Digestive Lab

1. In this lab, we connected exact measurements of colorful string to represent our digestive tracts. My main takeaway from the activity is that the digestive system is much longer than our own bodies, but not larger than our body size.

2. My digestive system is about twice as long as my actual height, precisely being 1.8 meters. My digestive system is able to fit in my body since the organs are hollow and lap over each other instead of being a straight line.

3. I hypothesize that it takes on average four hours for food to move through the entire digestive system. According to Maya Clinic, it takes about fifty three hours for food to fully pass through our system. However, some factors that can influence time may include food poisoning, fiber intake, and physical activity.

4. Digestion is involved in breaking down food, which would include the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and some parts of the small intestine, which are all organs of the GI tract. Absorption is the removal of nutrients to supply the body, which involves the small and large intestine of the GI tract.

5.  How long does it take to be cured from digestive diseases such as food poisioning? How can we prevent such diseases?

SMART Goals

One of my SMART goals is to still maintain an A in Anatomy and Physiology despite being a second semester senior. To accomplish this, it will all start from my attention span in the classroom. The first step is to take better notes, which can include more detailed, word for word notes, along with illustrations, graphics, and improved reflections including more vocabulary. Then, I must apply these notes to my homework, along with the outside world. By using my notes for homework as well as conducting my own research based on subjects I'm interested in, it will allow me to be more involved in the class. I will also need to follow this with at least 8 hours of sleep per night to stay focused during class. Lastly, I will need to perform well on tests, which will be reflections on how well I performed on the previous steps. If I follow these steps with my greatest effort, I will attain an A in no time.

My action plan is:

• Take better, detailed, illustrated notes
• Apply notes to homework and outside world
• Get at least eight hours of sleep a night
• Perform well on tests
• Ace Anatomy

My second SMART goal is to get bigger in hopes that I can play college football. To accomplish this goal, I will need attend the weight room more often, along with keeping track of my diet and sleep habits. It all starts with lifting, in which I will need to lift six times a week, each day altering between different muscle groups (upper body, legs, core, etc). With every workout however, comes a nutrient-dense meal. Each day, I will cut less carbohydrates from my diet and increase my protein intake (1 gram per 1 pound= 200 grams of protein per day). Of course my meals cannot only be meat, as I will have to include legumes, vegetables, and fruit for a healthy diet. In order to rest my body for future workouts, I will need to rely on sleep. However, obtaining at least eight hours of sleep in Saratoga can prove quite difficult, so I will have to complete homework during school and study after school. Unlike my last goal, there will actually be a small time deadline to follow, about six months when season training for college football begins. If I can follow my strict schedule, I can build at least enough size to have coaches consider me possibly.

My action plan is as follows:

• Lift six days a week, at least two hours a day
• Eat more protein, cut carbohydrates, include legumes, vegetables, and fruits
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
• Complete homework during school, study after school