By Victoria Piscatelli

The “elephant” awaiting college freshmen before they arrive on campus is the fear of gaining the infamous “Freshman 15” ~ the phenomenon in which fit high school grads become unhealthy, highly caffeinated and stressed-out college students.

But what if the Freshman 15 is a myth? What if it is a college tale dating back to August 1985, when Seventeen magazine first coined the term? Well, have no fear! The Freshman 15 is no more real than Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy (sorry, kids). The Freshman 15 is a hoax.

Among the many pressures at college today (doing well in school, making friends and fitting in) is the pressure to avoid gaining weight. However, according to a 2011 Ohio State study on the subject, an average college freshman only gains about 3-4 pounds throughout the year. Compared to people of the same age group (17- to 19-year-olds) who did not attend college, there was only a ½-pound difference. Now, I am not a math major, but I am pretty sure that neither three nor four equal 15. So, from here on out, I will not use the term Freshman 15, because if I do not believe in the Tooth Fairy, there is no way I am going to believe in an imaginary 15 pounds being added to my thighs.

One of the most popular (especially among female college students) ways to stay slim is the “endless-cardio-and-least-amount-of-calories-diet.” This plan may seem like the perfect solution to avoid weight gain, but it is just as unhealthy as eating a whole pizza after a night of partying or shoving a doughnut down before class. By exercising excessively and restricting calories, a student will have lower energy levels and the body will begin to eat away at its lean muscle mass, since it doesn’t have the fuel it needs to function. College students need energy. Food has calories. Calories equal energy. Therefore, college students need food ~ and enough calories ~ to give them energy. If over exercising and calorie-restrictive dieting is not a solution for students to stay healthy, what is?

Holy Cross dietitian, Kathy Egan, shared her foolproof guidelines for students to stay healthy and happy while at college:

• If you are hungry, eat! Make healthy choices and pay attention to portion size.
• Plan most days so that you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Doing this will keep you energized throughout the day.
• Aim for getting 2 cups of vegetables at lunch and dinner and two pieces of whole, fresh fruit every day.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Pick whole grains, such as oatmeal, quinoa and brown rice.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Stay active and exercise.
• Have fun!

Say goodbye to the myth of the Freshman 15 and say hello to a healthy four years of college. If you gain a pound or two, don’t sweat it! Just follow the rules above, and the way you feel about yourself and your body will outweigh any number on a scale. If you find yourself overly concerned, look for nutrition or counseling professionals on your campus who can help you stay healthy.

Victoria Piscatelli, College of the Holy Cross, class of 2015, is an English and psychology major and a Holy Cross Dining Services marketing intern. She is a peer educator and co-chairman of Holy Cross Healthy Eating and Lifestyle (HEAL).