Almost Done!

After a  very long & slightly emotional talk with my mom about how frustrated and worried I was because no one was getting me the things I needed for my DICAS application, the nutrition Gods came through in a big way because sure enough later that night one of my transcripts were posted.

Then the following day I f i n a l l y got my course list form from my DPD director and my 3rd reference letter!! Things are finally looking up! Still need 1 more reference letter & my last transcripts but in case you're out there freaking out & stressing like me, RELAX. Like my roommate said to me when she saw me laying on the floor groaning about how life isn't fair, it'll all work out. Just trust in that.

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Small Victory!

One of my transcripts has been processed!!! 

I was literally just venting to my mom about how incomplete my DICAS app is looking (not pointing fingers here but its definitely not my fault...) and I went to check just cause and turns out one of my transcripts made it there a week ago & showed up today as processed! That is a huge sigh of relief. Now I'm waiting on the second transcript from the school that I actually received my undergrad from to get there and be processed. That one mailed later than the first so I'm praying its in DICAS by Monday. Still waiting on my DPD director and last two reference letters but I already feel so much better just having the piece of mind that at least some progress is being made. I will continue to update more as the dreaded e-submit deadline approaches but everyone continue sending positive vibes my way cause I certainly need them. The amount of stress that will leave my body come Feb 15th will be UNREAL.

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DICAS Update: E-Portfolio Fun

February 15th is coming so fast!! So I have all of my parts done for DICAS so far, I'm just waiting on my DPD director to send over my Course List form, my last two references to submit their letters, and my transcripts to be processed...yikes! All I can really do now is wait which I think might actually kill me... I really don't like relying on so many other people to make sure this thing gets completed on time, it is truly so stressful!

Today on kind of a whim I decided to add one more program to my list taking me from 3 program designations to 4. The final one that I added today is a distance program through Sodexo and I'm not really sure why I didn't consider it before (I think the word "distance" scared me off) but they actually work with you to find a Sodexo location close to you instead of you finding your own preceptors. Their application isn't too much different from the rest, however, they did ask that you provide a link to an e-portfolio. Since I'm on this kick about blogging and creating websites and being all artsy and whatnot, I thought of it as a neat little project to work on. For those of you not familiar with what an e-portfolio entails, this is how Sodexo put it, an e-portfolio is for "highlighting your experience, achievements, goals, and commitment to the profession. Additionally, a well-crafted electronic portfolio demonstrates your computer and technology skills."

So I spent the morning putting together a modpodge of my skills, hobbies, passions, experience, blah blah blah into basically my own little website turned resume using Yola.com. If you're interested to see how it turned out, here is the link: http://annastrle-eportfolio.yolasite.com/

I kind of like this little extra requirement for Sodexo's program because it let's you take that extra step to show your creative side as well as highlighting your passion for nutrition. It may not be everyone's cup of tea to do something like that but I enjoyed it and it helped me kill a little time on this terribly boring Saturday I'm having at the moment. Well now that that's done I guess I'll...take a nap? Sounds good to me!

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Don't Be Defined By A Number

If you've read my About Me or creeped my instagram (don't be ashamed, we all do it & I'm flattered!) then you probably know that I have been on a life long journey with weight loss. It started when I was young and in high school where I lost over 30 pounds & fell in love with nutrition and fitness. Then college, work, bad breakups, and life started messing all that up and I gained about 1/3 of the weight back over a few years. It crept back on slowly so I honestly didn't even notice since I really didn't have a scale at school. But it was certainly there. I started to not like the way I looked in pictures or how my clothes fit so I wanted to finish what I started and get back down to what I was when I was at my lowest.

Truth be told, the weight came off fairly easy. I wasn't trying all that hard at first but then when I noticed that I was losing weight, I kicked up my workouts and cleaned up my eating a little more and before I knew it, I was back at the weight I wanted to be! Time to celebrate right? Wrong!! By this point I had become obsessed. Over the summer I was working out 1-3 times a day, counting calories very closely, weighing myself multiple times a day...I was driving myself crazy! Its no wonder that I fell into a cycle of restricting then bingeing that I'm still trying to break out of now.

I don't weigh myself 10 times a day anymore but each morning I still like to see where I'm at. Today I was bummed to see that my weight went up a pound from yesterday though I didn't overeat and I worked out...Over time this can become frustrating to anyone, especially when you work your a** off every day to make that number go down. But with that said, I am trying something different instead & I encourage you to try it with me if you are frustrated like me. I am now going to consciously remind myself day in and day out that the numbers on the scale mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They do not define who you I am, they do not make me less of the person I am, they do not make me less desirable, they are just numbers. Simple as that. They could be going up because I've recently started lifting again and I'm gaining muscle mass, they could be going up because of period bloat, they could be going up because I went on a date last night & we ate a lot of bread and drank a lot of wine. I don't know which is the reason, no one does, but what I do know is that when I stepped in front of the mirror this morning, I was still the same person I have always been. No matter how much your weight changes in your life there are two things I want you to remember: 1) you are who are for a reason & no matter how much you gain or lose, you will always be that same awesome person and 2) do not give up on your health because of some silly numbers. Make changes for your health and well being, not just so you can say you weigh ____ lbs. The number does not define you and the sooner you realize that, the happier you will be in life. 

