Sunday, July 29, 2018

Diet & Exercise

     Let me begin with a little background about myself before discussing this topic. I grew up in sports. Baseball, football, soccer, weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming... if there was a sport that existed, I was going to try it as I grew up! As I entered high school, I stuck with baseball, football and weightlifting because I was a bit overweight, making me less competitive in other sports. By the time high school was over, I was close to 260 lbs, and I hadn't realized how unhealthy I'd become. I was strong and a great weightlifter, but that didn't matter much anymore because I chose not to pursue college athletics. Needless to say, things needed to change.

     Then, college began and my weight fluctuated for the first few years with fad diets and intermittent exercise, but I actually LOST the "freshman 15!" But by the end of my junior year, I was holding steady at around 235 lbs, but was still not satisfied. I was an Exercise and Sport Science major and had some access to a DEXA scan to measure my body fat percentage. Let's just say that was a wake up call, it was much higher than I thought it would be...

     I met a good friend, who eventually became my roommate, who wanted to compete in a "mini" triathlon. I was never really into cardio, and I was scared when he asked if I wanted to join. I said yes, and we began training at the gym. I'm not saying this is the fix-all for everyone, but this is how I lost that stubborn weight... a LOT of motivation and hard work with the help of a dear friend!
  • If you want me to share our workout plan, just comment down below, I'd be happy to. Just keep in mind that we had access to a lot of equipment, at UGA's gym.


     By the end of my Junior year, I was sitting just under 200 lbs, and stronger than I'd ever been. I did not get a change to compete in the mini triathlon we signed up for because I attended the wedding of a dear friend, which was far more important. Three years separate the pictures above, it takes time. I finally felt confident, I finally felt healthy. This friend has no idea the impact he had on my life, but I am forever grateful to him. Today, I struggle trying to balance life, school, work, and health... But, that's another topic for another day! The key: find balance, but don't neglect health whether it's mental or physical!

     The short story is, the secret to my success was surrounding myself with those who wanted me to succeed, those who helped me succeed and pushed me when I felt like giving up. Through constant motivation and competition, I was able to lose weight, improve my mental health, and feel healthier overall. There are so many diets/exercises that exist, but you MUST find support in those around you, and find what works for you. The diet that works for John Doe may not work for you!

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Patience

We could all use a little patience sometimes. I'm currently on clinical rotations and my preceptor shared this quote with me. I didn't realize I needed this wisdom until later that night... I hope it can shed light on something you're going through.


"Patience with family is love
Patience with others is respect
Patience with yourself is confidence 
Patience with God is faith" 

Sunday, July 8, 2018

A Growing Love

A girl so amazing, so beautiful
A girl that has stolen my heart
A girl whose kisses make me delusional
A girl who is driven, who is smart

A moment more precious than a sunset
A moment so wonderful, so grand
A moment that I won’t ever forget
The moment I asked you to take my hand

A relationship built upon trust
A relationship filled with competition
A relationship where wine is a must
A relationship supporting each other’s ambition

A future full of laughter and love
A future with us on the same team
A future I can’t wait to be a part of
The future I see as I dream