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Although most people look at me and wouldn't
think I was overweight I have always had a bad self
image. I always wanted to be "skinnier."
But I think every girl goes through awkward teenage
years. During high school we had the option of doing
aerobics in our gym class. My friends and I did that,
because it was better than going outside to play
soccer, but to my surprise I really enjoyed it. I
actually looked forward to going to gym every other
day, which never happened before. I even started
looking for other tapes which I could do at home on
the weekends. My first day as a college freshman
someone told me that everyone gains at least 15
pounds the first year of college (AKA "The
Freshman Fifteen"). I decided right then and
their that I wasn't going to let that happen to me! I
have too many clothes to have to worry about not
fitting into them. It's very common to gain weight in
college because most of the time meals are based on
the mood of the dining hall staff. Fast food,
combined with late night study breaks (pizza and
wings) and weekend parties (beer) can definitely add
on pounds.
I started using the small gym at school. I was
always intimated by the sports teams who used the
facilities, but they were mainly using the weight
machines. I started using the stairmaster, I was
always curious about them and never had the
opportunity to use one before. I started out doing
about 15 minutes but by the time I left for the
summer I could stay on the machine for a half hour.
I was proud that I didn't gain any weight that
first year and I hoped that I could keep up the
healthy habits when I was at home. It was hard going
from living on campus and having access to gym to
moving home without one. I tried keeping up by doing
videos but I always seemed to find an excuse. For
some reason I just never wanted to exercise when I
was home. It's not that my family isn't supportive of
what ever I do, but they always told me that I'm not
"fat" so I don't need to exercise. I
finally convinced them that it makes me feel got and
gives me more energy. And that I?m not unhappy with
my body, I just want to be more toned. I was anxious
to get back to school my sophomore year.
Upon returning to school my sophomore year, I
found out that the gym was going to be open at 6:30
in the morning. I discovered that if I didn't
exercise right away, I wasn't going to do it at all.
The new gym hours fit in perfect with my schedule. I
would get up early, exercise, go to class and have
free time to study and hang out. The first week I was
exhausted, but then getting up early came natural and
I was jumping out of bed every morning when the alarm
went off.
Even though my problem has always been during the
summer, I solved it the summer before my senior year.
I told my mom I was going to get up and walk before I
had to leave for work. So I convinced her to get up
and go with me. Not only is it exercise, but it gives
us a chance to catch up with each other.
My senior year of college I met an older couple
who used our weight room on the weekends. After
seeing each other a few weekends we started talking.
They asked me what sports I was training for and when
I said none, he replied ?Oh, you?re just in great
shape.? That comment surprised me but it also made me
feel really good, I was flying high all day. I never
realized how much I enjoyed working out, it just
became a part of my life. But I was (am) in great
shape, I worked up to using the stairmaster/ bike/
treadmill or a combo for 45 to 60 minutes. I even got
over my shyness and started using the weight
machines.
My only area of weakness has been in nutrition.
Although I hardly ever ate late night snacks, I
didn't deny myself the foods I wanted. Unfortunately
I'm a junk food junkie and I love chocolate. I
decided I would just eat the foods I liked in
moderation.
I kept up this healthy habit until I graduated
from college. I had to continuously change my program
or I would get bored. I would alternate stationary
bike and stairmaster and then the school purchased a
treadmill so I started mixing up my routine even
more. I included step aerobics or toning videos when
my roommate wasn't around. As soon as summer came I
would rollerblade on a nearby path.
I'm very proud to say that I graduated college
wearing the same size, being more toned, and having a
better self image then when I started. I think that I
succeeded in meeting my goal and want people entering
college to know that not EVERYONE gains 15 pounds,
and if they think they have to, maybe it can be
muscle! My next challenge is to continue this
lifestyle when I hit the corporate world in
September.
Jennifer Carr
[email protected]
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