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

Yup, I like my butt, and if I lost too much weight I think my already small chest would disappear altogether, lol.

Good luck Lea!!  That's really cool that your gym does that.

Uggh I was doing so good today and then my mom and sister decided to make chocolate chip cookies...I couldn't resist :/.  I've been bad again for the last few days, so my new goal is to be under 1500 calories every day until I leave - so for the next six days.  I know I can do it! :)

Ooh, Good luck, Lea! :) I think our gym does that too - you can get an "evaluation" for like $20... but I'm too cheap :P

I think my tummy is healed pretty decently at this point - its been a week since the piercing and I'm thinking that today needs to be my first workout day (post-piercing). I'm just about to start TTOM, and I woke up at 126.5 this morning :(((( Back over my goal... So I'm going to cut back down to 1200 for a week or two and try to get back at 123ish, so that I have some leeway to maintain again. At this point, its only 3.5lbs away and that ought to be pretty doable in 2 weeks. I've just got to force myself to eat less. I've still been eating healthy, I've just been eating more. I'm averaging around 1500cal now... I'm kind of annoyed that I have to maintain on such a low number, but I guess that's just what my body does. Anyway, here's to getting back to exercising and away from this last week of laziness, so that I can maintain that goal!! :D

So I was bad again yesterday...I was good aaaaaalll day until I was in the kitchen at like 11:30, innocently making a cup of tea, when I was attacked by chocolate chip cookies!!  Okay, not literally, but I do have a horrible weakness for them, and they were staring at me :(.  Somehow, I still managed to lose 0.4 pounds between yesterday and today...probably because I'm finishing up TTOM.  I have about a week left until I move in, and I was at 145.2 this morning, so I'm hoping I can get to 144 before move in :).  Then I'll only have 7 pounds to go, whoo!!! 

Heather, the only thing I can think of is to add more exercise so that you can eat a little more...I don't know what your schedule is like, though :/.

Hey all,

Well I'm back after three weeks and school is in full swing. Most recent news is that I'm now ENGAGED! :D and it was great to spend two weeks with my fiance before school hit.

I tried to be good on the cross country trip but my weakness is snacks and I had a lot of them. Currently I weigh 155.8 and I'm back to calorie counting so I hope to see that number go down soon.

Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you!!

I had such a good day yesterday :) I was so happy. For breakfast I had a nice bowl of kashi heart to heart with a sliced banana and a yoplait light right before a 5 hour audition for dance ensemble. The audition started at 9 and I didn't get back to my room til 1:30 and let me tell you, very little of that time was spent waiting around. When I got back to campus I had an egg white omlette with a little cheese (I watched him put it in - only 1 slice of american!), spinach, and tomato I also had a fruit bowl (about 1 cup of mixed melon and grape). Then I went to meet my friend in the city (boston) and when I got there I stopped in a starbucks and got a Vivanno shake (basically a banana/chocolate protein shake - only 270 calories if you get it with 2% milk, but I got it with skim so I estimated 250 - and 33 grams of protein!). For dinner I got a veggie burger without the bun with 1 slice of provolone cheese, lettuce, and tomato. It was a pretty perfect eating day :)

Then I went to a party and had 2 OJ + vodka's, some tortilla chips with salsa, and later I had a Coors Light. I didnt' count cals yesterday but I can't imagine I went over. And because I ate pretty light all day the alcohol got to me pretty quick - making for a very very good time :-P

Congratulations Michelle!! :)

And Congrats Lea on your good day!

I went a little over calories again yesterday...then I weighed in this morning at 143.8!!  Maybe...I should eat closer to 1550 or 1600?  *Scratches head* hmmm...

Oh!  And my mom told me that I looked skinny yesterday! :)

Congratulations, Michelle!!! :D That great news ^_^

Lea - Way to go on the good eating day!! :D Sounds like you're doing great!

I was trying to cut back down to 1200cal. After weighing in on Sunday at 126.5, I was good ALL day and had 1300 cal with a 500cal workout. This morning, 124.5... but its also my roommate's birthday AND I had a test. I started out good, a luna bar (180cal), mixed melon plate(120cal). Then for lunch, 2 packets of tuna (160cal) and some rold gold pretzel twists (250cal)... and then I started baking her cake. I at least decided to go for egg whites, not whole eggs, but in the grand scheme, that did little. It was funfetti (which I LOVE) and chocolate icing with sprinkles. I baked 2 layers, taking tastes along the way... then we actually celebrated about an hour ago where I had about 1/18th of this double layer sheet cake. Est. Calories: 500. + 1.3 servings Edy's Slow Churned Rocky Road. Total Cals there: 150. YIKES. So now I'm around 1350cal, and I haven't even had dinner. I'm sure I'll have something since I'll be up all night doing homework, but I feel so defeated.. with all of those tastes and nibbles, I'm sure I'm closer to 1500cal. I did walk about a mile to a from classes plus 100cal worth of calisthenics, so hopefully if I keep it to ~200cal at dinner, I won't gain. I have a huge test Wednesday, so working out won't be an option again until Wed evening or Thursday. /groannnnnn - sorry, Rant over... I'll just try to be extra strict on my 1200 for the next few days. I really want to be back to about 123.0 for halloween, maybe a little less if I get a costume that shows off my new belly button ring... but still, I won't go under 120. I'm not aiming for that, I'm going for 123.0, but if I could work out more, I think I'd see some loss inch-wise.

