Welcome to the Get Fit Guys' quick and dirty tips to slim down and shape up.

My name is Ben Greenfield, and I'm the Get Fit Guy.

It can happen in college.

It can also happen in high school.

It's a dreaded phenomenon that can afflict any student and have repercussions years after graduation. And it has nothing to do

with timed essay questions or complex mathematical equations. I'm talking about the freshman 15, those pesky

pounds that seem to magically appear as soon as you start studying. So in this episode, you're going to

find out what causes this weight gain and how to lose

those extra pounds. During the first year of college or high school, many students find

themselves gaining significant amounts of weight. Often, the freshman 15 stay in the body for years

after college and are sometimes never lost. While a degree is something to be proud of, those muffin

tops and extra belly may not be quite so desired. 15 pounds is actually a rather arbitrary

number. Studies show that the average rate of weight gain in the first year of college is actually

closer to 2 to 4 pounds. And in the second year, it's about 3 to 10 pounds. Only about 5% of

students actually gain 15 pounds or more during those first couple years. But regardless of the

actual number, weight gain during the first year of school and the years after is a common

scenario. So what causes the freshman 15?

Well, the reasons can include less than ideal food options, stress, alcohol, and loss of sleep.

Let's look at each.

So when it comes to poor food options, I'm a perfect example.

When I began college, I personally resorted to the dietary staples of hot dogs, peanut butter,

cheap steak, energy drinks, and frozen stir-fry vegetables, all washed down with gulps of beer.

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