The Freshman 15

My biggest fear coming into college was not how hard my classes were going to be, nor was it how many friends I would make or how homesick I would get. Yes, it was the dreaded freshman 15 that everyone talks about before you leave for college (If you are not familiar with the freshman 15, click here). It loomed over my head like a dark cloud that was inevitably going to consume me. I was so paranoid that I would gain weight in my first year at college, that I sacrificed my mental and physical health. Learning how to balance schoolwork, health and wellness, and physical activity every day has become a journey that I would like to share to help other's do the same. I am passionate about achieving and maintaining a healthy body and mind. I am also a strong advocator that our mental health is just as important, if not more, as our physical health. To learn more about mental health versus physical health, click here.

My name is Genna Serpan and I am a third year student at San Diego State. I never used to go to the gym because it always looked too scary, plus I'd been an athlete my whole life, so why would I need to workout apart from practices? Once I reached my senior year of high school, I started going to the gym and realized how intimidating all those machines are up close. Each one looked like a unique torture machine. I steered clear of the machines and stuck to the treadmill, running for the duration of my time at the gym. Once I realized that I would never get the results I wanted, I began to watch videos on how to use the machines that I recognized at my local gym. This moment of courage to try something new and potential embers myself completely changed my routine and made me so much more excited to go to the gym. 

Two years later, I am working out in the weight room at the Aztec Recreation Center at San Diego State, something I never thought I would have the courage to do. There is so much stigma surrounding weight rooms in gyms, especially on college campuses. It is something that seems so small, but going from dreading running on a treadmill for an hour to looking forward to new dynamic stretches and lifting routines that change every day is a complete mindset reset. Recently, I decided to go back to the basics and run on the treadmill for half an hour. Big mistake. I don't know how it happened, it was over in the blink of an eye. I fell off the treadmill...at full speed. Yes, I lived out everyone's worst fear at the gym. But I got up, walked out of the gym with rips in my leggings and black treadmill marks on my chest, and returned the following morning for my next workout. Yes, I was absolutely mortified and scarred for life from running on treadmills, but that did not stop me from pushing for my goals. It's okay to be embarrassed! I hope you can learn from me, and take risks for your own health and wellness goals, it'll be worth it in the end.