Working out & eating aren’t as easy and indulgent as they used to be

Coming into college I had the unrealistic expectation that I’d have no trouble maintaining my slim figure. After all, I feel lost without working out. Naturally, after about the first month, I was rudely slapped in the face by the hand they call “Just because you were an athlete in high school doesn’t make you one in college.” Whoa, hold the phone. You mean I actually have to plan a time to workout? And I can’t eat anything I want whenever I want? Is this real life?

These are my confessions:

1.There’s actually a feeling called “full”?

During high school, my hunger rarely ever ceased. I ate unheard of amounts of food—seconds, thirds, and fourths. I could do this because I worked out year-round playing basketball, lifting weights, and running sprints. Now, in college, I go to the gym three times a week—on a good week. And sometimes, I even forget to eat meals because I’m “not hungry.” Not hungry? …I just don’t understand…

2. I now workout to prevent weight gain instead of working out for muscle gain.

I’ve come to realize that walking to and from class isn’t going to singlehandedly defy the Freshman 15.  Let’s be real.

3. Free time…?

From practices, games, and team dinners to schoolwork, classes, and club obligations, I was lucky to get six hours of sleep a night in high school. As a first-year college student, I basically have all day to do my schoolwork, and since I don’t have practices, workouts, or games to schedule into my time, I’ve finally discovered the meaning of “free time.”

4. My knees are a somewhat normal color for once.

All throughout high school, my knees were beautiful shades of black and blue, and had what seemed to be a permanent purplish hue from floor burn after floor burn. Now, my knees are a beautiful collage of scars from where I’ve nicked myself shaving. It’s the small victories in life.

5. This is the first time I’ve been fully independent.

Everything about college screams independence. It’s where you finally come into your own, detach from the past, and discover who you really are apart from everyone else. Being a part of a team, I was always associated with what our team did, and our coaches told me what to do and what not to do. I’m not saying that being a part of something big wasn’t great, but now that I’m on my own, I can focus on myself, and it feels pretty damn good.