose weight. I’m not sure why. Where you go to school is probably an important factor. I’m in NY and you basically have to walk minimum 40 minutes a day for classes alone.</p>
<p>No, I gained 20 lbs of muscle mass. I am in a strength training regimen and high protein diet until girls are a reality : ).</p>
<p>Develop a chronic and permanent stomachache. Nothing you eat stays in there. Everything you eat makes you sick. It sucks, and you feel weak and sick all the time, but you lose weight very quickly.</p>
<p>I’m kind of like that. My stomach’s really sensitive, so almost everything I eat makes me sick. Except all the foods I really like all make me sick. At home I used to take vast quantities of Pepto bismol.</p>
<p>I couldn’t escape the freshman 15, but worked it off mainly by fixing my diet and periodically doing some cardio. I stopped drinking sodas and eating fast food, which helped a lot more than I thought. I say just try to stay away from bad eating habits and try to keep what you eat as similar to what you were eating before college.</p>
<p>Why are diet sodas bad for you?</p>
<p>Aspartame. It’s a known carcinogen.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=futurenyustudent]
Aspartame. It’s a known carcinogen.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Incorrect. Some studies have shown an increase in certain neoplasms associated statistically with aspartame intake; most, however, have not.</p>
<p>More importantly, “known carcinogen” is a very specific classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; it essentially means that the substance has been decided to be a group 1 carcinogen. Aspartame has never been classified as such; nor does it appear likely to ever be.</p>
<p>As far as statistical significance goes, both red meat and alcohol have been associated far more strongly with cancer than aspartame… and tons of people still consume lots of those without ill effect.</p>
<p>Educate yourself, don’t spread misinformation. Especially when that misinformation could result in somebody choosing a less healthy alternative (regular vs. diet soda) out of ignorance.</p>
<p>I tried eating healthy…but within the first month of last semester I was like, screw that.</p>
<p>Besides, soda is soda is soda. I doubt choosing diet vs. regular soda is going to make that big of a difference. It certainly isn’t worth it to me.</p>
<p>I came into college an underfed waif and now I’m, like, almost average weight.</p>
<p>So far this year I’ve gained roughly 10 pounds, though most of that I can safely attribute to muscle mass gained from working out at the gym.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=futurenyustudent]
Besides, soda is soda is soda. I doubt choosing diet vs. regular soda is going to make that big of a difference. It certainly isn’t worth it to me.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, soda is soda, but some soda is less bad for you than some other soda. In this case, if a person doesn’t prefer the taste of regular soda vs. diet soda, all things equal they should drink the diet soda. The aspartame thing could potentially cause people who really should be drinking diet soda to drink regular soda based on unfounded fears of cancer. That’s why I responded.</p>
<p>Diet Soda + Steak or Regular Soda + Salad?</p>
<p>I gained freshman 15 but I was underweight so I’m glad I gained some pounds. I also go to teh gym once in a while to make sure I can still run the mile and open a jar of pickles. :)</p>
<p>I prefer the taste of diet coke and I like being thin, so no problem there.</p>
<p>I’ve gained about 20 pounds so far this year as a freshmen, though I am trying to gain weight, so no big deal. I think that if I wanted to, it wouldn’t be that difficult to maintain my weight. It’s a lot more difficult to get past this 20 pound plateau, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>Do many people go to the gym regularly on campus?</p>
<p>At ASU they do.</p>
<p>Ha. No.</p>
<p>Although I get the feeling most of it isn’t fat. I walk A LOT… my dorm is fifteen minutes from classes, so I usually spend about an hour to an hour and a half every day just walking (and pretty quickly, too… you can’t walk slowly in the city). People say they can’t really tell a difference from the beginning of the year (I can, though :().</p>
<p>I started the year off at 112lbs, but ballooned up to about 120 by winter break. Then I worked out 2 hours a day 4 days a week for the duration of my 6 week winter break until I got to 110. And then now I’m at 115 again.</p>
<p>A net gain of +3lbs, which will hopefully be worked off when it’s nice and warm outside…!</p>
<p>I might’ve gained a pound or two, but I think it fluctuates a little. No big difference though.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about gaining the freshman 15, I would say…don’t be. Maybe I have really good self control or something but it’s not that hard to do. 15 pounds is a lot…maybe it’s easy to gain 5 pounds but 15 would take a decent change of lifestyle.</p>
<p>I haven’t read this thread at all but here are my personal tips:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>if you’re going to drink, know that alcohol has a lot of calories. so if you really need to get drunk, just take shots, don’t mix up all these things and add a ton of beer…all of that can get up to 1000+ calories pretty fast.</p></li>
<li><p>dining halls - I know people who get cookies/ice cream/brownies every single time they go. Just don’t! It’s really not that hard, if you’re having a bad day then you can treat yourself or if something looks really good then fine, but it’s really unnecessary to have dessert every single meal every single day. The 5 second pleasure is not worth it in the long run. Also, get salads if they have them! a lot of people neglect their fruit/vegetables. If the food they make look super creamy/fattening, consider getting something else, it’s all about what you choose. And eat how much you would normally eat at home, don’t treat it as an eat as much as I can buffet.</p></li>
<li><p>There are a lot of free food events. Pizza and soda are a guarantee. That doesn’t mean you always have to eat/drink those though, maybe just go to the event or don’t eat, or just get one slice of pizza. Free food is always tempting, but don’t overload.</p></li>
<li><p>Finally - work out! It’s hard to muster hte energy to, especially if you’re loaded with work. But if there’s a free gym, then use it! because later in life you’ll have to pay for it and it might be far away from your house. Just take a brief 30 break from studying every few days and get a good workout. It works wonders! Plus the endorphins.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I totally understand why people gain so much weight in college. I’ve seen a lot of people do it. But it still comes down to your choices, it’s not like you’re doomed.</p>