April: Life Update

It's April and I couldn't be more excited. I'm looking forward to the weather warming, the days getting longer, and the semester drawing to a close. This semester has proven to be a toughy, but I am ready to kick this last month of the semesters butt! Recently I have been feeling a serious cabin fever and travel bug. I love traveling and am already looking forward to break so I can make plan some trips. We are thinking about making a trip to visit my mother in law in May sometime, so that is my motivation to press through and finish off Spring semester strong! 

One of my greatest let downs of being in school is simply that I don't have time to read freely. With me staying on top of assigned readings for my classes, scientific journals for courses, and research articles I not only don't have the time, but I feel like I don't have the drive to read leisurely. Recently I picked up a few books from our local library and have been using my time wisely before bed to read at least a few pages each night. Instead of scrolling through IG, this is where I am choosing to spend my time and I must admit that it quiets my mind before bed and I have been sleeping a bit better. 

Some of my current reads include: 

- Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/ Day- Leanna Brown

- Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight - Linda Bacon

Recently I've been enjoying my zucchini oats in the morning along with all the roasted veggies on top of my salads. Such great texture and flavor combinations, making each salad different even if they have some of the same ingredients! Never get bored with your food! Food brings us so much life and ties us into culture, families, and many memories! Anywhere I can add veggies, I do. It's not because I want to substitute them as a lower calories food option, it's because their benefits are amazing and I simply love the different ways we can add them to meals and the end result is massive volume and nutrient density! 

Movements of choice lately, is anything I can manage to squeeze in. Unfortunately the weather in Northwest OH hasn't been cooperating, so I haven't taken many walks which help me keep my cluttered mind clear. Lately I have been getting to the gym about 3 days per week hitting full body workouts with a specific emphasis on a couple muscle groups. This is something I am not used to as an avid gym go-er who used to be in the gym 7 days a week. The gym is my play ground, so I'm really looking forward to getting back to those days soon and focusing on building my strength back up along with adding distanced endurance runs back into my routine! My husband ordered me a new pair of running shoes (Brooks Ghost 10's which should arrive today!!!)

Lastly, I've been scouting out internships that I may be interested in. I will be beginning my search this year and preparing for the application process. I am searching for a few that are in line with my goals and my families goals. That means testing for the GRE this summer in preparation as it is a requirement for some I am interested in. I also have coursework scheduled for the Air Force as well, so this Summer won't be all for play. I think it will be a better balance of stuff and life though compared to where I have been since Fall semester. Looking forward to sharing my journey of my senior year with you all and of course lots more nutrition education and food!