Freshman Fiften

I never believed in the freshman fiften, and being naturally a skinny girl I never thought that I would be affected. I have actually put on 20lbs in the last two years. I'm now trying to lose the weight and have gotten back down to around 138. I am 5'5 and would still like to lose 10 more pounds but it seems like it will not come off. I've been dieting and working out 5 days a week for half a year, eating about 1300 to 1500 calories a day with ofcourse the occasional cheat days. Please help me lose the last 10lbs... I'm starting to lose motivation, and really in the mood for a cheesestake!!!

I think I'm in the same boat as you.  I gained 20 lbs since starting college.  I managed to lose 6 pounds by restricting my calorie intake to 1400-1500 and exercising 5 days a week.  I started on Jan. 15th.  The weight is coming off slow, which is frustrating since spring break is only a few weeks away.  I didn't gain weight overnight, so I shouldn't expect to lose it overnight either.  Don't give up.  I hear that the last 10 lbs are the hardest.  Today was a bad day for me.  I ended up eating 500 over my calorie intake.  But you know what?  That was just one day.  Tomorrow, I'm getting back on track and maybe run an extra mile on the treadmill.   

Consider that it took you 2 years to gain it, it will probably take that long to lose it (in the same environment).  You're probably stressed out and pressed for time.  Keep doing what you're doing and have the occational treat, you'll be back to normal I'm sure within another year and 6 months (I'm sure that sounds like forever, but as long as you're losing weight little by little, it's fine).  Buy some herbal tea and chug the cup after it cools, seems to help my insane cravings.

I know it's hard to put effort into it every day, every day counts, it's tough. =\

Oh yes... the weight is definitely packed on when you're in school... especially when you make it a habit to eat when you study and when you're stressed like I did... plus I went on to graduate school so it continued... I'm finally doing something about it... but I've gained about 80lbs since high school. The college atmosphere is just not conducive to a healthy lifestyle!! You buy the cheapest (and usually least healthy) foods... you're up eating in the middle of the night... you're not sticking to proper exercise schedules... or even sleep schedules! And it's just a generally stressful environment... especially if you're going on to graduate school!

Maintaining a healhty lifestyle under all this is different from a "regular" situation and must be taken into account... as others have noted... it's going to take some time... I think we all know crash diets don't work and aren't healthy. Also... you do have to make a complete lifestyle change for it to work!! I'm just getting to a point where I feel I can do that... but hopefully you can work something out long before it turns in to 80lbs!!!! Good luck!!

I thought it would never khit me. but i gained 25lbs. feel so crappy. it's so hard to lose it. i gained it in only 4 months soi'm worst than you two

How much are you burning at the gym, if you don't mind me asking? And how much do you eat on those days? Do you do weights?

I usually run 2.5 miles every other day and on those days that I don't run, I do some sort of cardio for about 25mins. I do some free weights but not too much... I really would love any suggestions about fixing my workout routine. By the way... thank you guys for all the support... I was really starting to give up!

i'm glad i never gained it. i lost a good 20 pounds since the summer before college started.  lucky my good habits i learned (w/ the occasional slip up) keep me in line! :)

I went to college weighing around 105 lbs.  (I'm 5'1", so this is okay.)  I came home for the summer weighing about 125-130lbs, and have NEVER been able to get back to 105.  I got down to 120 one time, and then my body just stopped.  I think we still are growing when we going to college (if we go right out of high school) and maybe that's why the freshman fifteen is so distressing.  I know that I'll never be a size 4 again, but I think it's actually because my hip bones spread out.  Almost like a second puberty.  I think a lot of us remember when we were skinniest and want that again, but it's not always the most reasonable choice for our body shape and lifestyle.  As long as you are continuing to eat healthy and exercise, I wouldn't worry about those last ten pounds.  If they're meant to come off, they will.  Good luck though and congrats on your progress so far!

Somehow I magically avoided the dreaded freshman 15. I think it was because I walked EVERYWHERE. Seriously, I was probably walking 6 miles every day. Helped that my natural walking pace is rather brisk. Though, it did annoy my friends :P

It wasn't till AFTER school that I gained weight (BLASTED DESK JOB!!!).

Guh, I'm suffering from the Office 10 >.<