As I’m writing this, the semester is well under way. Most college and university students are preparing for their first exams for the semester. You’ve likely heard about the Freshman 15 from at least one professor.
I want to tell you something I needed to hear before my first day of class:
You’re body is going to change. You’re still growing. Let it happen.
Had someone told me that, I think my college experience would have been different. I knew that my body was going to change in high school. Even though I fought it tooth and nail. I had no idea my body was going to change in college. I though the body I finished high school with would look the same until I had a baby or really started to age.
So, that’s what we’re going to talk about today. The changes that may happen to your body in college.
Change is the only constant.
First, you may continue growing taller. Females can continue to get taller until age 21. This is also when we’re laying down our peak bone mass. This will protect us when we’re older from fractures.
Next, you may gain weight. This one is crucial. You need to know that it is pretty likely that you will gain weight. I can’t even tell you how many girls I was in class with that started going on diets and over exercising because they weighed more than they did at senior prom. No one told us that our body at 17 is not our guaranteed adult body. My body currently is not the body I started college with, and it’s definitely not the body I graduated high school with.
Lastly, the way you experience your body may change. This one is also important. You’re body is still growing and changing. This could mean you get tired more easily. You may crave different foods.
The Quick-Fix
Don’t fight it!
Seriously. Don’t fight it. You will spend countless hours each day, month, and year fighting your body. This energy could be used towards getting the grades you want, spending time with friends being silly, volunteering, serving in the community. Literally, the time we spend fighting our bodies can be used for just about anything else to positively impact the world around us.
Keep eating. Eat carbs. Eat protein. Eat fat *gasp*. All of them are essential. They serve different functions that help you be you’re awesome self! Drink plenty of water. Get plenty of rest. One thing you won’t regret is getting enough rest.
Reflection:
1. How much time each day do you spend thinking about your body? Comparing it to your past body, your future body, someone else’s body.
2. What could you do if you were using that time doing something you enjoyed?
Today is the best day to change your life!