We’ve all heard of it, catching whispered mentions between friends and enemies. We’ve seen it dramatized on television shows and the damaging effects on self-esteem and waistlines. We remember older siblings coming home from college looking slightly…bigger. Yes, I am talking about the dreaded freshmen 15.

I entered college well aware of this ever-present freshman foe and came prepared with an unbeatable workout routine. 30 minutes cardio and 30 minutes of strength training were my weapons. Victoria Pena will be one less victim to the freshman 15; the one that got away.

Reality checked in about a week into school causing me to ditch my exercise regimen for more leisurely activities that involved friends. Somewhere between club meetings, First Thursdays, and studying for class, my plan for exercising was left by the wayside. Every workout became shorter and shorter until finally I didn’t bother going to the gym at all.  Little did I know that stepping off of the treadmill invited the pounds to step on.

Seeing the effects of too many late night snacks and skipped workouts in my too tight skinny jeans was my breaking point. The jitterbug dance needed to zip up my pants was humiliating enough without the accompaniment of my muffin top. That day I stepped on the scale to assess the damage and saw I gained 10 pounds in a two-month period. The freshmen 15 was adding my name to its list.

My plan to reverse the damage of my two-month indulgence begins at the cafeteria and ends at the gym. I am going to eat healthier meals and skip on the fatty snacks, picking up a piece of fruit instead. The idea of counting calories crossed my mind but the thought of keeping track of one more thing was out of the question, my classes are enough already.

As for my workout routine, I have visited the gym so much that the front desk worker was the first person to notice my new haircut, two days later.

Hopefully my efforts to maintain my weight will not be in vain. I must admit I am afraid to check my weight at the end of this month, after Thanksgiving.