So, remember that post a little while back about me being able to fit back in my skinny jeans? Well, as of today, those are no longer the skinny jeans I will be referring to. (those "skinny jeans" were a size 10.) Yesterday, I was washing my new dress pants and dress skirt that I got for Christmas. (They are a size 8.) And I started to wonder if I dare try to get in a size down. So I went to my favorite store and bought a pair (size 6.) And guess what!? They fit!! I didn't expect them too. I thought they would become that pair hanging in the closet that I dreamed of fitting in. But they fit. And I wore them today and can sit in them and still breathe. I have not been in a six since....... sophomore year at UT..... so .........9 years ago..... I think is about right.
So those will now be my skinny jeans and I can already fit in them. I think I am pretty happy being at that size. We will see. I want to keep losing a little. I have a number in my head and I want to weigh that much again.
Otherwise, today was the first official day of classes. We had orientation in Harriman.
I got the hospital and the floor I wanted for the Transition phase. The only down side is it is nights. But I only have to do it for 60 hours. So that will only be 5 shifts. Surely it will not be that bad.
Also, I am about to register for something I never said I would do. I am going to register for the Louisville Half marathon. It fits into my schedule okay and I have decided that I can do it. Lenae is running it with me and I will be about on the same pace with Betty, I may be a little slower than her, but I am doing it. I never thought I would be 29 and in the best shape of my life. When I was 18 and in size 0 I did not have the energy to run upstairs, much less run a half marathon.
I am also going to register for the 10k in Louisville so I can have some one to help me through that one since I struggled so much with the last 10k.
Technically my training starts February 9th with a 4 miler, but I have already been running a bunch and have a base of 3 and a half.
This semester is going to be busy and I have already felt crazy just thinking about it. We have a lot of projects in Transitions that we have to do. We have a heavy load in Psych, with only 3 tests the whole semester so there is a lot of pressure up front to get a good grade and maintain a good average. There are a lot of unanswered questions. Like I really want the Nclex review class and they have not been clear on when that is going to be. Plus the money demands are high this semester.
But on the bright side, Only one more semester of it, then I get to go to Europe with my wonderful husband. Then no more school for a long while.... if ever. And hopefully I will get a job and actually get to work as a nurse.
I still have some organizing to do, and my schedule is not complete. I have to set up a time to meet with my preceptor to set up the schedule I can work with her.
And there is a Roane State Exit exam I have to take. Plus we have the HESI test to take this semester, but luckily they schedule that for us.
So I am ready for this year. I am knocking out nursing school. Running my first marathon, and going to Europe. What could make this year better?
That's only in the first 5 months of the year, so who knows what the next 7 months will hold.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Knocken' it out!
Back over the summer I went to the Medic mobile station and donated blood. A couple of weeks later I get the paper in the mail from them that tells you blood type and cholesterol level. My cholesterol was really high. I think it was like 260. Now, this was the end of the day and not a fasting cholesterol letter. And I have actively been trying to lose weight since last January and had been Zumbaing (can I make that a verb?) just about every day and we had been watching what we eat. Mostly I had already cut out sweeties and chocolate. So I became a little concerned. I knew that my grandmother has high cholesterol and I am sure my mom does to if I can ever get her to go to the doctor.
But I found us a new primary care doctor and went to see her.
On October 23, 2012 my overall cholesterol level was 240. Normal range is 170-196. My LDL (the bad cholesterol) was 160. Normal is 120-130 with >100 being optimal. And the HDL (the good cholesterol) was 66 and the optimal is 45-130 with > 60 being the desired.
These were my numbers fasting in the am, by the way.
So needless to say I was a little high. The doctor was concerned because it was so high and I am young and active. My triglycerides were good also, so she said that it had to be a genetic factor. She told me to start taking 2 tablets of Fish Oil twice a day and to keep exercising. She asked me to check back in three months.
So I went back on Tuesday January 7, 2013 so I could get it out of the way before school started.
She called me that evening and said she was very impressed especially coming off the holidays and wanted to know what I have been doing. So I told her. Zumba, running, Fish Oil and watching what I eat.
My numbers were down.
Total was 228; LDL 136, and HDL was 79. She said she could not get most people down that much in three months on 10 units of prescribed cholestrol medications. So she told me to keep up the good work.
I had hoped it would be down under 200, but she was so encouraging that I felt good about it. And since I have the genetic factor it is likely to always run high. But I do not plan on ever going on the prescribed medications. As long as I am active, it should stay where I need it to be.
But I found us a new primary care doctor and went to see her.
On October 23, 2012 my overall cholesterol level was 240. Normal range is 170-196. My LDL (the bad cholesterol) was 160. Normal is 120-130 with >100 being optimal. And the HDL (the good cholesterol) was 66 and the optimal is 45-130 with > 60 being the desired.
These were my numbers fasting in the am, by the way.
So needless to say I was a little high. The doctor was concerned because it was so high and I am young and active. My triglycerides were good also, so she said that it had to be a genetic factor. She told me to start taking 2 tablets of Fish Oil twice a day and to keep exercising. She asked me to check back in three months.
