23 and 1/2 Hours + College

Hey my Wonderful Spring Flowers!

I just got home from my classes and I have so much to share about college! These past few weeks have been full of classes, learning, studying, and craziness. I’m having a lot of fun with my classes, even though the volume can seem a little overwhelming at times. I’m adapting to the workload though and it’s getting easier to handle. I ADORE my Nutrition in the Life Cycle class. I always enjoy my nutrition classes — doing the work for them actually stress-relieving for me. I love how we’re digging deeper into each of the life stages and learning why certain things happen the way they do, when certain nutrients need to be particularly stressed at certain times of life, and how to make recommendations for optimal health. My Anatomy class is also a lot of fun. (This last week I learned WHY saturated fats are solids and unsaturated fats of liquid! It absolutely MADE my day I was so excited!) It is the most intense class I’ve ever taken. At least it makes my other classes seem easy. We’re just finishing up histology (have two exams on it this weekend) and then we’ll dig deep into the skull and start learning bones. In my Developing World class I’ve been “adopted” into the country of Swaziland (in South Africa) and I’m excited that I get to learn more about this country and its people. My Bio-statistics class is also very informative — I love how it talks about how to evaluate data and studies to make sure it’s reliable information. My scripture studies have been amazing recently. (Why is it that the times in my life that are the most hectic, the most crazy, I get the most amazing feelings of comfort and strength?! I can see His hand in my life every single day and I know the only reason I’ve been doing well is because of Him.) My religion teacher is actually in Jerusalem right now; he’s promised to bring us pictures and stories when he comes back in a little over a week. 

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As a part of my preparation for my Nutrition class today I watched this video that really impressed me. I’ve linked it right here and would love to hear your thoughts on it. 

What are your thoughts from this video? 

Do you agree with him?

Would you recommend this treatment for health and well-being?

with lots of hugs,

P.S. I’ll be back soon with some deliciousness… since I’ll be an official adult this next Tuesday.

A Busy Little Bee’s Liebster Award!

Hey My Bee-You-tiful Blossoms!

I am really enjoying this little break I have this week. Today I helped my great-aunt clean the house and caught up with some blogging, reading about what some of the other lovely ladies (and guys) are doing out there. It’s been fun, something I’ve definitely missed these past weeks. Right now as I’m writing I’m watching the 1997 Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. I love musicals, especially this one, and I love that the whole thing is on YouTube! (There are a lot of other musicals that I love too, like the Swan Princess, Quest for Camelot, Muppet Treasure Island, Annie Get Your Gun, the Disney Princess movies, and lots of others!)

This last December, two lovely ladies nominated me for the Liebster Award: Sandy and Kendra. I still can’t believe I haven’t done this yet, so I thought it’d be fun to answer some of these questions, especially with how much has gone on since then. Tomorrow I’ll be back with some What Kat Ate action and later this week with some more deliciousness.

The Liebster Award supposedly stems from the German word for Liebster, which is dearest.

It has 5 parts:

1. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
   
2. Answer the 11 interview questions you’ve been given by the person who nominated you.
   
3. Create 11 new questions.
   
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post.
   
5. Go and tell the person who nominated you, along with the people you’ve nominated about your post.
   

(I’m doing parts 1 and 2 by answering both answering both Sandy’s and Kendra’s questions.)

Sandy’s Questions

1. Are you scared to die?

(That’s a profound question to start off with…) In a sense, no and yes. Yes because of the unknown and huge change it would be; no because I hope I will have lived the best I could and done everything I can to make a difference.

2. What is your best health tip?

Focus on vegetables and fruits. Focus on plant foods. Give up numbers – no one apple is ever the EXACT composition as the last one: they are each individual, but still have their beneficial qualities that most do. The thing that has helped me overcome my tendency towards obsession with perfection (like orthrexia) has been to give up numbers. I love math and it comes easily to me, but that strength because my weakness as I became obsessed with being “perfect.” But I find that as I view foods as simply good foods and better for you foods, I can focus on the health properties each food can provide my body. I can then pick between good, better, or best, leaning more heavily on the better and best side.

3. Do you believe that genes or diet/lifestyle is more powerful to your health?

Diet/Lifestyle. Yes, genes are very imperative – they make us who we are today and without them we would not exist. But I think your lifestyle can have a more profound effect on your health. You may have the genes that have a higher tendency towards heart disease, but that doesn’t mean that you will get the disease. I have a family history of diabetes, but that doesn’t mean I have to get diabetes as long as I take care of my body in the best way that I can (involving nutrition, fitness, stress management, sleep, etc.). There are instances where certain things can’t be prevented, but lifestyle can help prevent the onset and help manage it.

