Keeping off the ‘freshman 15’

Millsaps College freshman Krystal Jackson is in the full swing of fall semester, busy with classes as a double music and art major.

Wellness is a priority for Jackson, who’s glad the campus has options to keep the “freshman 15” away — Zumba and cardio are her go-to exercises.

Millsaps “has a lot of healthy options and classes, and lots of walking space and everybody is really active,” Jackson said. “I usually don’t have time to go to our gym, but I do cardio in my room with my roommate.”

Local nutrition experts say the Freshman 15 is merely an urban legend, because first-year students actually gain somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds.

Registered dietitian Rebecca Turner said hectic schedules, late-night snacking and all-you-can eat meal plans are the usual suspects.

“Students can reverse this trend by eating three meals a day, packing nutrient-rich snacks, exercising regularly, practicing stress management and getting plenty of sleep,” Turner said. “For the co-eds, check out my Healthy Picks at eatjackson.com to make the grade when dining out in the greater metro area.”

Colleges and universities are making more efforts to increase wellness among students by adding amenities, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, fitness curriculum and healthier dining hall foods.

Contact Terricha Bradley-Phillips at tbradley@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7067. Follow @Terricha_CL on Twitter.

Belhaven University students make themselves at home in the 1,800-plus square-foot fitness center with resistance training, cycling and treadmill activities for full-body exercise. Two walking trails — Gold Trail is a mile long outside the campus, Green Trail is a half-mile in the center of campus — are used by the students and members of the Greater Belhaven community. One walking trail was made possible by a $350,000 gift from the BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi Foundation, said Jo Beth Murphree, director of Student Leadership.

In addition, intramural sports, annual health fairs and programs (insanity group workouts, urban dance club and fitness boot camps), 5K runs and National Walk At Lunch Day promote fitness, Murphree said. As for student nutrition, Food Services director Steve Smith said the daily menu has a Healthy Edge option, typically a baked item with reduced sodium along with a “Veggie Venue” section. “We offer a no-salt, no-butter vegetable at certain meal periods,” Smith said. “Of course, our salad and deli bar has over 50 items and is very popular, and we also offer gluten-free bread on request.”

Jackson State

University has a number of programs to help incoming freshmen with wellness and fitness at the Walter Payton Recreation and Wellness Center. They include group exercises, personal training, Wellness Wednesday, aquatics, Sweetness 5K and J-Walkers. The school also has a weight loss program, Do It (Decrease Obesity with Induced Training) Again, for students from Sept. 25 through Nov. 21.

Millsaps College wants its freshmen to make the most of their wellness journey at the Maurice Hall Activities Center and campus programming. Lori Genous, director of Health Promotion, said the Foundations course introduces half the class of 2018 to entry level courses including healthy living. Healthy living discusses portion control and healthy eating on a budget.

“Millsaps is a pretty healthy campus, but we all can do something to be a little healthier,” Genous said. “With physical activity, the key is starting small — like a 10-minute walk or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.”

The Healthy Monday campaign launched this semester gives students a chance to get on the wellness wagon. Meatless Mondays in the dining hall and Candid Conversations get to the heart of a student’s lifestyle. Also, Millsaps hosts spring and fall 5K races, and the Hall Activities Center’s state-of-the-art exercise equipment and basketball court are frequently used by students.

Mississippi

College’s dedication to student wellness shows in the freshman core curriculum. New students learn about target heart rate, nutrition, proper hydration and fitness apparel. The new Fit Freshmen program beginning Sept. 25 will introduce students to 30 minutes of continuous exercise every week for a chance at free Hap Hudson homecoming 5K registration. Suzanne McDonough, associate kinesiology professor, said freshmen can use discounts at the Baptist Healthplex on campus or Planet Fitness nearby.

“So many students are involved in athletics and we have a huge intramural (sports) program,” McDonough said. “We have developed a wellness program for faculty and don’t have one developed for students, but I see that changing.”

Tougaloo

College has a brand new, one-third mile walking trail with fitness stations around the Owens Health and Wellness Center, made possible by the BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi Foundation. “We’re a pretty healthy campus in terms of people using the amenities,” said George Chuck Patterson, director of Campus Life and Community Outreach. “There’s always a wait to get on the elliptical or treadmill. The machines need repair because they’re being used so much.”

The fitness center has plenty of activities and programs for freshmen to learn about stress management and health disparities. The dining hall offers the traditional comfort foods, ethnic foods and fresh salads and soups for every palate.