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| French fries, ice cream, late-night donairs ... it all adds up. First year engineering student Jena Bray illustrates what 15 pounds looks like.(Nick Pearce Photo) |
The Freshman 15 - fact or fiction? Depends on who you talk to. Some students find themselves victims of the dreaded undergraduate ?growth spurt?, while others find themselves actually losing weight when they enter university.
Why the fluctuation?
Anne Leblanc, group fitness coordinator and personal trainer at Dalplex, attributes weight changes to the sudden lifestyle changes that come with leaving the family roost - particularly in diet and activity level. Many first-year students eat at buffet-style meal halls, have very little
distance to walk to get to class and may not have found a replacement for the activities -
such as sports teams and dance lessons - that kept them fit during high school. These new
habits are the likely culprits if you find yourself battling the won?t-go-on-no-matter-how-hard-you-tug skinny jeans.
Luckily for those interested in dodging the Freshman 15 phenomenon, Dalplex is offering a new program this October targeted specifically at this issue. Ms. Leblanc says the purpose of the program, aptly called The Freshman 15, is “to work in a preventative manner.” As a personal trainer at Dalplex, Ms. Leblanc has had many student clients come to her after noticing that they have added on weight since starting university. She hopes Dalplex?s new eight-session course will help students avoid this by learning easy ways to stay healthy and fit.
Turned off by the idea of adding another ?course? to your load? “It?ll be fun and motivating,” promises Ms. Leblanc, “and an investment in your future.”
With a registration fee of only $15, it will also be much easier on your wallet than paying for a personal trainer!
Those who attend (by the way you don?t have to be a freshman - all Dal students
are welcome) can expect to learn about the fundamental types of exercise and how often
each should be included in their fitness routine. They will get lots of tips on how to get both
cardio and strength-training workouts while using their Dalplex membership (included in
tuition). Ms. Leblanc hopes the course will give students “the confidence to walk in and try the
weight room,” because they will have learned how to use each machine safely and
effectively.
“It?s a chance for new students who are lost to ask questions about the facility and
figure out what's what,” she points out. For instance, did you know that the weight
machine area located in the fieldhouse is open for everyone to use? (Am I the only person
who thought it was for varsity?) Also, there are more than 40 classes included in your Dalplex
membership. (Okay, I?m learning more already!)
The course will also include advice from a nutritionist on healthy eating and proper
portion control (those who have discovered the all-you-can-eat ice cream in the meal hall -
this one?s for you).
The list of benefits goes way beyond keeping a sleek physique. Healthy, active living prevents heart disease and diabetes, builds self-esteem, and reduces stress and back pain. Signing up for the course also presents a great opportunity to meet a workout buddy.
“It?s not about ?thin is in?,” declares Ms. Leblanc, “It?s about healthy eating, healthy activity,
and weight management.”
Watch out Freshman 15 - looks like you?re in for a fight! Here are the details on getting combat ready:
Start dates: Monday, Oct. 4 and Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7:45-8:45 p.m. Sessions continue Mondays and Wednesdays to the end of the month.
Location: Dalplex
Fee:Â $15
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