Recently, something has been happening with my health that has brought back that spark for why I started this blog in the first place, to educate college students like myself on the importance of healthy habits and good nutrition.
Well if only I had taken my own advice.
This semester has been one for the books. I am taking almost 18 hours, working part-time and transitioning into leadership rolls within my clubs and organizations. All of that on top of trying to stay healthy by working out and attempting to get 7/8 hours of sleep left me with little down time to just check in with myself. I was waking up at 5:30 am to workout and getting to bed after studying and doing homework around 12:00 am.
I was so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, that I forgot to check in with my body and self access my health. Then, one evening before I had to run off to another meeting, I felt like I was about to faint. I thought it may be from the lack of sleep from the night before when I stayed up studying for an another nutrition exam, so I just laid down a bit and “powered through.” A few days passed and the fatigue did not subside. The next thing I knew I could stand up without getting dizzy and needing to sit down.
I was convinced something was terribly wrong, and decided to go get some blood work done. I asked them if they would check my iron, because I suspected some form of anemia due to my knowledge of nutrition. A few days later I got a frantic call from the clinic urging me to go pick up my new twice daily prescription of iron and Vitamin B12. They also recommended I start a weekly B12 shots. For those of you in the field of nutrition of healthcare, you know that this is a common prescription regiment for vegans, or elderly patience who no longer have the intrinsic factor for B12.
Although I am not vegan or vegetarian or elderly, I just hadn’t been able to maintain a balanced diet and make sure I was getting what I needed.
It was upsetting, because I should know better than anyone the importance of getting your recommended amount of meat/animal products. It was a blessing in disguise and a major reality check: I was pushing myself too hard.
I enjoy the hustle and bustle of life, but not at the cost of my health.
Nutrient deficiency’s are topic of major discussion within my major and in healthcare. To find out I had two of them was very scary. Iron and B12 deficiencies’ are actually more common than you may think. According to Hematology.org, iron deficiency is one of the most common amongst women and in people who have a diet that is low in iron. Check and Check.
I am proud to say after 3 long months of vitamin supplements, booster shots and lots of sausage patties that both my iron and B12 levels are back to normal!!
This is just one more example of how important it is what RDN’s do. I got to experience first hand the thoughts and feelings of someone struggling with a nutrition problem. I can proudly say that I will be a better RDN in the future for it. As strange as it sounds, I found comfort in a diagnosis. It gave the problem a name and a face I could use to understand how to get better, and I hope that I may be the RDN who can give that to someone else.
Thanks so much for checking out the blog! Come back next week to find out how to make the most of your mini-fridge.
-Allison Cook
Dorm Room Dietetics 