Most people who have gone to college in the U.S.A. are aware of the age-old advisory to beware of the freshman 15. For some, the advice is a cultural myth. Yet others have deemed it well-warranted, and perhaps an understatement. A Chicago woman recently posted on TikTok about the health and wellness missteps she made in her first year at college, claiming she gained around 45 pounds.
Taylor Wright has over 200,000 TikTok followers. On October 21st, she uploaded a #storytime regarding her weight gain experience while she was a college freshman. Reliant on a meal plan through her university, the Chicago influencer shared that she struggled to use it effectively.
During the weekdays, Taylor and her roommate were able to eat in the school-sanctioned dining facilities as often as they pleased. As a result, they would each eat two lunches a day, followed by very large dinners. They would also eat dessert at every single meal, and often take extras back into their dorm room to eat once the dining halls closed. Regarding the excessive eating, the Chicago resident had this to say to her viewers:
Freshman 15? Baby, it was the freshman 45 for me, and I’m gonna tell you how I did it… I had no concept of health or calories… I was consuming any[thing] and everything that was put in front of me.
Taylor went on to discuss the relationship with her former college roommate. She stated the two were bad influences when it came to their poor eating habits. Their compulsive overeating wasn’t only limited to their meal card options. She stated they also had fully stocked food options waiting for them in their room. Regardless, on weekends, they utilized DoorDash to satisfy their cravings. Extra-large subs and pad thai were her go-tos, and she always ate every last bite.
Chicago Influencer Reflects On College Missteps
In addition to the overeating, Taylor stated overdrinking added to her weight gain problems. She claimed that irresponsibly drinking White Claw Surges and Fireball Whiskey helped pack on the pounds. While her friends all worked out, she emphatically refused their invitations to join them in the gym.
Reflecting back, Taylor referred to her first year in college as when she was “drunk, fat, and heartbroken.” While it isn’t clear if her school was in Chicago, she’s in a much healthier mindset while living there as an adult. Her candor about her impulsive decisions and how they impacted her life is admirable, and will likely help others to navigate college during their first years on campus. We wish her all the best with all her current goals!