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Product Spotlight: Friendly Farms Dill & Cucumber Greek Yogurt Dip

Aldi has made huge progress in its efforts to get more natural, organic, and just all around healthier products in its stores and for those like myself that try to eat healthy on a budget, Aldi is a life saver! I shop at Aldi at least once a week and not always at the same store. Though the products vary a little, they're is some constancy between the different locations.

I didn't have time to put a list together today so I went in blind (not how I like to grocery shop but when you need groceries, you gotta do what you gotta do). Since I wasn't looking for specific items I was just kind of looking at everything and stumbled across a Dill & Cucumber Greek Yogurt Dip that caught my eye. I decided to try it with my lunch today, dipping my unsalted, fat free pretzels into and wow! It had such a cooling and refreshing taste and for only 50 cals per 2 tbsp, I couldn't get enough. If you're looking for an alternative to your fav ranch or french onion dip, this is a must try!

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Transcripts

Since we're in the ever-advancing digital world I should've guessed that I could do all my transcript ordering for DICAS online but since I want everything to be perfect, I went all the way out the the community college where I took dual credit & summer classes to ask how to have my transcripts sent to DICAS with the attached form that DICAS asks you to send with them.

After waiting far longer than I should have to talk to the "transcript expert", a nice lady finally came out from the back just to tell me I had to do it all online...oh. So I left and came home and did it online. Moral of the story is before going all the way out to any schools you may need transcripts from, check to see if you can order "transcripts with an attachment" from their website. That way you can fill in all the forms yourself & attach the transcript request form that DICAS asks you to use all from the convenience of your couch. You don't even have to get out of your pajamas. What a time to be alive.

Anywho I hope this helps save some of you the trouble of going allllll the way out to your schools to be told you didn't need to come out there after all...oh well, lessons learned!

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The Dreaded Dietetic Internship Application

Since I am a recent nutrition grad, I have started the process of getting my DICAS application ready to be matched for a Dietetic Internship this Spring! Before getting into any of the specifics, I have to admit it to you guys that this process is brutal. Not because it is necessarily hard but because it is stupidly confusing. And maybe the stress was getting to me which made it probably seem so much worse than it actually is but this is my disclaimer if you are thinking about applying to internships in the near or distant future, know what you are getting yourself into.

Now that I probably scared you all off from applying (woo better chances for me getting accepted! Kidding of course...) I'll be posting every so often on what I've been going through and what I'll continue to go through until the application is due on February 15th. That date seems to be getting closer and closer each time I say it... Anywho, follow along with my posts to see how my application journey is going. Hopefully I can help some of you future RD2BEs get through this much easier than I currently am. Happy reading & if you've got any advice for me please leave it in the comments section!

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Is Any Experience Really Good Experience?

The answer is yes! When it comes to nutrition jobs and internships, employers and directors want to see that you have experience and skills that will allow you to succeed in whatever it is you are applying for. The key to using irrelevant experiences to your benefit lies in your ability to make your skills seem transferable.

Say your only experience was volunteering at your local library (don't laugh, I actually did this for a period of time. Not so glamorous but hey, experience is experience). So you're probably asking yourself what skills could I possibly have gained from being surrounded by books all day? WELL it helped my communication skills and customer service skills whenever I helped patrons find the book they were looking for. I also had to use the computer occasionally to look books up so I could say that it also helped improve my computer skills.

With the right phrasing and terminology, you can use even the most unremarkable experiences in your favor to snag the job, internship, or position you have your heart set on.

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Nutrition & Dietetics

Nutrition is such an awesome field to get into but it is not necessarily the easiest career to pursue. Before diving head first into a Dietetics program, be sure that this is EXACTLY what you want to do with your life because it is a lot of work, takes a lot of time, and unfortunately can cost a pretty penny too.

Tips for success in your undergrad:

• Plan wayyyy ahead -- it may seem silly to plan out two, three, four semesters, or even your whole four years in advance but trust me, you will thank yourself when you finish on time in four years and not five....or more
• Get close to your adviser and professors early -- they're on your side. They're the experts you'll want to ask for advice on everything from what classes to take when and how to succeed best in their classes. And having a close relationship with multiple instructors will make it so much easier for you to get awesome recommendation letters when it comes time for you to apply to internships.
• Get involved! -- join the nutrition club, volunteer at a food pantry or WIC clinic, get a foodservice job if you can. Start building your resume up early with whatever you can get into. Don't wait until you're a month from graduating to realize you have no valuable experience because that will lower your chances of getting into an internship or getting a post-grad job
• Save money if you can -- I know its not possible for everyone but if you can save even a little throughout your undergrad, you won't be as shell shocked by the costs of just applying for a dietetic internship (the tuition is a different story; make sure you're sitting down when you look at those numbers!)

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