Because of You, I Didn’t Give Up.

Yesterday morning I finished my last test. I am now officially done with my first semester of college.

So much has happened throughout these past 14 weeks. I’ve transitioned from living at home to living in a dorm, becoming independent and more responsible with money and time. Stress and hardships have turned me to the Lord and I feel even closer to Him from the fervent prayers and scripture studies I’ve engaged in. I’ve established a note-taking system and study-habit routine that helps me remember what I learn and apply it. I’ve discovered more about myself and can see that I’m capable of things I never thought I could do.

I know that this point was only possible through the Lord. His constant strength, guidance, support, and comfort have helped me get everything done and done well.

This next semester a lot of new things are ahead of me. I have the opportunity to volunteer at the Wellness Center, where I’ll manage two of their online-tracking fitness challenges (a 9-Week Challenge and a Lazy Man Iron Man) and work an hour a week in the Wellness Center itself, learning new skills and getting to know the directors and other managers. As for my classes, I’ll be taking Anatomy and Physiology and Nutrition in the Life Cycle, plus Biostastics, Developing World, and Religion. Since I’m getting my Bachelors in Health Promotions (and want to get my RD on top of that later on), I hope I can apply the things I’ve learned this semester and expound upon them for greater understanding.

I have absolutely ADORED my Nutrition class(es) this semester. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have acquired and for the opportunity to get to know and work with my Nutrition instructor, who has been a RD for 35 years and is about to finish her PhD. Her comments and acknowledgements mean the world to me, and my dream from the beginning of this semester has been to be able to work with her.

Because I have done really well in her class, I approached her a couple of weeks ago about possibly being a TA (teacher assistant) for her. When I asked her about it, she told me she had actually been hoping she could train me and would love to work with me; but, she had a TA coming back this next semester and could only hire so many. She told me she would see what she could do and let me know.

Last week I had the opportunity to go to a Dietetic Society Meeting where my Nutrition instructor spoke about getting into programs and what to expect. Afterwards I went up to her and asked her some questions I had on my mind. While we talked, I started crying – not sad tears though. I told her about my struggles in the past with orthrexia but I would never ask for that trial to have been taken away. It was hard, but I’m the person I am today because of it. I have learned so much about myself because of it. It has turned me to the Lord and made me rely more on Him, and truly, anything that turns us to the Lord is a blessing. She listened intently and told me she could tell that I had a love for Nutrition and that I had the discipline and persistence to get things done. She told me that she loved grading my work and tests and that I had a way with describing things that really get to the meat of the concept. (The happy tears started again.)
While talking with her, I KNEW I wanted to work with her.

This Tuesday she told me she found a way for me to TA for her this next semester.

I CAN’T STOP JUMPING FOR JOY! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

I am so grateful for the chance I have to work with her this next semester, obtain nutritional skills, and receive on-the-job type experience and training from her.

I am so grateful for everything I have gone through to get to this point. It’s been a hard journey up, but now that I’m closer to the top than I was when I started I can see the potential and views starting to appear. Hopefully I can help others reach this point too.

I now have the next week and a half off. I’m cleaning my kitchen right now for out white-glove clean checks (I took a little break… but breaks can be refreshing and make the work go easier, and talking with you guys is always fun). So, after we finish clean checks and I get situated with my extended family for the weekend I’ll come back and share some fun, adventures, and deliciousness. <3

With lots of hugs,

Shopping List Friday: College Edition

Hey My Blossoming Spring Flowers!

I just got out of an interview to work at the Wellness Center this next semester as a volunteer! They said they would definitely be getting back with me and can’t wait to work with me. I’M SO EXCITED! They mentioned I might be able to work with their Biggest Winner program as a Wellness coach and work with the participants on a one-on-one basis along with the personal trainers (I’d handle the nutrition area) to help them in the process of commencing towards an improved quality of life; I may also be able to run the 9-week Fitness Challenge program this next semester too. They’ll be contacting me this coming Monday and let me know! I really want to get involved at the Wellness Center as a Wellness Coach as that’s one of the things I want to be when I graduate – to be able to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. I’ll keep you updated on what happens!

And since it’s Thursday (I love Thursdays, especially since the next day is Friday ), I thought I’d have a little fun and join Miranda at Biting Life in her Shopping List Fridays!