Carrie - way to go on 143.8!!! You're doing wonderful =) You'll be to your goal before you know it!!! :)

Heather, way to go getting back under 125 in one day!!  Don't beat yourself up about today though...one day won't affect you in the long run.  By the way, your new pictures look amazing!!  And not just like, oh you look so much better than you did before amazing, actually amazing.  Like model amazing.  Haha, okay I'm done :).  Seriously though - I hope you realize the only person who's going to notice the difference between 123 and what you weigh now is you!  You have accomplished so much already - take a minute to congratulate yourself! :)

You guys need to get mad at me when I'm not posting! I'm falling off the wagon.

Too much late night pizza and snacking.

I don't have a scale so it's kind of hard to keep motivated.

Matt - late night snacking is what made me gain ten pounds last year!!  Don't do it; it's sooo not worth it!!  And if I were you, I would get a scale.  You can get them pretty cheap if you don't want a super fancy one.

WEIGH IN:

143.4, down 2.2 pounds from last week!!  I'm so hoping I hit the 15 pounds lost mark (143 pounds) before I move in Saturday.  Then I'll only have 5 pounds left until I reach my goal!! :D

I've lost 13 pounds since I left school, and I really hope *someone* notices...

/Shakes fist threateningly at Matty

Is that better? :P If you don't have the room for/don't want to pay for a scale, get a tape measure :) More compact and helps you track your progress the same way.

Lol, thank you Carrie :D I really do appreciate that! I know its just me that'll be able to tell. I guess I'm just super wary of backsliding, heh. It was so much work to get to this point, I don't think I could forgive myself if I lost it! And holy moly, girl, look at you! I hadn't seen your before and after pictures! You look so great! Like you've just completely shrunk through your middle. There is no way that your *Someone* isn't going to notice :D Way to go, you!!! And your mommy is right - you do look skinny! :) You should be super proud of how far you've come :D I'm sure you'll hit that goal by Saturday, just keep on, keeping on! :)

Way to go, Carrie!!! :D

WEIGH IN:

124.5lbs

Weight Goal for next week: Get back down to 123.0! :)

Work-Out Goal for next week: Walk at least 1mile/day with backpack on campus + rock climb, or work out 2x!

No change from last Wednesday

Work-Outs since last Wednesday: 1x doing 45-40-15 + Walking at least 1mi per day 5x week w/ 30lb backpack

I actually did get to go work out once, now that my tummy is a bit more healed. I really wanted to go again last night/today, but classes have been murderous. I have a test at 7PM tonight, and have been studying like crazy. Next week, I have 4 more tests to contend with, so I feel like I'm NEVER going to get time to go work out! I can't work while I run or lift, I just find myself re-reading the same info a million times. I'm just going to have to try and make time. I'm giving myself a new goal this week: No bus. Walk EVERYWHERE unless its unsafe. I'll let you know how that goes :P hehe

Haha, Heather, I wasn't talking about a particular person, I'd just be happy if anyone at all notices!! :P I know what you mean about being wary of backsliding.  And thanks, I am proud! :)

There's only about an 11 to 13 pound difference between those pictures, but I think the reason it looks so different is because I'd been around 145 pounds basically since I stopped growing, so those 13 extra pounds were really unnatural on me.  If that makes any sense.  I'll probably post new pictures once I reach my goal of 138 :).  The last time I remember weighing 138 was the summer before freshman year of high school!

Completely random thought: today's my half birthday, haha :P.  Only six months left of being a teenager...

Yay! I get to weigh in with everyone on Wednesdays now :)

154.6 - THis is about where I left off before my three week vacation so I didn't do too badly :) My goal for next week is to start seeing 153 numbers :) I think I might do one of my speeches (I'm in a speech class this semester) about CC. I've learned quite a bit reading the forums and it would be fun to compile what I know and research some more.  :) Anywho, off to go add up everything I've eaten today *sigh

Haha so last night I went to Applebee's at 10:00 with a friend and we split an order of boneless buffalo wings and an order of spinach artichoke dip.  We were just going to get coffee but all the coffee places are closed that late in our little town...it's a conspiracy I tell you!  So I was ridiculously stuffed last night, and I wake up this morning and weigh myself (I know, bad idea): 145.  Yuck...oh well, I know it's mostly water weight and hopefully will be gone soon! 

I'll jump on the shame train too...

I've been trying SO hard to go back to 1200cal/day for this week... I got back down to 124.5 and then yesterday morning, I was up to 125.5 - I keep finding SOMETHING that gets me up to 1500+cals! Its like I can't stop myself. I was good ALL day yesterday, until I went out with my boyfriend to Chili's. I had a chicken fajita pita (450cal) and some broccoli (80cal) and... a bunch of bottomless chips and salsa (500cal). This morning... 127.0. Holy crap. I mean, I should be starting TTOM like in the next day or two, and I know the chips were really salty... So I know its a lot of water weight... But still. I felt horrible seeing that number on the scale. I think its finally enough to shock me back into eating right, getting back to my 123.0, and keeping myself under 125.

