Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.- Psalm 98:1

Let me tell you something! 2017 is going to be MY year! 2016 brought a lot of change in my life. I lost two really good friends (one I wish I had back) and gained three more (shoutout!). I moved two times (not including coming home during the summer). I went from a below Dean's list student, to an above Dean's list student. I worked my butt off! I can't wait to take 2017 head on and make it better than 2016! 

Additionally, in 2016 I gained A LOT of weight. I attribute poor eating habits and stress to my weight gain. However, throughout 2016 I was also sick. It initially started with red meat. I would eat red meat and then become sick after. However, it developed into everything I ate and I would be sick at least once a day. I came to the point where I couldn't take it any more.

I recently went to see a PA who referred me to a Gastroenterologist who would diagnose me with Irritable Bowel Syndrome- D (IBS). She basically told me that stress along with bad habits causes my stomach to become hypersensitive, which causes me to become sick. She told me that I have to change my life around, or nothing will ever change.  

So enter in my new life changes. I know that most people who make New Years resolutions don't keep them. This change comes in to my life right at that point. My doctor (aka the coolest gastro doctor out there) told me to take a probiotic and to change my diet. So, that is what I am doing. I am currently on the FODMAP diet. This means that I am now almost gluten-free (I can have sourdough) and almost lactose-free (I can have cheese). I'm limited in the fruits and vegetables that I can eat and the liquids that I can drink. But, that doesn't mean that I have to give up everything. I think that this is going to be a great change in my life because it is going to help teach me about the foods that I can eat, and how I can better help my body be the best it can be. 

I often wonder how I let myself get to the point that I am at. I used to think that I was so overweight. I would stare at myself in the mirror and think that I needed to lose weight. Then I stopped caring. I didn't care what people would think. I wouldn't care what I would think. I ate to make myself feel better, not to nourish my body. My body is a temple to the Lord, but I sure didn't treat it that way. When I was younger, I wouldn't get my belly button pierced because it wasn't something that would bring God glory via my temple. Now I have a wake up call. I HAVE change. I have to put good things into my body, and I can get good things out. What you put in your body today, you get out of it tomorrow.

I will get my illness under control. I will lose weight. I will take this opportunity to better myself!

If you have any gluten free recipes that you want to share, message me! I would love to know them! I will also be posting my recipes that I have for low FODMAP foods that are both healthy and yummy! 

Tired

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

I cannot tell you how excited I am for Thanksgiving break. I honestly think that if given the opportunity I could sleep for a whole 24 hours straight. This morning I had an exam at six o'clock in the morning. I walked out of my exam feeling like the world was crumbling around me. I knew that I didn't do good and it really made me question my ability as an athletic trainer. I am so stressed about school and life in general. I am supposed to be at the end of the tunnel with this semester but it feels like at the end there is a brick wall that I will run into. I struggle getting up in the morning and look forward to going back to sleep, because where there is sleep, there is no stress. Between class, clinical, cleaning the house, giving up bread and pasta, and trying to balance my life in general, I feel like everything is going to fall around me. They say that this is the hardest semester in the athletic training major, and I am starting to believe them. 

I understand why college students, like myself, are stressed. One bad grade can ruin every chance you have at following your dream. Grad schools don't want students with Cs, they want students with Bs and As. And heaven forbid you don't have any extracurriculars, such as clubs and community service. Furthermore, if you don't have a full ride you have to have a job on top of all school things. (A little shout out to David. He works two jobs, goes to school, and coaches little league. I don't know how he does it!) I have to eat healthy because I don't want to gain weight. And luckily for me, I walk to my classes so that is how I get my exercise. 

I talked in the last blog about how I haven't felt like I was worthy. Let me tell you, I'm not. I fall short of the glory of God every day. I fail Him. I let Him down. But luckily for me, God is a great God. He loves me despite my flaws. His plan for my life is bigger than my own plan. He has blessed me immensely. I get to receive a great education that will further me in my life plans. He gave me the best parents a girl could ask for. I get to be the big sister to three amazing girls who never let me have a dull moment. I have awesome friends who understand how demanding athletic training is and can sympathize with me. I need to start remembering all that God has blessed me with and not be so stressed out because He holds me and He guides me and He is AWESOME!!!

If you're feeling stressed like me, here are some fun things to try to do to relieve that stress!