RPW: Response to Rebecca's post on the Freshman 15

This post is in response to Rebecca's post about the Freshman 15.
I must admit, before coming to college I heard a lot about the Freshman 15 "Phenomenon", but didn't really understand how it was possible. I assumed that those who eat rather healthily and exercised on a fairly regular basis in high school would be able to behave similarly in college without much difficulty. However, once being put in a college living situation, unlike most people's living situations pre-college, I can honestly say that I have a different view of this very common predicament for college students.
One of the components of Rebecca's post that I found very intriguing was her section on alcohol consumption. In my observations, I've seen that most people that gain the Freshman 15 have done so due to poor eating habits or lack of exercise, but never once have I thought that alcohol would be a contributing factor.  While I knew that alcoholic beverages were not exactly low-calorie options, I was rather unaware how many calories they packed, and how frequent alcohol consumption could lead to weight gain.
Another part of Rebecca's post that I can relate to is her discussion of late night snacking. Although I think at some points this is inevitable, when students are up until all hours working on assignments, I don't think the University's food system helps this problem. In fact, it seems like they almost encourage it. Hawk's Nest is open until 10:30 I believe, and the Deli in Konover does not begin making sandwiches that count as meal swipes until 10:00, counting for the "Late Night" meal. While I think that is nice to have these options, I feel as though the University is encouraging unhealthy eating through the late night meal option.
As my freshman year comes to a close, I can honestly say that I was not as healthy as I wanted to be. As proactive as I was initially with going to the gym and eating healthy, often taking these routes can be time-consuming, and for someone like me as a Hartt double major it is near impossible to keep up with constant exercise and having to sometimes wait longer for healthier options at Gengras and at Commons. I know that next year, having spent a year at the University, I will have a better idea of what I need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and with having the opportunity to cook my own food, will hopefully be able to become a healthier person.