/sigh. I don't want to freak out over a fluctuation, and I ALWAYS gain some at TTOM... but even after running 5 miles on the elliptical, lifting weights, and calisthenics (about a 600cal burn workout), I weighed in at 126.8 at the gym. De-press-ing.

Its ok. I'm going to get back on the wagon with this working out, and so far, I've made good on my no bus pledge. I just need to get rid of all of the extra junk and think before I eat... "Is this GOOD for me? Does my body NEED this?"

Omg Heather I feel you so much, I've been working out so hard but last night I had the most massive drunk binge ever. First of all, at least 5 shots of vodka (two of them in shot form, two mixed drinks that had way more than one shot in them). Then we went to "late night" dining in the cafeteria, which is basically designed for the munchies :-P. I had a bowl of frozen yogurt, 4 mozzarella sticks with onion rings, got back to my room was still hungry, had 4 lindt truffles with pretzels and like 6 chewy candies. Ughhh I woke up this morning feeling so bloated and sick. Today is a football game so there will be pregaming before it, and drinking tonight. Really fun, but TERRIBLE for my diet :(

Lea - ugh, I know... its so hard to stop once you've started... especially with drinks. My issue has been just that I get munchy. I really haven't drank much since I've been back at school - maybe once or twice. I just haven't been working out as much, and I'm always grabbing a snack. Oh well.. I finally made it through a day yesterday sticking to my 1200cal. That with the workout gave me... 125.0 this morning! :) That's much better (though still not where I'm hoping to be)

So on a completely random note...  my boyfriend and I went out looking for halloween costumes last night. They didn't have the mermaid one and we were trying to think of something we could be together... I think that we might go as The Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera :D It'd be easy for him, since it's just black pants, a white button up, black gloves/cape, a vest, and a mask. I was thinking of this for Christine:

http://www.halloweenexpress.com/captains-mist ress-pirate-adult-costume-p-8137.html

(Minus the hat and boots... plus curling my hair a LOT. This was sort of what I was working from:

http://www.reelingreviews.com/thephantomofthe operapic.jpg )

Random :P Any of you guys started thinking about what you'll be? :)

I'm not in college yet, but I just have this to say:


You guys really do control what you eat.


No one has you eat 1500 calories but yourself.  You could eat 1200 a day if you wanted.  No one's making you do anything.  Just say no if someone offers you food that you know you don't need.

I don't eat past 7, and this has sort of been an issue.  But I'm very strict about it, just because I know that when rules are bent, they're normally broken, too.

The only things I allow myself to consume after 7 are water and medicine.  Not even gum.  Not that chewing a piece of gum will do anything, I obviously know that - if anything it'll BURN calories...but it's a mental thing.  If I let myself chew gum, I'll let myself drink diet pop...then fruit...then veggies...then I'd obviously be at the point where it's after 7 and I'm eating.

Bottom line: make strict rules, stick to them and eventually the thought of going out of bounds won't even occur to you.  I don't even THINK about eating after 7.  It's just common that I don't do it.

Also, if you've been slipping up a lot...let yourself INDULGE.  That may sound stupid...but sometimes if I get sick of exercising, I will literally vegetate on the couch for a few days, then I'll get up and exercise again because I WANT to.  Because I NEED to - because I understand why I do it.

Sometimes you need that reminder.

Oxy -  I agree that only we can control our intake. I know I'm the only one that makes me eat something, and I'm not trying to put the blame on anyone/anything else.. I actually hit my goal weight already, and have been trying to find a good way to maintain. I upped my calories so that I was to maintenance, but found that I stopped exercising quite so much. I was basically just turning to this group, who've supported me through most of my weightloss for some help... Its difficult to go back to less when you've made yourself eat more. I'm not saying its impossible our out of my control. I've just been having a hard time with it, and these are the wonderful people that I know I can lean on :)

Sometimes I just let my frustration out... sorry if it came off as a "this is someone/thing else's fault, not mine." I didn't mean it that way at all. Good luck with college, when you get there :)

Hi... the thread caught my attention. I'm always looking for fellow college students who have tips and tricks to stay healthy in the dorms!

I'm a junior in college who didn't quite put on the "Freshman 15" but instead found it sneaking up on her during sophomore year. So here I am, 5 weeks into my Junior year and trying to be pro-active in my weight loss. My HS sweetheart-turned-sailor is coming back soon and I want to look like I did in HS for him.

I've been a member (but not very active) of CC for about 2 years. I've decided that since my sailor comes home soon, I'm going to buckle down and see what I can do. I know it sounds like I'm doing it "for him" but I'm doing it a lot for me as well. I'm just so tired of having that last bit of pudge around my middle. I'm REALLY petite so any extra weight immediately shows.