People modify their bodies for multiple reasons. It can be a tattoo, a piercing, or even a new hair color (natural or unnatural). I myself go down that route quite frequently. But there's another modification route I have been traveling since this past spring, and it's just as important to me as my tattoos and piercings. I have been a member of Weight Watchers since March, and I can say it has made a world of difference so far. It's still a work in progress, but here's what's been going on thus far.

1. Starting the program again.

I was on the program once before, back in 2013, and it really helped me. I even got my first tattoo as a reward for hitting my goal weight. I had a few false starts since then, and it wasn't until this past spring that I decided to go for it again.

2. What inspired me to do this a second time?

Honestly, I'd been eating super badly throughout most of the school year. iIt messed me up. I lived in a really old building with no elevator last year, and it was irksome to go up all of the stairs to my room on the second floor. I often found myself wheezing after I got to my door. I somehow managed to give myself a charley horse during a nap. These and other reasons were what got me off my butt and onto a treadmill. Plus, I knew I wanted to look fabulous for senior formal and graduation!

3. What are my favorite ways to exercise?

I really went hardcore with my workouts starting in May. When the weather was really nice, I would take advantage of the day and either walk around downtown Ann Arbor, walk to Barnes & Noble, walk around the Nichols Arboretum, or walk at Gallup Park. I LOVE walking places when they're easily accessible, plus it's always nice to save money on gas. During the not-so-nice days, I would hit the treadmill for 90 minutes at a time. I would aim to exercise for the entire week if I could. Now that I'm back at Curry, it's a little more difficult during the second summer session, but I'm trying my hardest to find time when the fitness center is open.

4. How do I entertain myself while exercising?

YouTube is my best friend, seriously. I don't mind listening to music sometimes, and I still do that when I'm off the Wi-Fi networks. But I have found inspiring shows on YouTube that I would get slightly addicted to while on the machines. "Extreme Weight Loss" and "Fat Families" are among my favorites.

5. Is it challenging to keep on the program food-wise?

At times it can be. But thanks to the British show "Fat Families," I actually learn quite a lot about how much sugar and fat I used to put into my body. It's scary! With the program, I can still eat things I want, but I just have to watch the portion size. I also have to remember to track what I eat. I actually have really delicious things in my fridge right now that are program-friendly and fill me up.

6. How has my attitude changed since starting the program?

I feel so much happier and way more energetic. It's not hard anymore to go up a lot of stairs at a time. I feel less angry and emotional. I used food as a crutch during finals last year, and while that was a nice way to calm down for a little bit, it didn't pay off in the long run. I'm only about 1/4 of the way towards my goal weight, but I'm excited for the rest of my journey and where it takes me.