Ugh. The ‘freshman 15’ that could be worse.
It’s amazing how before I left for Australia, I read countless blogs telling me how much weight I would lose while living this active “travel” life abroad. What these posts failed to mention were;
TIM TAMS.
Mariel’s Cooking.
GOON. The best & worst thing you will never drink again.
Lunch Dates.
International meals, in a house with 30+ people.
Late night ice cream runs.
& birthday parties every 2 weeks.
Now with that being said… I have always lived a pretty active sporty lifestyle and have never been “overweight”. BUT there were so many things to experience in Australia that sometimes the gym was not a priority, or pizza with friends sounded better than a salad alone…and God help you if you find a pack of Tim Tams (GAME OVER). After about 6 months and 18lbs later I had done some damage but was the happiest person alive and did not regret one single pound.
Going abroad is not about what you look like. It’s about learning, experiencing, growing outside of your comfort zone and becoming the BEST version of yourself. Focus your time on doing things that you love. Meet new people and go on crazy adventures. Sure, try your best to be ‘healthy’ but do not prioritize a couple pounds over some of the best times of your LIFE. Enjoy the experience while you can because it will be over before you know it.
Some people will go abroad and lose weight (lucky you) but if you are like me, your life is not over and you will be fine so you need to stop worrying about what you look like or what other people think about you. LOVE YOURSELF because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.
One month after my study abroad program had ended, I was home; doing the same things, eating at the same places and sliding back into my routine. Within 2 months everything I had gained abroad had almost disappeared and Australia was a close but distant memory. Back at home I didn’t start any extreme workouts or food programs, just took what I learned about life and happiness abroad and lived well. Overall don’t sweat the small stuff, especially your physical appearance. Work on yourself from the inside out.
“When you fall in love with someone’s personality, everything about them becomes beautiful.”
That Awkward Tan Line 