Adieu, residence halls & resident assistant lifestyle.

As I finish vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning my residence hall dorm room for what will probably be the last time in my life, I take time to reflect on the past few years of my life from the young freshman year to the now polished and mature end of junior year, leading into what will be my senior year and last year of undergrad. Throughout these years in undergrad, residence halls have been a main part of my life, but I now have a mere 11 nights left in these residence halls I have known as home, and also my RA job which has definitely played a huge role in my life thus far. 11 days left to go.

The first hall I lived in was beloved Woody/Shales in LaFollette Complex, on the West side of campus. I can still remember moving in on that hot summer day and seeing faces of women who became my best friends.

Words to describe my time in Woody/Shales - Amazing. New. Fabulous. Selfish. Immature. Wild. Unproductive. Magical. Free. Fun. Hilarious. Discovery. Reckless. Irresponsible. Unrealistic. Endless. Surrounded by best friends. Unpredictable. Hopeful. Frustrating. Exciting. Belonging. Heartbreaking. Home.

Freshman year went by in what seemed like a millisecond, and then I was a Sophomore living in Stu West in Palmer hall (but only for a quick semester). Stu West, for me, was a transition period. I was coming off the high of Freshman year but not quite matured as I am now and still pretty naive and unfocused about most things. 

Words to describe my time in Palmer Hall - Slightly focused. New. Comforting. Amusing. Silly. Fun. Refreshing. Sleepless. Home.

The newer building with central air conditioning, new furniture, and updated facility equipment was something I loved about living there. Even the outdoors were prettier, with a retention pond and waterfall nearby. The East side was a nice change, but I didn't live there for long. I soon moved back to my roots on the West side...

Mid-semester, I got hired for an RA position in Schmidt/Wilson hall in Johnson B complex, and I've lived and worked here ever since. It was a place I had never visited but would soon learn would be a place I'd dedicate a majority of my time to. I quickly moved my things and suddenly, life took on a more professional, focused, and busy turn.

Its an interesting thing, living where you work. Being on the job 24/7. The life of an RA is one that really can only be understood by those who go through it. Nonetheless, it is the most rewarding, frustrating, time-consuming job one can have during their undergraduate years. At times it can suck the life out of you, but more often than not its a calm stream of responsibilities that basically become part of your daily routine and you don't quite think about them anymore. It would be irrelevant and unnecessary to write about every single feeling I have about the RA position, but I believe the above paragraph does it a decent amount of justice. My fellow RA's know a wee bit more. ;)

Words to describe my time in Schmidt/Wilson Hall: Busy. Hectic. Tiring. Communicative. Professional. Planned. Scheduled. Work. Discipline. Sacrifices. Organized. Responsible. Romantic. Lucky. Happy. Sad. Angry. Helpful. Helpless. Accountable. Knowledgeable. Rewarding. Grateful. Testing. Fast-paced. Home.

Its interesting to look at the words from Woody/Shales and compare them to the words of Schmidt/Wilson. Its obvious I've matured and gained so much from the times of being that carefree Freshman living with all of my best friends, to living on my own with the professional life of an RA.

What is one word, though, that is consistent with each hall and phase of my life? Home. Each of these halls have been my home at once place in time or another. Not the "home" in indianapolis that is a one-of-a-kind home, but home enough. These have all been places I've called "home" and my time here is dwindling light a flickering candle flame in the wind.

Its bittersweet that in 11 days, it'll all be in the past. But, I'm ready for what's to come in the "real world" as people like to call it. At least I still have the security blanket of college to keep me from fully being in the "real world," but I'm definitely entering a new era in which I'm much more into the real world than not.

Like it or not, the real world is coming. Fast.

Gloooomy, gloomy days.

What I've noticed: Most people are stressed. Many are burned out. Many people haven't slept well due to looming assignments, papers, projects, etc. Almost everyone has just about had it. Its interesting how the weather - rainy, cloudy, dismal, and gray - is mirroring the general mood around campus these days. And I definitely don't think its helping.

I know for me, personally, this is the easiest semester (academic-wise) I've had for my college career, so for that I'm very thankful. Doesn't make me any less busy though, but I'm definitely not wanting to pull my hair out like in past semesters. There are just as many things going on in my life that make me feel like a big raincloud sometimes. Stress about the future, impending graduation which is way sooner than later and approaching rapidly, personal life stressors, and completing everything are just a few things bogging me down.

According to my extended forecast, the sun will shine on Friday. So, in the words of Rebecca Black (I had to) lets all look forward to that day. When the sun shines. Friday, Friday, Friday. Gettin' down on Friday.

Or, metaphorically, lets look forward to the "Friday" in our lives when things aren't so stressful. When the work load settles - temporarily, but settles - and we can breathe. I'm excited for the sun to shine. How about you? :)

I wanna be...

Getting on this

To look out at these...

To arrive here...

With this in my hand.

Perhaps I'd do this all day.

I'd surely get plenty of this.

I'd hear nothing but the sounds of ocean waves lulling me in and out of a peaceful sleep as the warm sun would wrap its graceful arms around me.

I'd take a dip in the pool.

Perhaps I'd go for a dive below the ocean, and see these...

Maybe this guy would peek out from behind a rock and swim by majestically, surprising me.

Evening would fall, and I might go for a walk along the shore.

The night would grow later, and I might head out for some fun.

I'd dance the night away without a care in world, until I grew tired. 

I'd come back to a plush bed of crisp, white hotel sheets which would engulf me for a dreamy, perfect sleep.

