Freshman Fifteen? Try The Summer Twenty

August 5, 2009 11:00 am     Posted in Body  Sarabeth - University of Texas g+ page

Ugh...

Ugh...

This summer is my last summer at home. While most of you can relate when I say that I’m ecstatic (believe me, I am), it may not be for the reason everyone expects. Read: living with the parents breathing down my neck.


By Sarabeth

You see, when I go home, I gain weight. Not just 3 or 4 pounds, but this summer I put on 10. freakin. pounds. Yes, I know this is my own fault, so don’t get on my case for knowing better, but I know I’m not alone. There is something about the summer that just means extra poundage. So how about we take a closer look at what goes on during the summer months so we can stop the madness?!?!

1) The campus gym is no longer 5 min away - Ok, this one hit me pretty hard. I love having a free gym at my disposal! No way am I going to pay buckets of money to use an elliptical in my hometown.

2) When it’s fifty million degrees outside, you want to stay in – I’m one of those people that no matter how far away my class is, I’d rather walk than take the campus shuttle. Well, with no class to go to, I have nowhere to walk. Also, I live in west Texas where it’s been over 100 degrees every day for the past month. Going on a walk for exercise is out of the question; I don’t want to burst into flames!

3) Parent’s kitchen = food anytime - When I’m at school, I’m on a strict budget, so I only eat when I need to. At home, I eat all the time because I’m no longer the one footing the food bill. I now eat when I’m bored (which is all the time since I couldn’t find a job this summer), when I’m sad (which is always since I am away from my friends), and when I’m awake (which is a lot since my parents wake up early and scream to each other across the house). Let’s leave the grazing for livestock, OK?

4) No friends to keep me in check – My friends on campus and I have sort of a check and balance system going on. We go to the gym together, we eat together, etc. If we see one of our friends doing something unhealthy, one of us will chime in and say something. We’re also motivation for each other; we constantly push each other for 5 more minutes on the stair stepper, or we have a salad night for dinner. With them gone, I’m on my own, and my own wants cupcakes. And it just so happens that my mom just baked 3 dozen of ‘em.

5) Outdoor BBQs: Everyone has them in the summer and, being that I will take any opportunity to hang out with people under the age of 45, I go to them. A lot. And I eat lots of delicious dips and chips and margaritas. And none of those things are low in calories.

With all of these changes from campus life, there’s only so much weight I can keep off with my mom’s Wii Fit. I’m honestly surprised I didn’t gain more, but I’m sure there is some more coming in the next 3 weeks before I head back to campus. I just hope I can still squeeze into my jeans for Welcome Week.

So tell me, how is home life different for your body?

36 Comments on "Freshman Fifteen? Try The Summer Twenty"

  1. Erin says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20097:11 am 

    I ALWAYS gain weight those 3 months of summer. I don't even necessarily have to be home with the rents to do so. I just gain because I'm not doing a full load of school/work so I'm not as busy. Therefore I eat.

    #3 is definitely what gets me too. I think the reason I stay thin all year is not because I have a decreased appetite, but because I can't AFFORD food. *Sigh*

  2. Jess says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20097:49 am 

    Wow I had the opposite happen! I put on a lot of weight around finals at the end of last semester (probably all the Pizza Hut I ate and lack of exercise with the excuse that I had to study) but over the summer so far I've dropped over 20 pounds. I've been more motivated to get into shape and run outside every day because the weather is warmer and I only took one summer class so I'm not as busy; I end up being less hungry and less stressed and eat less. And I'm eating healthier at home because my parents don't really keep much junk food around. I'm afraid if I go back to campus I'll undo all of it!

  3. Lindsey says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 200910:15 am 

    Totally agree – it's like you took the words right out of my mouth! I've been going to the gym most days this summer, but I already do that everyday at school. So without all the walking and with more time on my hands to sit around and eat junk, an extra 7 or 8 pounds has just creeped on :(

  4. Kristy says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 200911:48 am 

    Couldn’t agree more. I can’t wait to move back and get rid of the extra 7lbs I gained at home this summer.

