Reader Success Stories - Amelia Lost 68 Pounds
Amelia did something a lot of us do when we first start college - she gained the freshman 15...and more. In fact, she got up to 200 pounds and, as she put it, "my dorm room smelled like cheeseburgers, and frequently I slept from about 4 a.m. until 6 p.m." College is a stressful time for many of us, but it can also be a turning point. For the first time, you're on your own and making your own decisions. Unfortunately, like Amelia, too many of us make bad decisions as we practice being on our own.
But, Amelia managed to turn things around in her second year, saying, "that first year of living away from home made me realize that I had choices; I could change myself." She bought a bike and started riding to classes and cut out the junk food, eventually losing an amazing 68 pounds. (Read more about Amelia's story).
If you were a college student (or are one now), did you gain weight? How did you deal with it? Leave a comment to tell us about it and be sure to share your own weight loss success story, if you've got one.
I didn’t gain the “freshman 15″, but I did do something equally unhealthy: I lost about 30 lbs. And, before people get mad at me and think I am boasting, I AM NOT. Major life transitions, such as beginning college (esp. if you move away from home),can be a catalyst for many unhealthy behaviors, including binge drinking, and eating disorders. For any young women reading this, know that you are not alone and it is totally normal to feel like you are in a state of upheaval right now. My hope for future young women is that they will be educated to empower themselves and not leave college with an addiction, eating disorder, an unwanted pregnancy, etc…
I applaud you those who are able to “get it together” and lose weight and get healthy. But for those who have a child, firend, loved one who might be around this age; watch them like a hawk…it is a major time of stress in a young person’s life.
God bless