In the morning I'd awake to the sounds of seagulls and the ocean shore, as a breeze would fill my room with the scent of salt and sand.

Who knows what I would do during the day. It'd be so easy because I'd be so free. Who knows where'd I go, where I'd be, or who I'd see. But what matters most.. is it would all be up to me.

Pushing through

Weight loss. This is a concept many people are familiar with or are not familiar with. For me, it is something I am very familiar with, especially since January.

Fall 2010 proved to be a challenging semester for me, physically. Having a broken foot for over a month prevented me from doing any workout, except upper body which is decent but doesn't burn even a dent of calories. Recovering from my foot injury was a slow process as well, and proved to be more difficult than I thought. While not working out for 2 months is something that doesn't sound too devastating, it is important to understand my body. I don't even understand my body, but I think I've finally mastered most of what its about with regards to fitness.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I was not graced with a fast metabolism. What I mean by this is that I can look at a soda and gain 2 pounds. (Okay, not literally.. but humor me here). In January, I decided it was time to smack down on my body and whip it back into shape.

My body frame is not small - I have never been one of those teeny girls with size 1 jeans that are baggy. I have a pretty curvaceous figure as well and I'm also pretty tall, which is a blessing since I can carry my weight well, but a curse because changes aren't too noticeable to most people. However, by having a curvy, dense, and tall body I must work hard to maintain healthy proportions. In January I felt as though I had reached a tipping point - I could either continue on the path I was on and have unhappy results or, I could kick it in gear and get into better shape.

Look, thats me in high school! Marching band and being on the tennis team kept me rather slim and trim and probably at the smallest size ever, for me. I know I'm not alone when I say I miss my high school body (minus people who have improved their high school body, which is wonderful). I understand though, that with the end of high school also comes growing up, a changing metabolism, calorie temptations in college, and less exercise, among other roadblocks. 

I may never reach my "high school body" but.. I refuse to be where I don't want to be.

This is me on Halloween, 2010 at my most unhappy point with regards to my body. You may be thinking, "but Jen, you don't look that different." Wrong. That was about 15 pounds ago. 

Here is my model-status body (ha.. ha) from a few weeks ago. I probably don't look much different, but I can tell a world's difference.

Today, I am satisfied with my body more than before. My endurance is where it should be, I am tighter & toned, and I've lost a significant amount of weight, for me at least. I don't want to stop here though. I have to keep pushing through.

So.. how difficult has this been for me all semester? I think people underestimate my efforts. I don't feel as though it is quite understood how drastic my efforts have to be in order to lose weight. When I tell people my lifestyle for the past semester, no one believes me. My lifestyle this semester should have probably resulted in faster success, but for me the process is very slow. So what exactly do I do?

Don't drink any alcohol. Ever.

No exaggeration. I can't drink alcohol and lose weight. I gave it up for 40 days and saw the best results. I had a few splurges (not even nights of binge drinking.. just a moderate amount of alcohol) and my progress was slowed down dramatically.

Consume no more than 1200 calories per day.

Yes. Not 1300, not 1250.. but 1200. I sometimes go over by a couple hundred, but if so, I work it off. 1200 was difficult at first, but its gotten to be pretty much habit now.

No soda. 

In the past 4 months, I have had maybe 2 or 3 sodas, and each were diet. 

Work out at least 5 out of 7 days per week (7-day week).

I can't skip a work out. I won't see any progress if I don't work out. "I don't have time to work out" is the most common phrase I hear and let me tell you, I definitely have a busy schedule. But I can always find at least 45 minutes to an hour to squeeze a work out in, even on my busiest days. And when I say work out, I'm talking about at least 45 - 60 minutes of cardio + resistance/weight training. None of that 20 minutes on the elliptical, resistance 0 business. And I am not dissing 20 minutes on the elliptical - like I said, my endurance has increased. I used to be panting + gasping for air after 20 minutes.

No snacking on junk food. EVER.

I can't eat chips or cookies or anything. If I have a snack, its 3 or 5 crackers with peanut butter or maybe a protein bar.

Track every. single. morsel. that enters your mouth.

www.thedailyplate.com has become my top visited site. Even on bad days where I've gone waaay over 1200, I am honest and track everything. And speaking about bad days...

NEVER take a break. remain consistent.

I'll admit I've been slacking in this area. I would constantly fluctuate between a 5-pound area by dieting during the week and indulging on weekends. This doesn't work. I absolutely have to be consistent for weeks and weeks and weeks. 

Accept set-backs and overcome them.

I have had so many set-backs throughout this process. Getting stuck at a weight, gaining weight for no reason, etc. I can't get hung up on these though. What I've realized the most out of my efforts is that with food and exercise aside.. I truly believe 80% of the game is willpower, dedication, and a positive attitude. It is mind over matter. No, its not easy. Its one of the most difficult efforts of all. But when you put your mind to it and consciously focus and tell yourself you will be successful, you start to see success.

So, the point of this writing? No really sure. I am not wishing to lecture or sound like I know everything about dieting and exercising because, obviously I'm not pro. Also, I have still have a long way to go. But I think the most important lesson about weight loss is that it is a personal battle and no one else's battle but your own. And also that, even though you are the only person who is in control of the battle, you are not alone in the battle because there are billions of others fighting the same or similar battles. 

Find out what it takes for your body to be its best. Put your mind to the goal, and work hard. 

So, here is a shout out to anyone trying the same thing I am. WE CAN DO IT!

If you read this much, you deserve a high five. :)