College Search

I am currently on the college hunt and I was thinking about the things one must consider when choosing “the perfect college”. For some, there is literally no limit to which college to choose, because you get to pick which you would like to be a student at, typically in the general area of the country that you prefer. For me it is a little different, I am going to be a student athlete in college so my choice has a bit more to take into consideration.

                First things first, if I want to play volleyball at a college, the team must recruit me first, and be very interested in me. This can be difficult because it limits my choices as far as location. If I want to play at a top level division 1 school, I wouldn’t have a choice but to move far away, and by far I mean FAR. On the other hand if I choose to settle with a division 2 school, I can stay a little closer to home, more in the Midwest area- which I would prefer. The final option if I think I will be getting extremely homesick, is to attend a division 3 school, which isn’t exactly the level of volleyball I would like to play at, but is in the state, and very close to home.

                Next, I have to of course look at the volleyball program at each school. That could drop off a few division 3 schools, and maybe even a few division 2 schools depending on how good they are. With the schools I narrow down to, I must take a look at the coaching staff, of course, to see if I could see myself playing 4 years under that type of coaching style. I next have to look at the team. If I will be spending about 20 hours a week in a gym, plus numerous hours of road trips with these girls, there has to be some kind of connection.

                Finally, the part which should be the most important, academics. The school I choose must be just the right level that I could feel challenged, yet content, but pressured enough to reach my full potential in the long run. For me, I would like a somewhat easy-going school, with above average academics, that can teach me the things I need to know, as well as look good on a job application coming out of college.

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Restless Leg Syndrome

                I am one of many people affected by RLS, or Restless Leg Syndrome. Although my case is very mild, this sleep disorder can be very severe in some people. What is RLS you may ask? It is basically having a frequent urge to move ones legs, and is usually worse at night. It is typically described as a “creepy-crawly”, tingly, or itching feeling inside of the legs. Self control definitely plays a role in controlling it, but in some cases that just isn’t enough. I had a few unanswered questions on what causes RLS, so as usual I referred to the handy-dandy Livestrong.com.

                Livestrong.com gives a list of things that may contribute to RLS in some people. Low iron (which I have) is a cause, but can be treated by increasing iron in ones diet. Other causes are addictive drugs (which I don’t have), medication side effects, and genetics. Some pregnant women, mainly during their last trimester may experience RLS. Also, many people affected with chronic diseases such as diabetes may also have RLS.

                For many, restless leg syndrome may be almost like a phobia, where it noticeably affects their daily lives. People may experience issues with fatigueness due to lack of sleep and other side effects from not getting the needed amount of sleep. For me, it is more of just a hassle. Those nights where all you want to do is sleep, but you lose an extra half hour or hour of sleep trying to forget about your restless leg syndrome. It may be more of a psychological thing with me whereas I don’t feel it as much unless I think about it. And the more I think about it, the more it bugs me. I’ve been trying to increase the iron in my diet to prevent anymore sleep disruption from my restless leg syndrome. I also read that stretching before sleep and not drinking caffeinated drinks before bed helps prevent RLS.

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How to get rid of your stomach pouch

                One thing every girl can agree one: we all want a flat stomach. The majority of girls struggle with the “pouch” of stubborn fat that seems impossible to get rid of, right below the belly button, above the hips. Even if one is very thin all over, somehow any extra weight seems to go right to the midsection. It is beyond frustrating being that it is a very difficult place to lose weight, and an even more difficult place to keep it off.

                For my own personal at-home exercises I look to Livestrong.com, it has virtually any kind of health tip or exercise that you could ask for, for almost every part of your body. I looked to Livestrong for tips on losing a stomach pouch. The first thing the website said which came as a huge surprise to me, is that to lose weight on your stomach pouch, it is not about forming muscle. To lose pouch weight you must lose overall body weight to get rid of it. This is why losing a pouch can be so difficult.

