The skinny on ‘freshman fifteen’

weight many freshman students gain when they begin college “is not a myth, it’s real,” according to cnn.com.

KELLIE BELMONTE STAFF WRITER KRB722@CABRINI

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Although most defensive specialists are tall, Sarah Norfolk, a 5’4” freshman contributes to the backline of Cabrini’s women’s volleyball team. Norfolk played for Elizabeth Seton High School in Prince George County, Maryland. For four years she played as a defensive specialist and outside hitter and is continuing her volleyball career as a defensive specialist for the Cavaliers.

Personally , the goals set this season for her are to hustle after every ball and improve on her serve. As a team, she would like to see them continue with their success and make it to the playoffs.

“Since my team last year were the Champions of our division, I plan to help my team in whatever way I can,” Norfolk said.

Keller; “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” She feels as though the volleyball team has become her family. “We have really bonded as a team and are all so close. It’s like having 11 other sisters,” Norfolk said.

Norfolk is a determined athlete and doesn’t let any injury get in the way of her playing on the court. “At the beginning of the season, I developed a shin splint from all the conditioning we did,” Norfolk said. She also suffered from the loss of voice due to the enthusiasm during games.

In August of 2002 my parents were dropping me off at Cabrini, to begin my first year of college, the first time I would be living away from home. My Dad warned me about the “Freshman Fifteen” as we drove past the “Battle of the Bulge” sign on King of Prussia Rd., as if it referred to the excess weight or “bulge” many freshman gain during their first year of college. Although the “Battle of the Bulge” sign is referring to a World War II battle, it could very well be taken as a warning sign to gaining the “Freshman Fifteen” to some people like myself.

The “Freshman Fifteen” is a notorious term throughout most college campuses worldwide. The term referring to the extra

Most students who are away from home for the first time drastically change their eating and exercise habits upon the start of college without giving any thought to it. The decrease in students’exercise habits and increase in their food consumption causes weight gain. Many college freshmen were active in high school participating in various sports or activities and also ate healthier meals because their parent’s provided it daily.

Once students begin college it is their responsibility to plan and eat healthful meals and to include exercise and physical activity into their daily routines. If the student does not take responsibility for his or her eating and exercise habits he or she is likely to gain the “freshman fifteen.

Convenience is one standard that many college students live by. Fast food restaurants seem to be convenient for many students and unfortunately do not offer very healthy eating options. One University of Texas student “ate at McDonald’s and Wendy’s out of convenience before the dormitory dining room opened,” according to cnn.com.

If gaining the “freshman fifteen” is something you want to avoid, you could try the following; try to eat varied meals including vegetables, fruit, dairy, protein, complex carbohydrates and a limited amount of saturated fat, include physical activity into your daily routine and exercise at least three times per week, try to avoid fast food, overeating and late night snacking.

Although the “freshman fifteen” is real, according to cnn.com, it is also something that can be avoided through a few simple modifications in eating and exercise habits.

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Another key element for Norfolk being on the team is everybody getting along. Norfolk referred to a quote by Helen

On and off the court, Norfolk feels she has a connection with the team. “Communication is the key to everything, every team needs improvement, and most of the time it has to due with communication,” Norfolk said. She expresses a passion for the sport and the school. She couldn’t picture herself a part of any other team. “I love it here,” Norfolk said.