Tuesday, April 01, 2008
study
It has begun: the studying for the NCLEX. I took inventory of myself and my study habits, and then picked up the phone and called two my favorite, most focused classmates and asked them to study with me. R* and E* are both going to be my coworkers on the same unit at Big County Hospital and we will be going through orientation together as well. We conferred on which review books we had and how we should tackle this huge body of knowledge, and yesterday we started. Today we continued with an extra bonus classmate C*. So far we've gotten through 8 chapters of the Kaplan review book and have repeatedly exclaimed "why didn't they tell us this in school??" We also learned that Maslow's hierarchy allegedly contains sex on the most basic level, right next to food, water, oxygen, and protection from extremes in temperature. This led to amusing conversation about how we've never seen any doctor's orders written for sexual interventions, and how if sex really is a basic need, as a group of stressed-out nursing students with long-suffering spouses, we may all be clinically dead.
Then since my brain wasn't quite full enough, classmate R* went home and classmates M* and D* showed up and we played RNtertainment for quite a while. There was much moaning and bitching about how the questions from the game wouldn't be on the NCLEX itself, but I wrote down 5 or 6 items to look up because I couldn't remember a single thing about them. Electromyography? Anyone? Anyone? Yeah, me neither.
And THEN, because I wasn't exhausted enough from using my brain for 8 hours, I went downstairs and worked out and then showered and cooked a healthy dinner and now I really wish someone would rub my back and hand me a chocolate chip cookie.
On that note, I spent the last 8 days watching everything I put in my face, working out more than I have in the last three months combined, logging all my food into Weight Watchers... and I got on the scale yesterday morning and there was no. change. at. all. Gahhhhhhhh. But hey, my body feels pretty good, so I guess I'll just keep at it.
Then since my brain wasn't quite full enough, classmate R* went home and classmates M* and D* showed up and we played RNtertainment for quite a while. There was much moaning and bitching about how the questions from the game wouldn't be on the NCLEX itself, but I wrote down 5 or 6 items to look up because I couldn't remember a single thing about them. Electromyography? Anyone? Anyone? Yeah, me neither.
And THEN, because I wasn't exhausted enough from using my brain for 8 hours, I went downstairs and worked out and then showered and cooked a healthy dinner and now I really wish someone would rub my back and hand me a chocolate chip cookie.
On that note, I spent the last 8 days watching everything I put in my face, working out more than I have in the last three months combined, logging all my food into Weight Watchers... and I got on the scale yesterday morning and there was no. change. at. all. Gahhhhhhhh. But hey, my body feels pretty good, so I guess I'll just keep at it.
Labels: nursing school, weight loss
Monday, October 08, 2007
loss
I've started back on Weight Watchers online. It's been one week. I've lost a pound and a half. I suppose that's a good start.
I am really tired of struggling with my weight. I'm embarrassed that I gained back all the weight I lost a couple of years ago on the Super Duper Extreme Weight Loss Program. I have made lots of bad health choices since I got into nursing school - I stress-eat and I haven't been getting nearly enough exercise.
One of my motivations is that if I want to have a baby in the next year or two, I need to be in better shape. I know that obesity interferes with fertility, and being out of shape makes giving birth more difficult.
Another motivation is to be supportive of my husband. He was recently diagnosed with asthma and gastric reflux, both of which would be improved by losing weight. He is very motivated to exercise and eat healthy so he will feel better, and I want to support him in his efforts.
And on a more vain note, when we moved, I packed an entire box of clothes for storage that were one size too small.If I canWhen I lose about 20 pounds, I can go retrieve that box and have a whole new wardrobe!
I am really tired of struggling with my weight. I'm embarrassed that I gained back all the weight I lost a couple of years ago on the Super Duper Extreme Weight Loss Program. I have made lots of bad health choices since I got into nursing school - I stress-eat and I haven't been getting nearly enough exercise.
One of my motivations is that if I want to have a baby in the next year or two, I need to be in better shape. I know that obesity interferes with fertility, and being out of shape makes giving birth more difficult.