                Everybody has their reasons to lose a stomach pouch. I would say it is definitely self-image/self-confidence thing for me, along with many other women. Although I am very thin I do notice things like when I sit down and my little stomach pouch sticks out. Teenage girls nowadays (me being one of them) have a new fad for “box-top” shirts, or those shirts that you see that look almost like belly shirts. Nothing spoils a box-top shirt more than a little extra weight in an unwanted place. For many people it could be just a main focus for the summer to look good in a new bikini. Others may fear the health risks that come with a stomach pouch. Livestrong.com says that any stomach fat can be the worst for you. In some cases it can be dangerous putting oneself at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and even breast cancer.  

                It comes down to the overall determination on how you want your body to look. I plan to try my best to get rid of my stomach pouch not only for myself, but also to see how accurate Livestrong information is.

Word Count: 371

Hunger games

                Am I the only one who feels like the Hunger Games could happen in real life? I mean look at our society. We all rushed to the nearest movie theater or the nearest bookstore, to get a taste of Hunger Games, knowing in advance exactly what this series was about. Teenagers, children, killing one another to survive. And not only the horror of humans turning to borderline cannibalism, but all of these horrendous things happening with an audience? For the entertainment of the world? Although this was a tremendous movie, isn’t it sick the way these kinds of terrible acts could be used to interest us?

                Our society today consists of billions of people, claiming to be family people, or friend people, but really only out for one thing: Themselves. We may all be too stubborn to admit it, but it’s clear that the main focus of every human being is “me”. Me, me, me. This self-centered attitude is what is tearing our world apart. We shouldn’t be focused on the good for ourselves, but for the good of the world as a whole. We will get nowhere without the help of one another.

                Although extremely unlikely, I get the feeling that Hunger Games could be possible in our world, and I am slightly surprised that something similar hasn’t happened. We are a selfish bunch. If you were put in a cage with 10 strangers, and forced to fight to the death, obviously you will fight to the death, no questions asked. Now picture it this way: You are placed in a cage with your nearest family members, and closest friends, forced to fight to the death. Would you still be family and friends? Or would you turn on them, forced to fight, every man for themselves? I know the answer you would be willing to tell somebody, but when faced with the situation, we all know which option we would pick.

Word Count: 322

Potato Chips

                Potato chips, baked chips, kettle chips, what’s the big deal anyways? What is the difference? Let’s take a look. Potato chips are fried in oil, but according to Livestrong.com, the healthiest alternative to regular potato chips is baked potato chips. This gives you near the same delicious taste, with much less harmful fat and grease. Some baked chips even give you a small boost in Vitamin C to keep your immune system running smoothly, and keep a regular blood pressure. Although baked chips are much healthier than regular potato chips, I would not say they are essentially healthy. They are, however, a good substitute to those that keep a close eye on their diet.

                Kettle chips. It’s a common assumption that people have that kettle chips are like baked chips, or healthier than regular potato chips. No worries, I had the same idea. I figured since Panera had kettle chips, that they must be healthier. NOT TRUE. Kettle cooked chips are just as unhealthy as regular potato chips. The main difference, according to theKitchn.com is the way the chips are processed. Kettle chips are processed in batches, while regular chips are “continually processed”. The common misconception of kettle cooked chips being healthier than regular chips may come from the difference in texture between the two. I assumed that kettle chips are healthier because of the thicker slices, and crispier feel. Looks like they fooled me.

                Well, I come down to the conclusion that I will stick with baked chips for the majority of the time. They have a good taste, a large variety of flavors, and they’re somewhat good for you! Don’t let these common misconceptions fool you. Baked chips are the way to go.

Word Count: 287

http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-deal-with-kettle-chi-115818

http://www.livestrong.com/article/403298-are-baked-potato-chips-healthy/

Dark chocolate is healthy?

                Scientists have made a new discovery that could change a lot of things for chocolate lovers. Dark chocolate may be healthier to eat than milk chocolate. This could be a huge step up in offering an alternative to the addicting milk chocolate that can be harmful to your health when consuming large amounts. What makes dark chocolate healthier?

