JANUARY

What’s Going On this Month Weight Issues - What to Do - What to Avoid Responsive Residence Programming Activities

What’s Going On this Month:

January brings with it a wide array of experiences for students, including the lows of post-holiday blues, challenges with weight gain, and new year's resolution struggles, but also the excitement of seeing friends again and starting new classes. By now, students are considering their housing options for next year as residence applications are available at the beginning of the month. Students may also be feeling overwhelmed at how quickly the year is going by and are faced with the additional pressures of considering summer employment opportunities.

Additional challenges being faced by students include:

• post-holiday depression and the stress of leaving the comfort of home
• financial pressures as residence and academic fees are due
• the diversity and uniqueness of short term classes and non-traditional experiences help to make this month less despairing than others
• roommate issues arise as people who will be living off campus are choosing with whom they will be living next year
• class attendance issues
• disappointment about the results from first-term examinations
• resurgence of social activities and, because academic pressures are lower, there is a reintegration of floor members to the residence community
• body image concerns from holiday weight gain, and new year’s resolutions restricting diet, smoking or alcohol consumption

Weight Issues:

Gaining the "Freshman 10" [or"Frosh 10" -- the 10 pounds normally gained by first-year students] is a common experience for new university students. This may be the first time they have control (or lack of it!) over what they eat, and it may take some time for them to settle into a sensible and healthy eating pattern...Students can eat whatever and whenever they want, and their days can often end with a pizza party.

In trying to adjust to so many lifestyle changes away from home and parental supervision, many students gain weight, and it may take a couple of semesters for them to settle into a normal eating pattern. Some students get carried away with the freedom of being able to eat whatever they want and some find food a comfort in a new and stressful environment.

Parents need to be very careful about overreacting to this situation. You don't want your child to begin to obsess about food. Try to keep your perspective on this and avoid making it a big issue. Although you can no longer control what and when your child eats, you can influence how she views this weight gain and offer helpful advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What to Do :

• Listen to your daughter’s anxiety about her weight, without preaching.
• Reinforce that her weight and body type do not define her as a person.
• Discuss the cultural pressures related to body image and let her know that your love for her is not based on her looks or weight.
• Ask if she would like to talk about how to eat sensibly and suggest that getting some exercise might help her maintain a weight that is reasonable for her.

What to Avoid :

• Making this a big deal and trying to shame her into dieting.
• Leaping to the conclusion that she’s on the road to obesity.
• Overreacting, thereby emphasizing weight issues over other developmental concerns, such as learning healthy eating patterns.
• Imposing your attitudes about weight and body image.

Responsive Programming Activities in Residence:

• Health and nutrition workshops are offered.
• A Healthy Lifestyles contest is held.
• Eating Disorders Awareness week is promoted.
• Career planning sessions are conducted.
• Summer job search and resume writing clinics are held.
• Workshops on goal setting and motivation are held.
• Study skills presentations are given by Academic programmers in residence and Learning Skills Counsellors through Student Development Services.
• Academic programmers refer students to Professors and Learning Skills Counsellors to review their returned exams.
• Outdoor winter activities, such as skating, snow football, and skiing are organized.
• The off-campus housing office is advertised and presentations are held.
• Residence staff applications are due for interested residents.
• Academic Counsellors’ Fair takes place.
• “Intent to Register” and “What’s Your Major” information sessions begin
  
  
  
  

	Please note that all italicized text throughout this site has been reprinted by permission from St. Martin’s Press. This book can be purchased through Western’s eBookstore. Just click on the book cover to order.
	Copyright © 2000 by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller From: Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller. Reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press, LLC.

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