By Elani Cohen
Sports Editor: Zoe Forster
Now that us freshman have finally made it to second semester there is a real question at hand: Is the freshman 15 real? Should we, as freshmen, be concerned about our calorie intake and working out ratio?
As Cornell freshmen, a major problem (and advantage) that we face are the infamous dining halls scattered throughout North Campus—they are both a blessing and a curse.
As we enter the dining hall, we are immediately bombarded with the overwhelming smell of Chinese food, pasta, cheeseburgers, and the usual highly caloric dessert that is being served that night. OH and pizza—can’t forget about the pizza. Questions like, “should I eat this piece of pizza, a cookie, or both?” run through my mind as I anxiously walk through the dining hall.
Usually, a student will start out healthy—opting for a salad instead of going straight for the pizza and pasta bar. However, when you’re sitting in RPCC for two hours waiting for your friends to finish eating it is arduous not to give in to your unhealthy craving.
One of the many excuses Cornell students use to allow themselves to give in to their demanding yearn for unhealthy food is “I can eat fries tonight, right? I mean I did go to the gym today.” This excuse is used numerous times throughout a day, and can be used in many different circumstances. For example, it can be used to justify that extra piece of pizza you grab on your way out of the dining hall or to forgive yourself for having a cookie or piece of cake for dessert.
Everyday people confuse the working out to eating unhealthy foods ratio. They think that if they go to the gym and casually walk on the treadmill or use the elliptical for 30 minutes then it justifies them eating unhealthily. In reality, it only confirms their bad eating and gym habits. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t treat yourself every once in a while, or that going to the gym for 30 minutes everyday is a bad thing. What I am saying is that it is important to realize that having fried food and high-calorie desserts every day is bad for you no matter what.
We need to overcome these bad habits that we, as freshmen with parents who think we’re starving unless we have unlimited meal swipes, have instilled in ourselves over the past few months.
With that, here are some tips that I have learned from some “experienced” upperclassmen:
- Stay away from high calorie drinks.
- Brave the below-zero temperatures and walk to class instead of taking the bus.
- Give in to a cookie (but not three) to soothe your deepest craving.
- Be proactive, and actually go to the gym every once in a while.
- Don’t be scared of gaining the freshmen 15—it won’t ruin your life.
Header image source: Elani Cohen
