When students first come to college their freshman year, it can be a huge lifestyle change. There are harder classes, parties, student orgs and of course, an abundance of food from the cafeteria.
At first, the amount of food is nearly paradise to a student. They don’t have to worry about how much money they’re spending because they just need to swipe their student ID and the food is theirs. But a month or two into this routine, the food starts to lose its grandeur and some new freshmen start to realize they’ve gained a few pounds since leaving home.
The “freshman 15” is real for many students, and it’s a big fear for freshmen. Dakota Maker, a UWM freshman, said it was a “huge shock” when he found out how many unnecessary calories he was in taking each day.
“It’s a very real health concern and schools should work with students to prevent it,” states Maker. He also sees the “freshman 15” as a “strong possibility”, as many freshmen do as they start to realize how much weight they can gain, and how quickly they can put it on.
Though it is a new threat to this year’s freshman class, it’s a phase that most college students, especially those living in residence halls, go through as they make their transitions into the college environment. They are not the first class to face this, nor will they be the last.
Some students that have already gone through this transition into college have advice for this year’s freshmen. Sophomore, Blake Brault, recommends freshmen to “manage your time and to make sure you try to hit the gym or go for a run once or twice a week.”
Fellow sophomore, Abby Wolfe, believes the best way to prevent it is to “take care of yourself,” but she says that “it doesn’t happen to everyone so you shouldn’t worry too much.”
For those who are worried about gaining the extra weight, there are many resources on campus to help the students stay in shape and keep the “freshman 15” at bay. The Klotsche Center, located on campus, houses a lot of different exercise facilities and different classes for students.
Monday through Saturday, there are many Group X classes offered at various times each day. From Zumba to Cycling, there are more than 15 different classes that are offered for free to students, and they all range in level of difficulty from easy to hard.
UREC also offers many other fitness activities including personal trainers, yoga classes, intramural sports, and Outdoor Pursuit Trips, including the Halloween Costume Climb which will take place Oct. 24 for about $50.
Another way to stay healthy would be to check the Net Nutrition feature that is provided to students in the cafeterias and also on the UW-Milwaukee website. Here, students will be able to see just how many calories they’re in taking. The Net Nutrition provides information for all of the food options from the Sandburg Café, the Riverview Café, the Cambridge Café, Palms, and the all of the Restor locations.