Fending off The Freshman Fifteen...

For those in college, or those quickly approaching it, beware!!! The Freshman Fifteen - the bane of college calorie counters everywhere - is ready to take a new group of victims on campuses nationwide this fall!

For those who have felt the pain of the 15lbs of cafeteria food, hanging out in the dorm, not having your highschool extracurriculars, and just being too darned lazy to get out and about, join me in losing that weight! :) As an upcoming junior in college, i'm still waging war against the last 10lbs - who's with me?!?

*EDIT*

August 4th, 2008

To anyone just seeing this topic, please know that you're still welcome to join us! There are voluntary weigh-ins each Wednesday if you're interested. Whether you're headed to college, in it, or leaving it we're happy to have you! :D

I'm a late joiner, but I've been looking for a community like this, and I am so ready for this. It was sad, because I actually LOST about 15 pounds my first semester, and maintained for the rest of the year. I didn't gain weight until I was a sophomore, and I gained that 15 back, plus another 20 or so. I'm disgustingly back up to my weight as a high school junior, and I'm hoping I can get 20 off by fall break, October 15th. I would be happy with a total of 40 gone by winter, and I need all the motivation I can get, because I have a tendency to go good for a few days and then give up.

Well welcome, nolabels :)

I just finished my sophomore year, and by December of it, I was the same way - the weight I was as a freshman in high school (my previous all-time high). Way to go on deciding to make a change! :D I think the thing that has helped me the most is making myself know that if I cheat on what I'm eating, I'm only cheating myself... just MAKE yourself stick to it! Don't keep things around that you might be tempted by :)

Just don't be too aggressive with your goals. You have about 2 months and losing a maximum of 2lbs per week means 16lbs at most by October 15th. If you're exercising too, however, you should see the change in inches that you're hoping for, even though the scale might not show a 20lb loss! :)

And remember - if you fall off of the wagon, you have to get back on, or you'll be right back where you started. You can do it!!! :D

Again, welcome!! :) 

Welcome nolabels!  I gained close to 10 pounds my freshman year, but thankfully I've lost that now!  I guess I'm kind of glad it happened sooner rather than later.

This week is buckle down time for me guys!!   I'm going into super calorie counting nazi mode because I feel like I've been slacking off lately :/.  I've been doing well so far today.  I don't usually run on Sundays, but I ran this morning because I didn't run yesterday.  I've just been sitting around since then though, lol.  I've been doing pretty well eating too, even though we're out of turkey and I had to eat pb&j for lunch.  It's probably good though because I've noticed that fats are typically only 10-15% of my diet.  No snacks so far today, just a bowl of cereal for breakfast and pb&j, grapes and pretzels for lunch.  I'll probably eat a lean cuisine with a side salad for dinner, and then try to find some healthy snacks to use the rest of my 1500 calories on.

I got a new job starting tomorrow working at a vet clinic, and I don't even know what the hours will be like yet.  I have no idea what this will do to my schedule, and I'm a little nervous.  I think I'm going to have to get up at like 5:45 to run because I start work at 8 and it's a half hour drive, and I'll have to shower after I run.  I guess it will be good practice for when school starts up again though.  Wish me luck!!!

hey guys!!! back and finally have time to sit down and type!!

WELCOME NOLABELS!!! that's # 1 on the agenda. i know you can reach your goals. its why were here for support!!!

orientation was so-so. i met a lot of cool people and i really think i'm going to enjoy college but the endless pointless talks... ughhhh i get it!! DON'T get a fake ID. don't walk back to your apartment at 3:00am alone!! i don't know it just seems kinda redundent, but then again there are a lot of people with no common sense. but as far as eating goes, makes me happy im living in an apartment. my university does not provide calorie information, at least they didn't here at orientation, and i can't find it onlilne like i could with the other universities i applied to, so it makes life kinda stressful on me, not even for the calories necesarrily but i don't like my food cooked in butter or swimming in oil. i don't want butter on my bread with my sandwich, i like things very fresh or then my treats (like cookies, extremely processed) lol. but my actualy meal food, yeah i don't want people slathering the grill my chicken will be cooked on with butter.

