By snoadmin
With the opening of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center at Cal State Long Beach, incoming freshmen have a chance to avoid gaining the notorious “freshman 15.”
According to Maureen McRae, fitness coordinator for the recreation center, there are three major factors that contribute to incoming freshmen gaining 15 pounds: drinking, stress and eating habits.
“Many students find it hard to deal with the lifestyle change,” McRae said. “There is also more of an opportunity in high school to play sports and many students don’t know where to find that when they get to college.”
Research shows that, on average, incoming freshmen gain 15 pounds while spending their first year away from home, McRae said.
Students are too busy to take care of themselves while they are dealing with the mental and physical changes occurring in their first year of college.
Some campus programs are working with the recreation center to offset those extra pounds such as Beach Balance, said Christina Esparza, communications coordinator for the recreation center.
Free classes like Zumba, kickboxing and yoga are also available.
“If you are not going to eat healthy, working out helps lower that stress level, even if it is for 30 minutes a day, three days a week,” McRae said.
Another thing that helps students deal with living in a new location is finding something to do or somewhere to go in order to feel like they are a part of campus life. McRae said that with the recreation center, students can do just that.
The best way to stay fit is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and join something for fun, like a dance class, McRae said.
The recreation center has a Fresh Foods Café Express, where students can choose healthier foods and drinks. “The Café carries organic coffee beans and also makes everything from scratch,” Esparza said.
“There is less binge drinking when students participate in more sports,” McRae said.
The recreation center also rents out equipment such as bicycles, surfboards and boogie boards, Esparza said.
According to Esparza, the recreation center had more than 10,000 members already signed up by last week.
Members may choose from more than 200 different cardio and weight exercise devices.
Students who are interested in finding out what fitness regiment is right for them will receive one free strength, cardio and flexibility assessment.
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