Avoiding the spread we dread

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Published on Saturday, 18 February 2012 16:56

Written by Caterina Aldera

First-year spread is real. Every year, thousands of young nineteen-year-olds fall prey to the vicious epidemic, but it can easily be avoided with a deliberate lifestyle change. This guide will show you a few ways to keep those extra centimetres on the tape measure, and off your thighs.

The causes of first-year spread

Pub crawling: This one’s basically part of the Fresher identity; clubs and pubs are their natural habitat. We won’t suggest drinking less, but unless you find another way to burn off those beer-calories, you could find yourself sporting a boep by June exams. Good-bye, skinny jeans. Farewell, mini-skirts.

Campus food: Most first-years, overwhelmed with the appearance of about twenty new “tuck-shops” in one place, get into the habit of one hot chocolate a day, book-ended by muffins. Varsity is stressful, and that muffin helps the day go by a little faster. Luckily, there’s a fruit-vendor in the food court, so get some grapes instead – you’ll feel much better.

It may take a while to notice, but the portion sizes at some of the campus food stores are enough for two meals. Do you really need all those noodles? Would the sandwich, instead of the whole sub, not fill you up? Listen to your body, eat slowly, and you may realise you’re fuller than you thought.

You’ll save so much money by bringing your own lunch up to campus – a basic roll can be put together for under R5 in many cases. The same goes for water – fill up your own bottle at the water-fountain on Jammie Plaza. In many cases, hunger is just thirst in disguise.

The solutions

Transport: Time to put the “sport” in “transport!” Why wait in a queue for that Jammie when it is often quicker to walk? You’ll feel tired and reluctant the first few times you march up Woolsack, but after a while it will become invigorating. Consider cycling to campus. Yes, it’s all uphill, but you’ll have calves of steel. Why would you choose a hot, smelly Jammie Shuttle at 8am over a set of gorgeous legs?

Sports: Why not choose a UCT sport to blow off some steam at the end a long day? Pretend that hockey ball is the tutor who scribbled rudely all over your assignment; take the time to focus on yourself and keeping your own body in good working order.  There is a UCT Hockey Internal League that caters for all skill levels.
If hockey’s not your scene, consider soccer, netball, squash or Ultimate (Frisbee). All these sports also have competitive internal leagues that you can sign up for. (You’ll also make great friends!).

You could even join the UCT Gym, or if you’re saving pennies, run up and down Jammie steps (cue: Jungle Oats ad.) The gym is quite reasonably priced, considerably cheaper than most other alternatives (only R500 per year).
It may seem counter-intuitive to expend whatever amount of valuable energy you have at the end of a tough day on campus, but in the long term, exercising boosts your energy levels. You’ll sleep better, eat better, and find it easier to concentrate. If you’re ambitious, you could enter a 5km run or walk to mark your progress.

It’s a fact that exercising releases endorphins, also known as the “happy-hormone.” Add that to the happiness of being a survivor/avoider of First Year Spread, and you’ll be able to tick “happiness” off your to-do list of life goals. So when next you have writer’s block on that essay or are just feeling down, consider a walk in the park. It’s really underrated.