I feel that diet and lifestyle come first. I am by no means a doctor (I practically hyperventilate when I see needles, blood, and surgery-things…), but I believe that when it comes to approaching health and treating individuals I think their lifestyle and diet should be analyzed first. Instead of just prescribing more and more prescription drugs, maybe all the individual is scarce of in their body is a certain nutrient which is causing the certain symptoms they are experiencing. The “cure” they may be looking for might come simply from giving their body what it is truly wanting instead of just bombarding it with chemicals. Prescription drugs have their place don’t get me wrong – they save countless lives. But I feel they should come after an individual’s lifestyle and diet are evaluated.

This was a rose that one of my guy-friends got me for Valentine’s. He bought a whole bundle of them and gave them to each of us – it was so sweet of him!

4. Do you prefer summer or winter?

Summer – that’s when watermelon and strawberries are in season.

5. Do you have a ‘bed time’ or do you just go to bed when you feel tired?

I have a bed time: it’s at 10pm so I can get up at 6am (I have early classes). I just need to work on sleeping through the night – I toss and turn a lot from stress…

6. When you were younger what did you dream you would be when you grew up? 

I dreamed of being a ballerina. But when I found out their toes bled my desire diminished.

7. What is your most favourite & least favourite thing about your job?

I haven’t ever really had a “job” other than babysitting, but I loved teaching my Sunbeams on Sundays, and I can’t wait for when I can start working with individuals, families, and people in the workplace and help them improve their lives. Once I finish my college degree and become certified that dream can come true.

8. Is there any particular food that you just can’t stomach the taste of at all?

Raw tomatoes. I can eat them cooked, but I can’t stand them raw. All of my friends and family love raw tomatoes, but I don’t. I’m an odd-ball.

9. Do you have a favourite recipe, that you use frequently? If so, please share it! 

One recipe I make all the time right now is my Reese’s PB cup spread. Another one of my favorites is my Cake Batter Almond Butter.

10. Do you prefer to shop online or in stores?

In-store: that way I can try it on, see if I like it, see the size of the appliance in my hand, flip through the book and see if it interests me, etc.

11. What is your favourite thing about Christmas time?

I love all the service and smiles and sharing and giving and building forever relationships with my family.

Kendra’s 11 questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday tradition/activity/event?

I love singing Christmas songs all year round!

2. How many times have you moved in your life?

I have moved 3 times: Germany to Turkey, Turkey to England, and England to Texas. I’m in Idaho now for school, but since I’ll be back home at the end of August I don’t consider that a “move.”

A few weeks ago I woke up to this find little surprise in the kitchen with a note my roommates left me. They made me cookies – cookies that I can have! They are so sweet – they’ve been telling me all semester that they were going to make a treat that I could have. It really means a lot to me that they would do that for me.

3. Have you ever been overseas? If so, which countries have you visited? If not, what countries would you like to visit?

I was actually BORN overseas in Germany and lived in Turkey and England as well.

4. What are some of your favorite books?

Pride and Prejudice and . <3

5. What is your favorite restaurant?

Chipotle! I just went there with my sister and some of our friends and it was absolutely delicious! I also just went to Panda Express a few weeks ago on a double date and discovered they are quite delicious too.

6. If you could have any superpower, which one would it be and why?

I would want to fly – have ever since I was a little girl. (I would always daydream on the swings….)

7. What is your favorite type of weather?

Cooler – like in the Spring and Fall. Like it is now in Idaho – it’s in the 50s and feels incredible! (Though, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow…. We’ll see how that turns out.)

8. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten (or drunk)?

It’s not strange, but I’ve had a couples shots of wheat-grass juice before – it was pretty good.

9. What is your favorite school subject?

Math – I’ve loved it ever since Kindergarten. I also love Nutrition. <3

10. Do you prefer to exercise indoors or outdoors?

Indoors – I like Zumba, Yoga, and the Elliptical and Weights. But I always love taking walks in the sunshine.

11. What is one of your favorite quotes?

http://pinterest.com/stylinkittykat/quotes/

The people I nominate: EVERYONE WHO IS SUBSCRIBED TO MY BLOG!

The 11 questions to answer:

1. What does a “balanced diet” mean to you?
   
2. Favorite pastime?
   
3. Do you have a bedtime routine?
   
4. Favorite crayon color(s)?
   
5. Inside or outside?
   
6. Workout in the morning, afternoon, or evening?
   
7. Favorite quote?
   
8. Handwritten letters or email?
   
9. Favorite past time?
   
10. Favorite food in the summer? in the winter?
    
11. Cold or hot beverages?
    

Try answering one (or more) of the questions above! I’d love to hear your response(s)!

with lots of hugs,

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,