A New Year’s resolution is a way to seek self-improvement in one or more areas of a person’s… A New Year’s resolution is a way to seek self-improvement in one or more areas of a person’s life. Resolutions can range from “Be happy this year” to very detailed resolutions such as “Eat four servings of fruit every day.”

The key to making a successful resolution is to keep it simple. Set a single goal and create a path to achieve it.

“I want to lose 10 pounds,” Jessica Dzurinko said. “My strategy is to drink more water, be able to run two or more miles at a time and join the lacrosse team. Hopefully that’ll help.”

Commonly, students’ resolutions are based around losing weight gained at school, physical activity improvements or having a healthier diet.

“My goal is to be able to run a five-minute mile. Right now, I run around a six-minute mile,” student Ian Tafel said. “I hate treadmills more than the cold, so I’ll run outside.”

Another student wants to focus more on eating healthier.

“I want to try to eat healthier and exercise more. It’s hard to eat healthy at school, because most of the food is pretty bad for you,” Maggie Ryan said. “I guess I’ll just try to go to the Pete more often to try to balance out the unhealthy food I eat.”

The dreaded Freshman 15, according to Student Health Service Dietician Meg Mayer-Costa, does not live up to its name.

“The latest studies on college freshman weight gain were published this fall,” Mayer-Costa said. “Both found that the so-called Freshman 15 is a touch too high, more often it’s an average gain of five to seven pounds for freshmen men and women, often most quickly in the first semester.”

Students must understand that the weight gain does not subside after leaving Pitt. Keeping an exercise or diet New Year’s resolution is imperative to one’s health now by getting the body into a routine that one can continuously follow.

The lack of getting into a familiar routine increases the risk of continual weight gain throughout adulthood.

Kara Ringo is dedicated to making and sticking to a routine.

“I’d like to try to work out at least four times a week at the Pete. I used to go to Amos’ gym, but the Pete just has more equipment.”

If someone does not have a clear vision of how to complete a New Year’s resolution, Pitt’s Student Health Service offers numerous (and mostly free) programs focused on self-improvement.

Student Health Service offers options like eating concerns consultations, nutrition counseling, peer health educators and the Personal Education, Assistance, and Referral Program.

Mayer-Costa is one of the people who works with students on nutrition and diet counseling.

“I work one-on-one with students to identify their needs. It’s often this individual focus on his or her lifestyle habits that helps with making adjustments that truly suit that individual.”

Pitt dieticians, including Mayer-Costa, focus on a person’s nutrition, physical activity, sleep and social activities and stress/time management as means for a healthier life.