So I went back on Tuesday January 7, 2013 so I could get it out of the way before school started.
She called me that evening and said she was very impressed especially coming off the holidays and wanted to know what I have been doing. So I told her. Zumba, running, Fish Oil and watching what I eat.
My numbers were down.
Total was 228; LDL 136, and HDL was 79. She said she could not get most people down that much in three months on 10 units of prescribed cholestrol medications. So she told me to keep up the good work.
I had hoped it would be down under 200, but she was so encouraging that I felt good about it. And since I have the genetic factor it is likely to always run high. But I do not plan on ever going on the prescribed medications. As long as I am active, it should stay where I need it to be.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
15lbs later.... the pictures
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| Me and Peter last December 2011 at Nanny's. I weighted about 148 lbs |
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| Me and my cousin Daymon at Nanny's this December 2012. I weigh about 133lbs |
15lbs later
Christmas 2012 was slightly different for me. We still traveled from Knoxville to see our family spread across the state of Tennessee. It still felt like we spent more time in the car than we did in one single house. But never the less, it was different. What was different about it? I was.
For starters, I am 15lbs lighter and 5 pants sizes smaller.
Second, I got up early on December 22nd to go for a run. In the cold. It was like 38 degrees. And I ran for 2.25 miles around Bellvue.
Third, I got up on December 24th and rode the stationary bike in my grandmother's basement for 30 minutes.
And Fourth, I ran 2 miles on December the 26th in the snow on Spring Hill Rd in Paris, TN and if you have never been there, there is a steep ass hill that has to be ran up.
Why is this so spectacular?
Because last year I would have said, "It's too cold." "It's Christmas." or "It's snowing."
But I like being smaller and in shape and able to fit in smaller sizes.
I also like sweet potatoes casserole and country ham and biscuits and gravy. And grand mama's peanut chocolate candy.
I'm not going to lie. The whole time I am running I am thinking about food. I like food. Especially good food. I have just learned over the past year that I have to be rationale about what I eat. I can eat chocolate every now and then. Just not every day and not because I am bored.
I drink beer with my husband and we have pizza usually at least once a week. But smaller portions and above all else, finding an exercise you really like.
The credit for that one goes to two people. First to Peter for finding me a local Zumba class that is less than five minutes from the house and affordable.
And second to Sandy. The instructor at Knoxville Zumba. She is a great instructor, who make exercise fun and something that I look forward to every day.
I learned how to tone myself with the Zumba moves and learned that I am very very competitive when we did the plank contest.
Not only have I lost weight, but have also became more confident. That has a lot to do with the fact that I actually like myself now and the way I look now, for the most part. And Nursing school has boosted my confidence as well. I like knowing things.
Plus I cut 10inches off my hair and have short hair again for the first time in about 4 years.
2012 has brought a lot of changes in my life and 2013 is sure to hold much more. I plan to graduate in May with my RN degree. Peter and I are planning a Europe trip soon after. I hope to have a job in the hospital of my choice, and then who knows....... maybe a little one.
For starters, I am 15lbs lighter and 5 pants sizes smaller.
Second, I got up early on December 22nd to go for a run. In the cold. It was like 38 degrees. And I ran for 2.25 miles around Bellvue.
Third, I got up on December 24th and rode the stationary bike in my grandmother's basement for 30 minutes.
And Fourth, I ran 2 miles on December the 26th in the snow on Spring Hill Rd in Paris, TN and if you have never been there, there is a steep ass hill that has to be ran up.
Why is this so spectacular?
Because last year I would have said, "It's too cold." "It's Christmas." or "It's snowing."
But I like being smaller and in shape and able to fit in smaller sizes.
I also like sweet potatoes casserole and country ham and biscuits and gravy. And grand mama's peanut chocolate candy.
I'm not going to lie. The whole time I am running I am thinking about food. I like food. Especially good food. I have just learned over the past year that I have to be rationale about what I eat. I can eat chocolate every now and then. Just not every day and not because I am bored.
I drink beer with my husband and we have pizza usually at least once a week. But smaller portions and above all else, finding an exercise you really like.
The credit for that one goes to two people. First to Peter for finding me a local Zumba class that is less than five minutes from the house and affordable.
And second to Sandy. The instructor at Knoxville Zumba. She is a great instructor, who make exercise fun and something that I look forward to every day.
I learned how to tone myself with the Zumba moves and learned that I am very very competitive when we did the plank contest.
Not only have I lost weight, but have also became more confident. That has a lot to do with the fact that I actually like myself now and the way I look now, for the most part. And Nursing school has boosted my confidence as well. I like knowing things.
Plus I cut 10inches off my hair and have short hair again for the first time in about 4 years.
2012 has brought a lot of changes in my life and 2013 is sure to hold much more. I plan to graduate in May with my RN degree. Peter and I are planning a Europe trip soon after. I hope to have a job in the hospital of my choice, and then who knows....... maybe a little one.
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