  5. Teresa - UCSD says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 200911:28 am 

    Am I the only one who just gains weight year-round?

    …

  6. dannidupa says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 200912:34 pm 

    I definitely agree with the walking less factor. Being hungry at school often means a long walk to a supermarket or restaurant or dining hall. Now, I can crave something, drive there, and eat the food…without a single calorie burned. I miss school!

  7. Colleen says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20091:38 pm 

    Ah I’m the same way! All my friends talk about how much weight they lose at home being away from greasy college food, but I get bored so much more at home and me bored=me eating. I’m desperately trying hard now to drop these 10lbs from summer but it’s hard without the school gym!

  8. Lauren - University of Michigan says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20091:43 pm 

    I agree! I am always going to BBQs or for outdoor drinks with my friends and I can’t stop getting fatter.

    I need it to be winter. Now.

  9. jennifer says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20095:40 pm 

    I was planning on losing that freshman 20 this summer, but I probably stayed around the same weight thanks to bad eating a sporadic gym time. This article gave the the motivation I need to loose some pounds during my last 3 weeks home

  10. molly says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20097:42 pm 

    I lost 15 lbs my freshman year of college, by eating yummy school salads and chicken, and hitting up the gym and walked uphill to class. then gained it allllll back the summer after!!

    I feel you…my dad cooks huge portions of pasta and garlic bread (yum) whereas at school, I live on eggs and Costco chicken, and fruit. etc……Now I get to do that whole song and dance again!

    …if I spend 5 years in college, I wonder if it will keep accumulating ? :( dear god.

  11. Amanda says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20098:25 pm 

    Hahaha SO TRUE! I thought I was the only one who had this problem. Everyone talks about "slimming down to fit into that bikini" during the summer –and I'm scared to go anywhere near the beach! My kitchen at home is always stocked with soft warm Challah…brownies…homemade pizza…haha it's a love/hate relationship. Thank goodness for being a poor college student during the school year!

  12. Joanne says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20099:29 pm 

    This is just pure garbage!!!! Don't make excuses for why you gained 20 pounds and why you are now looking like a fat pig. Look in the mirror and take responsbility for your actions. Nobody forced you to continue to stuff food in your mouth while you were sitting on your fat ass on your couch. That was totally your own fault. When will people take responsibility for their actions and stop blame other people for being fat pigs? It is really tiresome and is terrible that there are so many fat girls in the world. They provide nothing of value to society and should just be euthanized. That way, nobody would have to look at their disgustingly worthless bodies and the world would be a better place.

  13. Lindsay - University says:
    Wed, 5th Aug 20099:46 pm 

    Don't listen to the troll Sarabeth. Got any more clever fake names? I personally like Shandi or Molly, but Joanne works too.

  14. Rachel says:
    Thu, 6th Aug 20098:17 am 

    schools should offer a stipend for all the new clothes I had to buy to fit me this summer – WOOHOOO new clothes.

  15. Michelle says:
    Thu, 6th Aug 200910:56 am 

    I have the opposite happen all the time.

    When I got my freshmen fifteen, I needed it. I came in 103 and when up to a nice 117-118. I ate all the time and without abandon. I don't know why, but in college, I was always hungry. When I'm at home, I eat less (and while I've never been a big lunch eater, I rarely have it at home) and drop about three or four pounds, and I'm not exercising either. Granted, I'm a natural ectomorph, so I really don't gain weight easily, but I always seem to lose weight in the summer.

  16. Renee says:
    Thu, 6th Aug 20095:54 pm 

    hahaha joanne, you make me laugh. you must be anorexic and/or a snob. shove ittttt.

