By AnnieTintle
tintle@newsroom.byu.edu
Every man on campus wonders at it, every woman fears it and every dish of ice cream ensures it -- the freshmen 15.
Fifteen is really just an average number and while some co-eds may gain five pounds others could pack on 30.
'My eating habits changed,' said Anna Mokhova, 19, a sophomore from Russia majoring in dietetics. 'You get nervous so you eat more.'
It makes no difference if someone wears a size 3 or 13, everyone has the same chance to gain a few extra inches that first year of school.
But does anyone have to gain it?
Absolutely not. Hope still exists for those who have had to unbutton their jeans on the plane ride home after Christmas break.
Although it may be a battle, it is a worthy one that comes down to a few rules.
Rule One: No matter how many dorm buddies want to order pizza on Monday, Wednesday or Friday night, don't dish out the dough.
Rule Two: Avoid BYU-cafeteria food like the plague. The phrase 'all you can eat' is not meant to be taken literally.
Rule Three: Wendy's may be open until 2 a.m. but stay in the dorms after midnight to avoid the Cinderella pumpkin syndrome.
Rule Four: Think twice about those 'healthy' juice drinks that average 800 calories a plastic-foam cup. Even with the fat-free front, calories do count.
Rule Five: A rejection binge isn't justified if Homecoming week doesn't bring in a date. The gym can do a lot more for self-esteem than any bag of Skittles.
However, despite all this advice a word of caution -- misery is not worth sparing a few pleasantly curvaceous pounds.
Staying active will make the difference, so get out there on Monday nights and play a little Ultimate Frisbee. And the university offers several fun classes that provide good cardiovascular activity.