University Memorial Center cafeteria meal April 10, 2024 (Naomi Morrison/CU Independent)
Your buddy Naomi: Welcome to The BuffaLow Down! I’m honored to present this column to CUI. We bring you lots of conversations about the complexities of life. I would be happy to help you answer any burning questions or personal dilemmas you may have while attending the University of Colorado Boulder. I would also like to remind you that no matter how wise I am, I am not a professionally trained provider. However, if you are dealing with a mental health issue, please contact the National Mental Health Emergency Hotline by dialing 988 or this link There are resources that may be helpful.
Submissions to the advice section are accepted below. the buffalo down! All posts are anonymous, so we encourage you to vent whatever is on your mind.
Person who possesses a body: With so much emphasis on concepts like Freshman 15, how can you stay confident and maintain a positive body image in college?
Your buddy Naomi: Food culture Thank you for your question, as what we do here in Boulder is a strong topic that I have wanted to cover for some time. The University of Boulder is a Colorado college town known for its health, so students value their health. health condition. Additionally, Boulder was specifically coined as “America’s thinnest city” by newspapers such as ABC News and USA Today. lowest obesity rate Nationally, Colorado cities were runners-up, particularly Denver and Fort Collins. But in a silent testament to Colorado’s accolades for physical health, the state also ranks 45th in adult mental health in Mental Health America’s 2023 report.. Boulder also has a high rate of eating disorders. almost 3 times National average. This is one statistic that Boulder can’t afford to go easy on, especially considering it’s 2 cents an ounce. sugar tax. Yes, food culture is alive and well at UW Boulder, and the question you asked is an important one to ask during your first few years of college here.
First of all, the “Freshman 15” is the idea that college students gain 15 pounds during their freshman year. mythology. I’m not sure where the “Freshman 15” fable came from, but I remember it becoming a very relevant topic during my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. I recall a rebuttal from a C4C diner about strategies to avoid the gruesome “Freshman-15.” It may seem like a small thing, but this is the beginning of dysfunctional thinking about food and exercise. Everyone can remember at least one statement they heard from another person that caused a lifetime of anxiety. Eating disorders, especially anorexia, highest mortality rate Collective term for all mental disorders listed in the DSM-5. It’s also highly contagious, so it’s important to stay positive when talking about others and your body. Generally, as a rule of thumb, it’s best not to discuss the body at all. I understand that this may be difficult, because in a way, venting your insecurities can be cathartic. However, we don’t recommend doing so unless you know that others are comfortable hearing about your body-related concerns.
My advice for staying sane in this city of body image consumption is to remember that between the ages of 18 and 23, our bodies are still in a very unstable state. important stage And that they are designed to know what’s best for us. If you, or anyone else who is noticing changes in your body during this time, we recommend listening to your body’s needs and ignoring the theory that gaining 15 pounds is a negative outcome. It’s preachy and cliché, but confidence comes from love and trust in yourself. It’s not about looking a certain way or weighing a certain amount. Weigh you! (However, I might recommend not weighing yourself anymore, as I don’t think you’ll get any productive results.)
I encourage you to pass this message on to anyone reading this because it once again feels like loving yourself is much easier than it actually is. Those who are aware of what their dysfunctional thoughts are about their bodies, and how they energize their bodies as vessels for this beautiful life that we are all given. We encourage you to share how it helps you take care of your body. . Being health conscious doesn’t just mean being physically healthy. It’s a balance between body and spirit. Whether you gain 15 pounds in your first year here has nothing to do with your health, so eat when you’re hungry. Focus on practicing healthy thoughts about food. Thinking about how your food and energy affect your body creates a positive body image.
love yourself),
your partner naomi
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Naomi Morrison at namo6410@colorado.edu.