                Well, Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen found that dark chocolate is much more filling than milk chocolate. This would cause people to crave salty, sweet, and other fatty foods much less. They think that consuming a reasonable amount of dark chocolate over the holidays could help keep your weight down.

                A study was done with 16 young men to test this theory. Half of the men were tested eating dark chocolate, and half with milk chocolate. Each consumed an equal amount (100g) of their given chocolate within a given time. They were asked to record their hunger throughout the next few hours. They were then offered pizza and instructed to eat enough to satisfy themselves. After measuring each man’s calorie intake, the scientists’ hypothesis was proven correct. The men that had consumed dark chocolate had consumed about 15 percent less calories than those that had consumed milk chocolate.

                Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne in Germany found that dark chocolate also helps lower blood pressure, but only when combined with a healthy and well-balanced diet. Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research also finds that there are helpful antioxidants in dark chocolate that prevent certain molecules that cause heart disease.

                I don’t know about you, but I think these are some pretty big factors that can be caused by making a small change in one’s diet. I have a big sweet tooth and next time I eat chocolate, I might take a step back and consider the alternative of eating dark chocolate to improve my health.

Word Count: 331

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210091039.htm

Book Review: Push

                Push was a very interesting book, one like I had never read before. The main thing to get used to while reading this book is the dialogue, and how the author writes. To some, it may seem almost illegible due to how uneducated the author is, and how it shows through her writing. The author is a 16 year old African American girl with not much knowledge besides street smarts. “I ain’ done nuffin. I doose my work. I ain in no trouble. My grades is good.” This is just one example from the text on how the dialogue can take some getting used to.

               It becomes almost hard to keep track of what is going on in the book with being so focused on the incorrect spelling, and use of words. As the book goes on, and the troubled author meets a teacher that works to teach her proper English, the author’s writing becomes increasingly better. Although the grammar isn’t quite as it should be, it is a noticeable difference and allows you to focus more on the story. Precious, the author, takes up poetry after she meets her new teacher, and shows a few examples in her novel. The formatting is different than I have seen, but it is eye-catching. In the end of the book there are also examples of poems the whole class has written, and it is fascinating to see the difference from the beginning to the end of the novel.

                This book was very inspiring to me, and I would recommend it to anyone who may be struggling in life, or someone who is interested in reading of others overcoming their own struggles. I would not, however, recommend this book to those that may be offended by some of the profanity and cruel language used in this novel.

ACL injuries

                ACL injuries, or the anterior cruciate ligament, have become increasingly common within athletes in the last few years, specifically female athletes. This injury can be caused by one’s knee bending backwards, twisting, or bending side to side. And chances are also increased if you are bumped or pushed during these movements. This is a horrible injury that on average takes a minimum of 9 months recovery, which can seem like an eternity to any athlete.

                Livestrong.com states that about 70% of ACL injuries result from awkward landings, pivoting, cutting, and many other movements common in high intensity sports. The other 30% results from contact with another player. There are a much higher number of female athletes, compared to male athletes that tear their ACL. Females are 2-8 times more likely to injure this ligament. (Livestrong)

                According to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Magazine, approximately 150,000 ACL injuries occur each year, resulting in an average of 500 million dollars in health care costs yearly. A lot is being done to try to prevent any more increase in these injuries. Many sports lifting and conditioning programs are now implementing injury prevention, instead of waiting to act after an injury takes place. HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) lists many prevention techniques: Warming up, stretching, balance, landings, and strengthening. It is imperative to have a correct landing in sports with excessive jumping, to ensure that your knees don’t buckle, and that you have a soft landing to reduce impact on your knees. Strength in certain areas of your legs play a big role in injuries as well. Strengthening your hips, thighs, and even your core can decrease your chance of injury in high-contact activities.

                Although the technology today is advanced enough to prevent these injuries from being career-ending, it is even better if they can be prevented any way possible. Taking the necessary precautions can keep you on the court, and off the sidelines.

Word Count: 321