i was really careful with what i ate at oritentation and actually came back and weighed in at 114.5. so basically with water and stuff, i maintained. now coming home... that was a diff story. had pizza with my girlfriends, not to bad but one pizza we got was special instead of pizza sauce its ranch dressing with cheese and garlic chicken. sounds gross but SOOOO GOOD! i don't want to know the calories but i was good and i only had one square and had cheese otherwise, plus its thin crust, and hell i can have a treat.

then some late nite run to IHOP. but i think i made a healthy choice considering. a kids jr. egg scramble made with egg subsitute and a pancake. i wasn't really hungry from all the pizza but we met up with friends later and they were starved apparently. i donl't want to know what they cooked the egg substitute, prob butter!! but oh well. one day won't kill me and im normally good. so yay!

carrie- know how you feel!! im so nervous about getting in the swing of things again for school! this is the first summer i've really taken to relax. normally they're jammed packed with camps, or summer school so i can take electives during the year or tons of work hours. i mean im still working this summer, but im not doing camps for my high school sports, no vacation and my work hours got cut due to my work highering too many people. so i've been sleeping in till like 9am everyday where past summers im up by 5:30-6am. ughhhh. but you're lucky i gotta start myself...

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK EVERYONE!!!!

Well my mom and I just went for an hour and a half walk (to go get starbucks!) and it was awesome, apparently we burned 400 calories according to CC and I had a mocha frappacino light which is only 140 or so. So that was fun to get a treat I really enjoy and still be burning more calories. Yeah so I'll weigh myself tomorrow and see if anything has budged.

Nolabels- Welcome! I hope you and Megan like college as much as I have :) its been great :) I actually lost weight freshman year (I did a lot of swimming), it was sophomore year that didn't go so well :(

Yay! keep up the good work all!

This group is definitely for me! I put on ten pounds my freshman year, and five more within the last 2 months. I have lost 3.5 lbs, 11.5 more to go. I'll be back to weigh in on Wednesday. Good luck to everyone!

Okay guys - I'm not going to be around for a bit but I've got some stuff to share and I've got an exercise plan that we're all going to compete against each other in, if you want.

Super20, first of us who reaches 20 wins. I'll explain later!

Welcome alexdugas (is your name Alex?)!! :)

Megan, I remember all those pointless talks...at least they're over now!  But when school starts and some freshman girl(s) has to go to the hospital to get her stomach pumped you'll understand why they have to give those talks...some people really are clueless, lol.  And you're right - one free day every now and then won't hurt you :).

Matt, what the heck.  Not going to be around?  And then you give us this crap about some "stuff to share" and an "exercise plan" but you don't give us any details?  Seriously...what the heck.  /kiiiiddiiiiinnnnnnnnggg :P

Okay I'm lame I know.  Time for me to start my first day at work kiddies...eeeeee I'm nervous!!  Talk to you all later...

Welcome, Alex! :D Good luck, and thanks for joining us. WTG on the 3.5lbs already lost! :)

Meagan - you wouldn't belieeeeeve some of the stupid stuff I've seen people do at school. There is always someone that thinks they're above the consequences and it never turns out well. That speech is for the .05% of people stupid enough to do those things, and unfortunately, the rest of us have to put up with that little formality to satisfy to Orientation Leaders :P hehe. But I'm glad you had fun!! Congrats on maintaining! That's a huge feat as something like that. Try not to be too nervous about college :) As weird and awkward as it feels, there are loads of other people in the same boat, looking to make friends and learn their way around. Just be amiable and explore and alllllways find your classrooms a day early. (If they're helping you move, do it while your parents still have the car, or you can walk it to make sure you have enough time between classes) It'll be a blast :)

Matty - lol, we'll all be waiting to hear!