Another motivation is to be supportive of my husband. He was recently diagnosed with asthma and gastric reflux, both of which would be improved by losing weight. He is very motivated to exercise and eat healthy so he will feel better, and I want to support him in his efforts.
And on a more vain note, when we moved, I packed an entire box of clothes for storage that were one size too small.
Labels: weight loss
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
tea time
I am home from Canada, quite a bit more rested and relaxed. My final exam went excellently well - I got a 90% and ended up with a 3.3 in the class, which is quite a bit higher than I'd been anticipating. All but 2 of my classmates passed into next quarter - one of them was a "backfill" student second quarter so now we're down to 19 of the original 30 students that started first quarter together.
The day after the final, I spent most of the day cleaning house because my parents came into town and spent the night at our house. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to clean the house on my break but it's awfully nice to have a clean house again.
Friday morning we got up super early and went down to the waterfront to catch the Victoria Clipper to, uh, Victoria. Upon arriving, we cabbed over to the Empress Hotel and checked in. R* was dissatisfied with our allegedly upgraded room and went back to the desk and asked for a new room - so we ended up in a little suite with a harbour view and a lovely sitting area. I would not have asked for a new room if it were up to me because I'm embarrassed by things like that - but I have to admit that our room was gorgeous and we were much more comfortable there.
After moving into room #2, we went downstairs and met my parents for afternoon tea. It was posh as it always is at the Empress. I started my tea collection there, as the waitstaff pass out boxes of "Tea at the Empress" tea bags to each customer. We went back up to our room and changed and relaxed for a little while, then went down to the spa and had massages and soaked in the mineral pool for a little while. I felt so much better afterward. I've been really tense! We had a nap and then all 4 of us went for an early dinner at Cafe Brio. We had a really good time and the food was terrific. The only letdown was that dessert was not as stunning as the previous courses had been. R* and I had been there for dinner several years ago and I was very happy to find that the restaurant held up to my fond memory.
On Saturday we wandered around and shopped and lunched at an Irish pub which was fabulous - best fish and chips I've ever had - and took a nap and had a delicious seafood dinner. Then we went back to the Empress and had cocktails and dessert and listened to a jazz trio which was actually very good, not "hotel jazz" at all. During my shopping I loaded up at Lush and at Murchies... in fact, I'm having a cup of Queen Victoria blend as I type this.
Sunday we went on a tour bus out to the Butchart Gardens and strolled around and had tea again in their restaurant. Then we caught a bus back to the Empress, where we had left our bags to be taken over to the Clipper terminal, and discovered we had a couple of hours to kill. So my parents and I went to the Victoria Bug Zoo, which caused R* to announce that he would meet us later and hightail it for the bookstore. He doesn't like bugs very much. :) My folks and I had a great time, though - I guess we're kind of weird that way. R* found some jazz CDs in the sale bin and a book he'd been wanting, so he also had a good time. We went into a deli and bought sandwiches for the boat trip home - the one major problem with the Clipper is that the food on board is awful - and then strolled over to the terminal. We got home without incident and hopped in the car and drove home. It was a very nice vacation and I remembered why I like Victoria so much - it's friendly, pleasant, has plenty of things to do and isn't too far from home.
Now I've got just a few days off before school starts again. I actually have a CPR class all day on Friday and then regular classes start on Monday. Sigh. I need a longer break. The good news is that I don't have to get up so freaking early, though, since my earliest class this quarter is at 9:30 AM.
In other news, R* and I have decided we need to get back on the health kick again. Our plan is to have oatmeal, yogurt & fruit, or cereal for breakfast (maybe smoothies as well?), salad for lunch, and protein (chicken or seafood) and vegetables for dinner. I think I'll serve fresh fruit for "dessert" at dinner time. I went to the grocery store today and got a bunch of salad ingredients and chopped them all up and stashed them in the fridge for easy salad packing. Hopefully that will make it easier to stick with the plan.
The day after the final, I spent most of the day cleaning house because my parents came into town and spent the night at our house. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to clean the house on my break but it's awfully nice to have a clean house again.