I always find it interesting to see what people buy when they’re in college, so here’s just a peek at what I bought my last trip!

Eight pounds of apples, 8lbs of oranges, 10lbs of bananas (which I like to freeze), 5 lbs carrots (which I cut up into baby-carrot sizes and store in quart-sized zipbloc baggies), and 2 huge cantaloupes.

Eighteen 16-oz bags of frozen vegetables (French sliced green beans, broccoli/cauliflower mix, stir fry, and spinach). And yes, I said 18.

Two bags leafy salad greens, 4 green bell peppers (I want to make vegetarian stuffed bell peppers in my slow cooker), a container So Delicious Raspberry Coconut Yogurt, and a head cabbage.

Two cartons of Silk Soymilk. (I simply love it – period.)

Ten cans of Progresso soup; 2 cans pineapple chunks; and (Not pictured) cocoa powder, corn starch (I want to make some rice pudding!), baking soda, and vanilla extract.

I didn’t buy any dried beans or grains because I still have plenty of those in my “food storage” area under my bed.

And, since I like peanut butter so much…

I was SUPER excited when I received a box of these in the mail last week! My parents sent me a box of organic peanut butter from Amazon, and it actually turned out cheaper for them to do that than for me to buy them individually – all natural peanut butter is $4.50 at Albertsons per bottle, while it cost about $3.00 per jar on Amazon (including shipping). It’s a very delicious addition to a Reese’s inspired Chocolate Breakfast treat I like to make every morning.

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Any thoughts on living a lower-gluten diet?

I’ve heard that some individuals with problems with dairy can sometimes also have issues with gluten. I know I’m not allergic to gluten, but I think I may have some issues with it. I’m going to stay away from it for a little while to see how I feel and move forward from there. I kind of hope I don’t have problems with it, since being intolerant to dairy is already tedious as it is… Do you think it could be the stress my body is experiencing here at college that might give me problems with it? As in it doesn’t want to deal with it right now?

With lots of hugs,

FREE VIEWING “Hungry For Change” Documentary!

Hey my Lovely Shamrocks!

Hungry for Change is having another free viewing event! It’s running the 21^st-31^st of April, 2013 – you can sign up here to reserve your spot and get the link to watch it!

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Going along with this, I have absolutely LOVED my Nutrition and Personal Health and Fitness classes this semester. I’m sad they’ll be ending in a couple weeks, but I’m looking forward to studying Anatomy and Physiology and Nutrition in the Life Cycle. Here are a few things I’ve been learning in my Nutrition and Personal Health and Fitness Classes:

Health and Wellness are two different things. You may not be physically sick but be spiritually sick instead. Physical Health isn’t just working out on a consistent basis – it is also eating foods that fuel your body and giving your body the rest it needs every night. (That is one thing I have been trying to work on for a long time. I find it really hard for me, so that is why it’s a constant battle and constant goal. It’s something I have to face every day, but that also helps me address it.). Physical health is only a small portion of wellness. The way you view yourself, the conditions of your environment, your ability to handle your emotions, etc. are all a part of wellness.

If the benefits of physical activity were packaged into a pill, it would be the most prescribed medication in the world. 

There are no such things as “good” foods and “bad” foods. There are only foods with a higher nutrient density than others.

Variety, Balance, Moderation, and Adequacy are all a part of a healthful diet.

Even natural things if taken in unnatural amounts can be harmful. (Like my beta-carotene experience.)

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In addition, here are some fitness inspirations and motivations from Tribesports I really liked. 

http://tribesports.com/challenges/fitness-with-a-friend?utm_source=Kats Health Corner&utm_medium=Blogger&utm_campaign=FitnessWithAFriend

http://goo.gl/wPuo5

http://tribesports.com/tribes/stretching-recovery?utm_source=Kats_Health_Corner&utm_medium=Blogger&utm_campaign=WarmUpCoolDown%C2%A0

http://tribesports.com/challenges/100-crunches-a-day-for-2-weeks/guides/6-types-of-crunches?utm_source=Kats Health Corner&utm_medium=Blogger&utm_campaign=6TypesOfCrunches

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Make sure to eat something green today!

Have a wonderful St. Patty’s Day!

With lots of hugs,