We are approaching the close of another year, my final year at SMU, and I’d like to give advice to all of the freshmen at SMU. I know that during your first year of college you started experimenting with parties, new friends, and too much food. Virtually everybody puts on weight during their freshman year in what is typically known as the “Freshman 15.” You want to lose that extra weight before your sophomore year? There is hope! During my freshman year, I put on 50 pounds, and I lost them all. This is my account:
At the start of my freshman year, I weighed 180 pounds, but I loved the buffet-style cafeteria that allowed me to eat whatever I desired. In my heart, I knew that I could not maintain my eating habits and maintain my figure; therefore, I vowed to work out nightly. I think my vow lasted one night!
Somewhere between buying XXL shirts and struggling for breath at the most mundane tasks, I looked down at a scale and read the numbers 232. I did not even weigh 232 pounds when I played football! How could I get this out of shape? Spring break was nearing, so I decided to go on a diet and regain my figure once school resumed.
The first week of my diet consisted of me cutting back on food. I promised to eat only when I was hungry and to eat more meager servings. After two weeks with little success, I forced myself to rethink my diet. I cut out all junk food and I started eating only three times a day. In an effort to accelerate my weight loss, I dedicated myself to an hour workout Sunday through Wednesday.
Initially, the results were fantastic. I lost 15 pounds in two weeks and I was down to 215 pounds. In this new plan, however, I did not foresee the major obstacles to my success. My friends, who were used to me going out to dinner, winning eating competitions, and not caring about what foods I put into my body, were not ready for my dramatic turnaround. They posed the biggest obstacle to my success.
The second obstacle was my body, which was thoroughly out of shape, hurting constantly.
I dealt with the first obstacle by establishing a cheat day, which allowed me to cheat on my diet every Thursday. This idea satisfied most of my urges to cheat on my diet during the week, and cheat days also allowed me to maintain my fun-loving persona. My friends even joined in on the fun once they saw my success.
My second obstacle was more difficult to figure out. By week seven of my diet I was down 30 pounds, but I limped everywhere. I started running on grass instead of on the track, I bought new running shoes, and I Googled stretching techniques. In a week, I no longer felt pain.
By the end of the year, my persistence and dedication paid off because I was down to 190 pounds, and during the following summer, I reached my goal of 180 pounds. I was able to keep the weight off until last semester when personal reasons made following a healthy diet difficult. However, I cannot replace the feeling of conquering my goal of losing my Freshman 50.
Derek Sangston is a senior political science major. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].
