One more deep breath. That’s all I needed. 

I slowly inhaled and thought back to every greasy, grilled cheese sandwich and mouth-watering brownie sundae I shoveled into my mouth during that first semester of freshman year of college. 

I held my breath, braced myself and heaved into the last pair of skinny jeans that barely fit. Exhale. 

I had just arrived home in Denver for my first holiday break and had nothing to wear to the family Christmas party, except a constricting pair of skinny jeans. 

In a span of four months, I had acquired the “freshman 15,” three distinct stomach rolls, two sturdy love handles and one impressive double chin that would put Jaba the Hut to shame. 

Recently, Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced it is requiring each incoming freshman to wear a Fitbit — a fitness-tracking device — to combat the freshman 15.

The Christian university made the announcement earlier this month and said the fitness watches will contribute to the students’ grades, according to an article by NBC News. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, ORU provost, told NBC News all undergrads are required to take a physical fitness course each semester and complete 150 minutes of physical activity a week, take 10,000 steps a day — which is monitored by the Fitbit — plus readings and exams. 

When news of this broke, I couldn’t decide whether I was envious or strangely annoyed. 

Certainly, I wish my university expected me to acquire 10,000 steps a day to eliminate the chances of added flab, but all freshmen need to endure the extra baggage at some point. The freshman 15 is just a slice of the pie known as college.

Some of the best memories of my freshman year came from late-night fast food runs, pancake-eating contests (two-year reigning champ) and sharing boxes of pizza with my roommates. Never had it occurred to me, nor to any freshman, that poor lifestyle choices could threaten my capacity to excel. 

At least that’s what Oral Roberts thinks.

USA TODAY College also spoke to Reid-Martinez, and she said a physically fit student has a greater capacity to learn and to become a professional within their community.

“One who is not healthy, who is not physically fit, has less stamina and less capacity,” she said in the article. 

However, Olivia Ellis, a sophomore at Northwestern University also spoke to USA TODAY College and said that getting in shape should be a choice that a person makes, and shouldn’t be forced. 

“Also, college students are adults. They should be able to make these decisions on their own and not have an institution do it for them,” she said. 

Still, my bitter love handles complain in envy. Perhaps if my university required me to stay in shape, I would have had more options to wear to the family Christmas party some years ago. 

But being away from home for the first time meant I could stay out as late as I wanted, dress as I wanted and consume as much as I wanted. With time, I developed the right mindset and an appetite for healthful choices. 

I am now a senior and recently acquired a Fitbit. I wear it every day, aim for my 10,000 steps, drink my green tea and regularly exercise. 

But do I regret shoveling three slices of pizza, coupled with a basket of fries and a brownie sundae into my mouth the first week of my freshman year?

Absolutely not. I just bought bigger jeans.