Did you open this post thinking it was going to be another bouncy six-pack twenty-something sharing her early morning 10-minute workout? So sorry if I disappointed you. 

Perhaps I should have titled it "how to stay sane while trying to stay fit in grad school". The school gym isn't very far from me - but it's not very close either. I've heard there's showers in the basement of the school - maybe I could go for a run in between classes (in the southern heat) like the girl I see everyday at lunch. PS I'm pretty sure shes running to and from her Athleta (Lulu Lemon, Fabletics) photo shoot. 

​So what am I going to talk to you about then?

I'd like to share the conversations (arguments?) that go through my head at least weekly, if not daily as they pertain to academics, wellness, social life, and literally just maintaining function. 

Since being recognized as a Top 100 Weight Loss Blog, I find my thoughts meandering back to this side of the site more and more often. The truth is, I'm going through the same weight loss and fitness battle that you are. And yeah, I'm a dietitian. I know what I should be eating. I even know the science behind it. And I'm a certified trainer. I know how much and what type of exercise I should be doing. 

But I'm also human. I found myself in this slump because I didn't recognize the role my job as a personal trainer played in my wellness. I didn't realize how key it was to maintaining the fit persona that became so intertwined with my identity that I still feel like that fitbunny at the gym - until I look in the mirror. 

I understand how my past clients saw me. A perky, 18 year old college student ready to help them down the road to success, but without a clue what it was like to have your thighs rub holes in your jeans, to not recognize yourself in the mirror, or to try to fit beautiful curvy hips in a dress. But I have a clue now. 

Reflection & Identification
One of the key strategies I've been using over the past few months is reflection and identification. Forty pounds (forty pounds!) snuck on to my frame in the past 3 years. How ironic is it that, as a nutrition intern, I started eating worse and working out less? I was so busy with work and with school, and I took my fit healthy body for granted, that I didn't see myself slowly spiraling to where I find myself today. Looking back, I realized that: 

I quit my personal training job (~6 hours low intensity cardio and weight lifting per day + workouts) my senior year of college. I also started gaining weight that year. I was doing A LOT of physical activity with that job. It let me overeat at buffet dinners (which then pushed me to skip meals), and maintain the physique I treasured, without realizing how big of a role that extra calorie burn played. The weight gain started slowly, as I lost muscle mass, reducing my resting calorie burn.

Then the next year, during residency, stress increased, exercise decreased, and eating was sporadically healthy. I recognized food rules that were so entrenched in my mind that it felt ridiculous to have to address them so consciously. I still gained another 10 pounds. 

The next year, I started graduate school. At this point, I lamented the fact I no longer fit into my size 2-4 jeans, and struggled with working out and eating out. I bounced from weeks of inspiration to dark holes where I thought, "Why bother? I'm not seeing any results." Another 10 pounds. 

This last year, I embodied the "Why bother" stance. It was too dangerous to go run outside in the city, I told myself. It's better for me to eat out than to worry about not having food at home. As long as I feel OK, I don't need to exercise. I'll start after graduation. Another 10 pounds. 

By breaking down the history, and connecting the dots, you begin to see the reasons that weren't apparent at the time. And you can look at your habits now in a new lens, and make a game plan. 

The Battle Against the Quick Fix 
I feel like a statistic sometimes. In counseling classes, we talked about the overall trend in America for adults to gradually gain weight each year, as their metabolism slows and they fail to account for it. This weight gain is exacerbated by stressful life events, poor eating habits, and sedentary lifestyles. Suddenly, everyone has gained 40 pounds. Or 50. Or 60. Now, I'm part of that group. 

But I'm not depressed about it. I read an article once about a personal trainer in Australia who stopped exercising and ate only fast food in order to gain weight and be unhealthy like his clients. Then he worked his way back to fit. He learned how tough it is to get BACK in shape, and to get BACK to how you used to feel. You realize how for granted you took your flat stomach. All you thought about then was how to get more definition in your abs, not how to lose 4 dress sizes. 

It comes down to this - we want immediate gratification. This reason is why the diet industry is so successful. They market quick fixes to us, and we fall for it. Because we want that. No one wants to hear "diet and exercise". But what I want to share with you is the nuances of diet and exercise and the consequences of continuing an unhealthy lifestyle. 

Over the next few weeks, I hope to write to you on topics such as: 

• Identify your best nutrition window
• Discover your fitness type & how to start
  
• Setting small goals until you see results
• Avoid being bogged down by industry overload
  ​
  

& other topics you submit to me in the comments section

I encourage you to share your thoughts and story in the comment section. If you would rather be more private, send me an email through my contact form. 



Looking forward to sharing my Journey Back to Lean with you!

BD

Cravings seem to take two forms with most of us. 

For some, Cravings is that friend from high school that is a whole lot of fun to go out and party with. She comes into town, calls you up, and part of you is excited, but the responsible part of you is tugging at your shirt. You know it will be a great time if you go...but that you'll probably regret it in the morning. You give in and you go, and you indulge all night long. Waking up in the morning, your head is pounding and you think "That night was not worth what I'm feeling now."

For others, Cravings is a different type of friend from high school. You see her around town every once in awhile, and it seems like her life is just like yours. Every month or so you meet for lunch, and chat pleasantly about whats new and reminsce on old times. As you're driving away, you let out a breath and think "I had a really nice time. That was great." And that good feeling holds you until next time. 

The old nutrition mantra "Calories in, calories out" is losing ground everyday. On the flipside, "You are what you eat" is gaining support, but probably not how you think. ​

Are you midway through your dietetic internship and starting to worry about the RDN exam? Or maybe you're a few years out from your internship and are trying to brush up on material? I have devoted time, space, and energy to including information on the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Exam on my website through posts, study materials, and tips. I get comments and emails with questions, and wanted to provide a place for you to reach out to me and ask comments in one spot. 

I have answered FAQ below. If you have a question about my experience prepping, studying, or taking the exam, please leave a comment on this post or respond to the survey on my RD Exam homepage. Note: the survey is anonymous, and you can post comments anonymously by name, and leave your email for me to contact you if you like.