Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month we’re following Norah on her quest to bring exercise into her life. Last week she climbed aboard the elliptical, what’s she up to now?

At some point this week, exercise stopped being something I had to do and started being something I wanted to do. I’m honestly not sure what changed. Maybe it was the physical pain and exhaustion I felt after Irish dancing at a pre-St. Patrick’s Day event last weekend. And then watching all my old friends performing on St. Patrick’s Day, so full of energy, making it all look so easy.

I guess I liked to think that at any time, I could just get right back into Irish dancing, that it would be just like riding a bike. But it was so much more difficult than I ever remembered.  I was frustrated with myself for letting my laziness cancel out the years of strength and endurance I built up through dancing. Whatever the cause of this new-found motivation, though, I knew I needed to take advantage of it.

The weather here has been beautiful, and Spring Break gave me a little more free time than I have back at school. So I set my sights on venturing into the great outdoors this week. Now, here’s a confession: I love Rollerblading. I know Rollerblading is something that probably should have stayed in the ’90s, but for someone who can’t run, Rollerblading gives me the chance to cover a bit of ground outside in a way that doesn’t leave me clutching my sides in pain. So on Thursday afternoon, I strapped on my Rollerblades and set out into the crisp air.

Last week I wrote about my struggles on the elliptical–15 minutes left me tired and bored. Rollerblading was completely different. It was anything but boring. I bladed through a few parks, through some new housing developments, explored my hometown a little bit. Now, my hometown is relatively small, but I actually got lost in one of the developments while I was out there doin’ my thing. And that’s when I realized the main benefit of Rollerblading (or running or walking or biking, I suppose): you can’t just stop. For someone who tends to give up a little too early during exercise, the added challenge of having to make it back home was just what I needed. I ended up Rollerblading for AN HOUR–by far the longest period of continuous exercise I’ve had in probably four years.

And if that’s not enough to motivate me, I bought my first sports bra! I know it’s ridiculous that I didn’t have one, but whatever. I don’t buy new clothes that often–really only a couple times a year–and so it always feels like a bit of a treat. So I’m going to set specific goals for myself (go to Pilates twice a week for a month, etc.) and then reward myself with a pair of cute yoga pants or another new sports bra. If you’re noticing a trend here, yes, I’m excessively motivated by physical rewards. What can I say? Last week’s Shamrock Shake was delicious.

I mean being sick.

Not just “being sick,” though. Not just having a little cough or a small sniffle. No, I mean being sick as a dog. Having bronchitis. Having a box of tissues in one hand and pockets full of throat lozenges. When you’re on a small campus, one person’s cold is everyone else’s cold. Being stressed doesn’t help matters, either, so of course there are tons of other people in the boat with me – and not just seniors. And call me sadistic, but watching everyone suffer makes me feel a little less awful.

But my loss is your gain, folks. From my week-late thesis chapter, paper due on Friday that I still haven’t written, and a few other delayed things, I’ve learned some pretty awesome techniques to combatting exhaustion, delirium, sickness, and even lack of alcohol.

5. Caffeine naps. These beautiful things are possibly one of the best things ever. When you’re not feeling too hot for whatever reason, have yourself a Rockstar or a Red Bull or whatever (if you can’t swallow the way I couldn’t, have one of those coffee Rockstars, but heat it up. It helps a lot), then take a quick 20 minute nap. It helps refresh your system, and gives the caffeine a chance to get into your blood stream. And hey, when you’re working on that term paper all night long, one or two of these can save your ass.

4. Do’s and do not’s. DO take Nyquil with Chamomile Tea when you can’t sleep. Do NOT take Dayquil with a Rockstar when you cannot. DO spend time relaxing now and then. Do NOT relax so much that you are procrastinating. DO have all-nighters if you positively have no choice. Do NOT have all-nighters consoling yourself with all manner of drugs so that you pass out in class the next day. DO come up with ideas for that late-night paper that you know will work. Do NOT come up with ideas for that late-night paper based off of Adult Swim.

3. Eat right. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be eating these things all the time, but there are certain foods that work super hard – probably harder than you are – at keeping you both healthy and energized throughout the day and night. Fresh citrus fruit, strawberries, blueberries, as well more as filling foods like salmon, tomatoes, and bell peppers all will keep you running as smoothly as an exhausted senior (or maybe just student). And incorporating these guys into your diet long-term while eating small and frequent meals could even help you lose weight. Who knew senior year could be healthy?

2. Sleep. Seriously, those caffeine naps are awesome, but nothing keeps you well rested and healthy enough but a good night’s rest. Guess who was feeling better shortly after she finished pulling all-nighters? Sur-freakin-prise.

1. Sleep…some more. Honestly, you guys, I’m not actually 100% yet. But once you’re done with that killer week (or two or three or…alright, so Thanksgiving break, I guess?), just chill. It’s honestly the best thing you can do for yourself. That’s why it’s on the list twice.

(That’s also why, as you’re reading this, I’m probably curled up beneath my blankets, recovering from my life.)

Immediately after guzzling the truly foul concoction, I supposedly had an hour in which I would be pooping my brains out. As I had developed a stomach ache and was kind of hating life, I opted to spend this hour taking a nap, during which I had a dream that I was eating a Subway Veggie Sub, only to realize halfway through that I was supposed to be Master Cleansing and got really pissed at myself. I woke up starving and made myself a lemonade, then promptly fell back asleep. I woke up at 12:15 in the afternoon without having pooped at all, nor having any need to.

Well, at least I drank all that salt water.

The rest of my day was pretty much spent drinking the lemonade and napping or lounging about because I was totally exhausted. The only time I left the house was to go to the gym where I did my normal workout, but took half an hour longer than usual to do it because of all the breathers I had to take. Later I attempted to leave the house to go to a viewing of a film my roommate had worked on, but felt so beat I decided it was a pointless endeavor and watched a while lot of Comedy Central instead.

Throughout the day, my feelings about the Master Cleanse fluctuated wildly. One moment I was thinking that it was insane and there was no way it could possibly be good for me, then I’d remember all the rave reviews I had heard about it from others, then I’d think that food is awesome and not eating is not and I was totally over it, then I’d tell myself to take it one step at a time and I was feeling fine at the moment, wasn’t I? And really, when I thought about it, that was the truth; while I was tired and had moments of extreme hunger (namely while on the treadmill), and wasn’t exactly Miss Social Suzy Sunshine, I didn’t feel all that bad. I was surviving just fine.

Burroughs and the people I talked to who actually did it all report that the first few days of the Cleanse are the worst. Burroughs attributes this to all the toxins being loosened and floating around your body, where as I’m more inclined to think that it’s because you’re used to eating food and when you’re Master Cleansing you’re, uh, not doing that. But I DO have a sore throat…perhaps triggered by evil body-harming toxins that were previously lying dormant in my lymph nodes? Or merely a result of drinking copious amounts of lemon juice and cayenne pepper? Tough call.

For now, I’ve made a deal with myself that I have to tough out at least the first four days, and then see how I’m feeling. Baby steps, yo.

I just hope I poop soon.