Life Lessons Courtesy of College


I'd be lying if I said I went into college and didn't think I had everything figured out, but then again what 18 year old doesn't? Fresh out of high school and now "on your own" (despite still being financially dependent on your parents) gives you a rush of independence like no other. No longer do you have a midnight curfew- you get to stay out however long you want! But after these past 3 years I learned that I couldn't have been more wrong in my mindset. I was utterly and completely clueless when it came to living in the adult world. Growing up and learning important life lessons certainly isn't easy and not always a welcomed venture yet once you accept that you do not in fact know everything about everything and open your mind up to learning new things you realize the world isn't as scary of a place as it once seemed. Over the next few months I will enlighten you on some of the few lessons college taught me from the Freshman 15 to the unknown stresses of finding an internship and job after graduation.  First on the agenda: The Freshman 15


The Freshman 15- Yeah. It's a Real Thing.

Everyone laughs at this concept and think "Oh it won't happen to me! I'm active!". Yeah- admittedly that was me. Fast forward a year into college and I was retracting my words faster than you could say "oops". Throughout high school I had always played sports with minimum of 2 hour practices every day after class. Working out for me was running a lap around the field or running a set of bleachers. I had never stepped foot onto a treadmill except to maybe use it as a step to reach something on a high shelf. Lifting weights to me was lifting my heavy equipment bag off the rack and carrying it up the hill to the car. Salads were something rabbits ate. So coming into college I just imagined nothing would change; I'd stay in the same shape that I was provided I didn't eat my body weight in Bolton ice cream. Not until I stepped on the scale and the doctor read off the dreaded number did I realize just how quickly one's body changes when you no longer have regular activity levels and eat more than your fair share of food (thanks Bolton). 

I didn't have to drastically change my lifestyle, I just had to make minor changes. Therefore, afternoons lying in bed watching Netflix changed to running on a treadmill or using the elliptical while watching my favorite show on my phone. All-you-can eat meals turned into more of a test of self control as to not reach for that dessert on my walk out. I'm happy to say the Freshman 15 was limited to freshman year. Living in an apartment and being responsible for cooking my own food has turned eating healthy into a fun activity. Those Tasty videos on Facebook are a great inspiration, that's for sure. Throughout this process one thing remained true: it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. No matter how difficult it was to accept that I no longer was the fit girl I used to be, I learned a hard and unwanted lesson and I became a better and stronger person from it. Now I won't ever be the next Instagram fitness model but I am happy of how I am and that's what truly counts.


Comments

  1. Digital FitnessAugust 29, 2017 at 6:56 AM

    Megan, the freshman fifteen is all too real. I can assure you that you aren't alone in thinking that the athlete you once were in high school would translate into college because that was my mindset too. You'd think all the hills at UGA would help, but the joke is on all of us apparently. Thank goodness that we're now a few years older and wiser with slightly more self control.

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  2. UnknownAugust 29, 2017 at 8:14 AM

    Megan,

    I couldn't agree more!! What an adjustment college was. I think that we get all caught up in the excitement of living on our own like you mentioned, and we forget to take responsibility for things in the absence of our parents. I do agree that living in an apartment has helped, both health-wise and financially. I was so used to playing sports in high school, that I rarely had to make myself go workout, because practices and games kept me in great shape. Coming to college made me realize my metabolism wasn't going to stay the same forever. Live and learn is totally the right motto!

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  3. UnknownAugust 29, 2017 at 10:27 AM

    This is so real and true. I think everyone goes in with the same mindset you had, and are quickly shown that highschool habits just aren't going to fly in college. As a senior in college, I like to look back at how I ate my senior year of highschool and I always get a good chuckle. But I agree, going from being an athlete to a less active college student definitely has an impact on your body.

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