Well, the semester has come to an end.
It sort of felt like a breeze compared to last year when I had papers
to write and physiology to learn. I wonder if next semester will be a
return to some of that...guess I'll see. I'll have 3 evening classes,
tutoring middle-schoolers on Monday mornings again, some internship
interviews (once I actually apply - which I'll do right when the
semester starts), and more doctor appointments. I wonder if I'll be
able to incorporate anything I learn from them into my blog here. So
far I don't have much. But I can say I took the Eating Attitudes
Inventory which was very enlightening. And I'm going to explore some
of the stuff about control and about the idea that doing something I
like (which I am) and being productive, which I thought was the
answer / cure for whatever problems I may have had, perhaps isn't the
sole answer to being healthy. And if it isn't, what is? It's
important for me to know both for my own sake and for whoever I may
be helping once I start working. Because I DO want to help people on
an individual basis. And one avenue for that is wellness coaching
which I'm going to look into once I have my degree in hand. (The
degree is a prerequisite for a lot of extra certifications like that,
and the HFS, the NWI stuff, etc). (I did get my AFAA certification,
by the way). One thing I'd like to help people with is being in tune
with their bodies and being able to feel when they have energy and
stuff. Because you know how in nutrition they say “eat when you're
hungry and stop when you're full”? And they call it intuitive
eating? My thinking is that it should be the same with exercise and
physical activity. When you have a burst of energy, go ahead and burn
it. When you don't, then don't. But the problems I foresee are that
people might claim to not ever have energy (which can be addressed)
and the fact that the times when you feel energetic (or at least when
I do) are so random – so how do you accommodate your natural
inclinations / instincts with everyday life? THAT is something I want
to explore, and I really feel like it's an area where I can make a
difference. As long as I figure out if what I think I know about
being healthy is right or wrong. Hence, the doctors. I thought I
knew. But really, I know how to be skinny. And that's not the same.
Especially when being skinny comes with a cost. It didn't used to
come with a cost. I didn't always have the issues I have now. But it's going to be corrected. And I
am going to bring something to this field, I'm determined!
But now it's Christmas. Time to finish
shopping, to see family and friends, to read the books I rarely have
time for (I started one last week, actually – even though school
didn't end until this week!) That always makes me happy. In the back
of my mind I'm thinking “there's so much I'm gonna have to do after
this winter break, shouldn't I be preparing?” But I guess a little
indulgence is okay. :)
