Welcome!

Hello!

That seems like a really generic and probably pretty lame title, but hopefully it can be overlooked!

So, what's this all about?

I am a 19 year old American student pursuing my full college degree in Dublin, Ireland.

After arriving here last August, I through myself into college life. I have always been a perfectionist, and I love the feeling of success. While most students are out 6 nights a week, eating anything and everything in sight, I quickly became bored and fed up with this monotonous, repetitive scene. It was meaningless. All the work to get to school, only to feel more alone and underachieved when I woke up every hungover Sunday morning.

I am an athlete, I am on the swim team here in college, and  I always have been involved in sport, but I constantly struggled when it came to food. I would justify sadness or anxiety with another helping of dinner, junk food, and late night secret snacks. My exercise would keep weight gain off, but I was tired, I wasn't living up to athletic, social or academic goals I set for myself, and most importantly, I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin.

And so, I took control. I changed my diet, my attitudes, my habits and routines. Sounds easy, right? Far from it. I lost friends because of it, felt lonely and incredibly lost. I struggled to balance myself and my goals with the influence of some. But, I did it. Not alone, but through the support and love of others, and I want nothing more to pass that on to others.

So here are my habits, routines, diets, thoughts and ideas on how I kicked university ass and you can too!

Here's to a journey to health and a successful Freshman (negative) 15!

Till next time,
Hailey