  17. Rachel says:
    Thu, 6th Aug 20096:55 pm 

    Joanne- you realize that many of the women of the past that are looked on as fierce and strong women were, as you said, "fat pigs". For instance, Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. Models on runways wore size 12 and up. As you get older, it's healthier to be overweight (not obese, mind you) since the extra fat helps fight off ,maladies such as arthritis and Alzheimer. In fact, it used to be that if you were skinny, it meant you came from a poor family (less money for food means that you don't get to eat as much).

  18. Joanne says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 200912:26 am 

    Renee-

    I weigh 105 pounds bitch. Don't blame me for your own repulsiveness. That is your own problem. Nobody forced you to eat 5 large pizzas by yourself you fat tub of lard. No wonder no guy will even look at you or wants to have anything to do with you. You look like hell. Stop eating so much so that maybe you could actually be relevant in the world and not just a worthless piece of scum. Thank you……….. I SAID PUT THAT PIZZA DOWN AND STOP EATING!!!!!!!!!

  19. Chris says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20095:59 am 

    Um, yeah, y'all look like hell! I can see you through the computer monitor, too! Mmhmm! Rawr, look at me troll!

    Great post, Sarabeth, and something I'm sure we can all relate to. I don't really gain weight over the summer, but I lose a bunch as soon as school starts. Almost makes me want to do a fifth year! :P

  20. Rachel says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20096:56 am 

    Joanne-

    I hope you're trolling because if you aren't, you just fulfilled the stereotype for "the skinny bitch". Just an FYI…

    Also, unless you're 5'3" or under, that's an unhealthy weight. besides, dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors go by your BMI score.. not your weight (unless it's really obvious that your weight is unhealthy). And it's unhealthy to be 105 unless you're 5'3" (or under) and work out alot. My friend who dances 28 hours a week weighs more than that and she's barely 5'1".

    Random factoid– skinny people show signs of aging faster than fat people. They don't have the fat under their skin to counteract lines made in the skin. Think about it… what makes people look young? A rounder face and softer jaw. How do you get a rounder face (besides genetics, of course)? Fat.

    I'm not saying that being fat is a good thing. But it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

  21. Christina says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20097:55 am 

    I definitely gain weight during the last few weeks of every quarter, finals and lack of gym time definitely hurt. I tend to lose weight in the summer, not for the beach, but just because of healthier food and more time to work out. And then…it all comes back. Sigh.

  22. Casey says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20095:50 pm 

    I definitely don't agree with Joanne, but how come every time when someone mentions that they weigh less than 130 pounds someone always jumps in and says how "it's unhealthy to weigh that much unless your under this height!" When people don't give their height and they brag about their low weight, I just assume they look good/halthy, I don't assume they have an eating disorder. I weigh 115 and I'm 5'3 and that is perfectly healthy so I just assume that weighing under 130 pounds is healthy, of course height matters when it comes to healthy weight, but I don't think someone is going to brag about their unhealthy weight. and last time I looked there are waaaaay more girls who are under 5'5 than over. So I would assume anything under 130 pounds (but not so much as under 100) would be normal in most cases.

    Maybe it's just me, maybe the posters that make these comments have some issues of their own to work out, I dunno, but as someone healthily weighing under 130 pounds those comments are always a little hurtful to me.

  23. Rachel says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20097:31 pm 

    Casey- At 5'0", you should weigh 100lbs. For every inch, you add 5 lbs. (5'1"= 105, etc) Give or take about 5 lbs. People say “it’s unhealthy to weigh that much unless your under this height!” because it's true! It's how your BMI score is calculated, and that's what doctors, trainers, etc use to judge your health.

  24. Casey says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20098:25 pm 

    No, Rachel, you misunderstood me. I know what BMI is and how it is calculated, what I don't get and find offensive is that people just automatically assume that when someone says they weigh less than 130 pounds that they are unhealthily skinny, when that is most often not the case since most girls are under 5'5.