Friday morning we got up super early and went down to the waterfront to catch the Victoria Clipper to, uh, Victoria. Upon arriving, we cabbed over to the Empress Hotel and checked in. R* was dissatisfied with our allegedly upgraded room and went back to the desk and asked for a new room - so we ended up in a little suite with a harbour view and a lovely sitting area. I would not have asked for a new room if it were up to me because I'm embarrassed by things like that - but I have to admit that our room was gorgeous and we were much more comfortable there.
After moving into room #2, we went downstairs and met my parents for afternoon tea. It was posh as it always is at the Empress. I started my tea collection there, as the waitstaff pass out boxes of "Tea at the Empress" tea bags to each customer. We went back up to our room and changed and relaxed for a little while, then went down to the spa and had massages and soaked in the mineral pool for a little while. I felt so much better afterward. I've been really tense! We had a nap and then all 4 of us went for an early dinner at Cafe Brio. We had a really good time and the food was terrific. The only letdown was that dessert was not as stunning as the previous courses had been. R* and I had been there for dinner several years ago and I was very happy to find that the restaurant held up to my fond memory.
On Saturday we wandered around and shopped and lunched at an Irish pub which was fabulous - best fish and chips I've ever had - and took a nap and had a delicious seafood dinner. Then we went back to the Empress and had cocktails and dessert and listened to a jazz trio which was actually very good, not "hotel jazz" at all. During my shopping I loaded up at Lush and at Murchies... in fact, I'm having a cup of Queen Victoria blend as I type this.
Sunday we went on a tour bus out to the Butchart Gardens and strolled around and had tea again in their restaurant. Then we caught a bus back to the Empress, where we had left our bags to be taken over to the Clipper terminal, and discovered we had a couple of hours to kill. So my parents and I went to the Victoria Bug Zoo, which caused R* to announce that he would meet us later and hightail it for the bookstore. He doesn't like bugs very much. :) My folks and I had a great time, though - I guess we're kind of weird that way. R* found some jazz CDs in the sale bin and a book he'd been wanting, so he also had a good time. We went into a deli and bought sandwiches for the boat trip home - the one major problem with the Clipper is that the food on board is awful - and then strolled over to the terminal. We got home without incident and hopped in the car and drove home. It was a very nice vacation and I remembered why I like Victoria so much - it's friendly, pleasant, has plenty of things to do and isn't too far from home.
Now I've got just a few days off before school starts again. I actually have a CPR class all day on Friday and then regular classes start on Monday. Sigh. I need a longer break. The good news is that I don't have to get up so freaking early, though, since my earliest class this quarter is at 9:30 AM.
In other news, R* and I have decided we need to get back on the health kick again. Our plan is to have oatmeal, yogurt & fruit, or cereal for breakfast (maybe smoothies as well?), salad for lunch, and protein (chicken or seafood) and vegetables for dinner. I think I'll serve fresh fruit for "dessert" at dinner time. I went to the grocery store today and got a bunch of salad ingredients and chopped them all up and stashed them in the fridge for easy salad packing. Hopefully that will make it easier to stick with the plan.
Labels: nursing school, vacation, weight loss
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
eat this diet
Eat This Diet
Interesting idea. We're trying to get back to watching our diet and losing weight again - following this plan would remove a lot of the mental effort.
Interesting idea. We're trying to get back to watching our diet and losing weight again - following this plan would remove a lot of the mental effort.
Labels: food, weight loss
Friday, October 07, 2005
book forty-seven
I'm Not the New Me
by Wendy McClure
I checked this book out because I've been a reader of Wendy's site Pound for quite some time. I was a little concerned that the book would mainly recycle material from her website, but happily, it was not like that at all. "I'm Not the New Me" has a pretty coherent narrative rather than being a blog-like series of snapshots. Plus Wendy is FUNNY.
This isn't much of a review, is it? Regardless, believe when I say I recommend the book.
by Wendy McClure
I checked this book out because I've been a reader of Wendy's site Pound for quite some time. I was a little concerned that the book would mainly recycle material from her website, but happily, it was not like that at all. "I'm Not the New Me" has a pretty coherent narrative rather than being a blog-like series of snapshots. Plus Wendy is FUNNY.
This isn't much of a review, is it? Regardless, believe when I say I recommend the book.
Labels: book reports, weight loss