Carrie - I know I'm too late to tell you good luck on your first day at this point, but I hope that it was great and that you met lots of nice people :D

Sooo my happy bit: I did good all weekend and I'm at my 126.5 again! I was so excited and happy this morning that I took a few new pictures after I rolled out of bed... and added an older one that I like :) I don't think there's any huge change from a month ago at 129.5, but it makes me feel a little better. :) I guess, overall, I feel a bit leaner than I was! Hooray!

EDIT: Matty, you might not wanna read this bit.

 I should add that TTOM began today, so being 126.5 NOW was an extra boost. Maybe 125.0 when it ends?!?! :D :D :D

i was 155 today :) so its good to see that I at least haven't gained weight :)

yay four weeks till college starts again! :)

Heather, congratulations!!  I think I see a little more definition in the stomach area in your new pics :).

Michelle, congrats on maintaining!  That's always better than gaining, lol.  And is your school on quarters?  Mine is and I go back in six weeks, but most of my friends who are on semesters start in the next couple of weeks.

So my first day at work went pretty good!  I didn't do too many stupid things, lol.  I'm working Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 8-6, and every other Saturday 8-12.  And I get paid $10 an hour!  I like this schedule because I can still go to my old job at the stable on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  It was pretty fun too!  There were a couple sad things though...like this one really sweet 1 year old rottweiler (sp?) had to be put to sleep because both of her back legs needed $3,000 surgery and her owners couldn't pay for it.  But overall, it was pretty cool! :)

I was really good yesterday and today I'm back down to 148.6 from 149.2 yesterday.  Hopefully I can at least get back down to 148.0 by Wednesday!

 

Thanks, Carrie :D Good job to you too! :) I'm sure you can make it! Aww :( That's too bad about the rottweiler... But I'm sure they did everything within their means to help it. :/ That stuff will happen, though, and you just have to the most humane thing for the animal, I s'pose... Glad you enjoyed the work though! Is all of that in addition to classes? You're going to be busy, busy, busy! :)

Michelle - Congrats :) Knowing that you can maintain means that at the very least, you won't gain any of it back, hehe. Four weeks??? Aaaaaaaah, I'd die, lol. I'm SO ready to get back. Thankfully, I move in this weekend ;D I'm really looking forward to seeing all of my friends + having the rec center so close by!

I went to work out last night, actually. I've started adding an extra mile and some on the treadmill to my routine. I think it's actually making a difference... With my 3.25 on the elliptical, I'm running about 4.5miles :D My goal is to get to 5 consecutive by the end of August, but that will have to be done on select days... there is a time limit on the equipment at school. Like 30 mins :/ S'pose I can just switch machines, but its suuuuuch a pain to start and stop, and i there's an open one, I'll probably just keep going :P hehe.

man today... hard workout to get through. usually my one friend and i workout every single day together. this morning she called me and was sick. i did have to workout without for a while in the summer when she was on vacation but now im used to having her back. boy its hard just me and the ipod again. but no matter what i did it!!

Heather- congrats on increasing your distance!! i know you can shoot for that 5. our gym has a time limit too, but i do the same thing, if theres another treadmill open you bet your booty im staying on if i can.

Carrie- im on quarters too but i have about 4 weeks left. its getting sad some of my friends who are on soccer have left already, and we have a ton of kids leaving this week and next week. this is soo different, but i cannot wait to meet new people!!

WEIGH IN:

 126.5lbs

Weight Goal for next week: 125.0lbs (When I get off of TTOM... lol)

Work-Out Goal for next week: at least 3x doing 45-30-30

Down 0.5lbs from 127.0lbs last Wednesday

Work-Outs since last Wednesday: 2x doing 45-40-15

Well, I was all bitter about the fact that I've been sort of stuck at 126.5 for a while... but considering how hard I've worked out, even though its only been twice, this week and that I'm bloating right now, I'm pretty optimistic that I'll be verrrry close to my goal when I'm finally off of it :D (which should be by next Wednesday). IDK that I'll make my goal of getting it gone before I move in :/ but darn it, I'm still going to try really hard! :D And if its next week, that's ok. As long as I make it there! :) Thanks for the encouragement about the running, Megan :) I wanted to go last night, but I had to shop for some school things when I got off of work, and by the time I finished, it was just way too late. >_< Guess I'll be going tonight for sure! Tomorrow will be all about packing (which will be a workout, I'm sure) and then Friday I leave to go stay with my grandmother for a day or so before I move in!!! (She lives pretty close to campus, and my furniture and all is at her house.) So hooraaaaaaay!!! :D :D :D 