  25. Ai says:
    Fri, 7th Aug 20098:47 pm 

    Oh what truth you speak. I usually run outdoors that's my fav way to workout. Philadelphia summer hmm humidity and heat. I tried to do a mile and my mom had to drag me in the house and pump water into me before I literally passed out. I thought i was gonna be ok! I drank water and everything but hot weather and me just dont mix. Oh fall I long for thee and of course free classes at my college gym.

  26. Helen says:
    Mon, 10th Aug 20093:28 pm 

    I thought I was the only one with this problem. You nailed it! Every point and the worst part is I get upset about the weight gain and even though I know it's my own fault I take out my frustrations on my family, especially my poor mom.

    I end up leaving the house early from winter and summer break just so I can start losing weight before everyone gets back. I also generally eat a lot healthier when I'm choosing what food comes in the house-instead of crapt that my teenage brother consumes without consequence

    Ughh…one more year…I can not wait to be on my own

    good luck w/ school everyone!

  27. Kelley says:
    Thu, 13th Aug 20095:13 am 

    haha i love reading your blog…i am at work and it always makes me laugh!

  28. Vivian says:
    Thu, 13th Aug 20095:30 am 

    this is pretty hilarious in my opinion, but I'd have to agree that it is technically your fault for gaining 20 pounds during the summer. You shouldn't be blaming other things for your weight gain.

  29. Erin says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20099:38 am 

    ahhh, I have the exact same problem. Somehow I was able to lose 30 pounds during the school year without even trying and then I come home for the summer and gain back 10!

  30. Lydia says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20093:03 am 

    Hehe… That's why you need to hit exercise soon!!!! ;P Just because you at home, you still need to keep in mind the healthy choices and take temptations very lightly!

  31. Jen says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20094:21 am 

    Yeah I know what you mean happened to me too! about 10 lbs! and it sux! I just cant wait to go back to hit the gym and eat ten times healthier. see my problem was i didnt get to always pick the food in the house so that way my junk food intake went up with no gym to go work it off! ahhhhh

  32. C says:
    Thu, 20th Aug 20099:52 am 

    I totally agree!

    At school, I went to the gym all the time and never snacked because I couldn't afford to. But there's always food in my house. During high school summers, I always lost weight because I went to sports camps, but now there's not much to do, esp in my town where my friends and I only go out to eat and drink crappy beer at house parties. I can't wait for school to start again.

  33. Eresbel says:
    Sun, 23rd Aug 200911:52 am 

    Am I the only one a little wary about the friends reason? Maybe I'm just sensitive to the idea of people picking apart what you eat and "chiming in when someone's doing something unhealthy", but that doesn't seem like a healthy mentality.

    My mother and father talk constantly about what they eat, how much they eat and they comment on what the other person is eating – "chiming in" and "pointing out" bad eating habits. It's always such a relief to go to school where no one does that to each other. It just makes me more self-conscious.

    College has definitely made me healthier, though, if only because all my friends are into organics and hummus and tea, etc.

  34. Banana says:
    Mon, 24th Aug 20096:20 pm 

    I know what all of you are talkin about……………this summer I gained seven pounds and I thought that I was the only one…………The thing is that when you are in school you exercise daily then when it comes summer time you sit at home because it's to hot outside to do anything……but the thing is that you lose it when you go back to school!

  35. Okan says:
    Sat, 11th Aug 20124:12 pm 

    Dear Mindy,I just finished reanidg your book To Wish Or Not To Wish and it was amazing! I had to pick a book for my culminating assignment for english class and when I stumbled upon your book I couldn’t stop reanidg it! Anyways there were just a few questions I was hoping you could answer for me because I couldn’t find the information when I was looking around I hope you don’t mind 1.What year were you born?2.What is your nationality3.Whatr are the themes of the story? (I picked out the relationship factor, that she has with Teel, Timothy, and Amy and the responsibility that Erin has to learn to take for herself through the Master Plan but I need one more )I know you probably have a busy schedule but hopefully you will soon be able to squeeze in a quick email response to meThank you for your time and I hope I will get the chance to read your other stories Sincerely,Katarina

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