Weigh in: 

148.8, up 0.8 from 148.0 last week.

I was all bitter about this until I looked at my calendar and realized I should be starting TTOM in the next few days.  I normally gain a little the week before that, so whatever *shrug*.

I didn't run last night because I got home from work around 6:45, ate dinner and literally fell asleep from 8 to 11.  I didn't mean to, I was just sooo exhausted...I have today off though, so that's good :).  I'm gonna go run here in a few.

Heather, this job is only for the rest of the summer...I don't start classes for 5 1/2 more weeks!  Good luck with move-in and everything...that'll be a good way to burn a few extra calories, lol!

Megan, good job getting that workout done!!  And I saw on your profile you're from Illinois - do you go to school in Illinois?  I go to Northwestern :).

Ok, run time...

Thank you hharis.

CW 136.6

GW for next week 134.6

I've been slacking on working out this week, so today I'm going to hit the gym hard.

i have been a slacker. eating wayyyy too much not because i decide to. i mean i alot my drinking calories... and then of course... THE MUNCHIES. and i binge like crazy. last nite i came home to peanut butter, popcorn,cereal and pretzels probably some more. all the way up to 2500!!! i mean i know i should be able to eat that much to maintain with the way i workout, but it doesn't matter. i can't afford that much food in college. i got get back down to eating 1800 calories a day consistantly. ughhh its so frustrating.

my mom even yelled at me. she said i can't afford food like that in college and that i should start working out less so i don't eat so much. but i looooove working out. it makes me feel good. plus she said the weight will creep up on me. which is true. its why im in the group.

ughhh. gained like 2 lbs and did an extra hardworkout. were partying again tonite so i have to be good. i can't keep gaining weight. hope you guys are doing better than me!

carrie no way!! im starting at DePaul!

Argh, i'm sorry, Meagan - that does get kind of tricky :/ I'm not looking forward to coping with the alcohol when I'm back at school... but I think I'll be working out more, to the point where it won't matter. Then again, I'm likely to get really sick the first time or two since I don't know how much it takes to do me in anymore... probably a LOT less than it used to. (Part of me says "aww, I'm a lightweight" and part of me says "Hooray! Think of how much money I'll save!" haha)

Carrie - 5 and a half weeks??? I'd die.. haha, I'm really ready to go back! Yeah, I'm thinking that all of that heavy lifting will be a good workout... a couch, a few chairs, plus all my junk! I wouldn't worry too much about the weight gain, btw - that's probably what it is. I bet you lose a lot when you get off of TTOM.

Alex - Good luck with the work outs! :)

Oh! And I got home today and decided to weigh myself after work because I wanted to see if I was still retaining a lot of water... and I was 126.0! I hope that that sticks! Plus I was still retaining 1.5-2% above normal. So I have hope :D

Still, I won't count it until I see it at my morning weigh-in. *Crosses fingers* So hopefully its waiting for me tomorrow!! :D

In kind of a goofy selfish way, I'm really excited to get back.. because I sort of want to see if people notice the weight loss :P That's sort of how I judge if its a drastic change, I guess. I'm a bit hard on myself, so I feel like if others notice, its "real". I've lost exactly 10lbs since I've been home for the summer :) I think I was 136 when I left, heh. At any rate, I feel like a brand new person, and I'm ready for a brand new year!  

Ughh I had a bad weigh in today, 116.2! But I also had a rough week. In two wednesdays I'll be in college! Woo!