Brrrr!

Work is super slow today, so I am sneakily giving you all an update from our freezing office (the heat is currently broken so we're all wearing our coats inside!)

Not so great on the weight front... 127.0 after my run, which means I must have been a lot higher before (128.something?).  There is no way I'm going to be 125 on Friday.  I want to be hopeful, but I just don't think it's going to happen.  I am trying girls, I promise. 

I ran 4.8 miles again today (yesterday was too bitter cold and windy) in 12 degree weather in 43 minutes.  I am steadily increasing my mileage, which is great.

I am going to feel awful is I don't see 125 on Friday.  I set this goal for Thanksgiving and didn't make it.  And now Juan is going to be here and I will have failed him too?  :(  I swear I am trying.  I skipped breakfast and had a salad for lunch (romaine, grapefruit, 1/2 avocado, a spoonful of hummus, 1T dried cranberries, vinegar and a bit of EVOO - gee that sounds like a lot now) and I am set with caffeine and herbal teas for while I am at work.  Tonight, my brother is bringing home sushi for dinner for a family dinner (it's his birthday) and I asked for seaweed salad and an avocado roll.  Tomorrow, I wll run in the morning and likely not eat anything until dinner again - I made plans to go out for sushi with my friends on Sunday but canceled because I was fasting.  So we re-scheduled for tomorrow (before I knew about tonight's dinner plans) so I'll have a cucumber roll and an avocado roll or a cucumber roll and miso?  But all of that salt will make me heavier tomorrow and even worse on Friday, right?

I will comment tonight when I am home from work.  I have to go back and catch up on yesterday's posts too.  I love you all.

Oh, and Cinnamon and Alice D, I bought LOTS of that tea yesterday :)  Please send me your addresses (sshoemaker AT hotmail DOT com) and I will send you each a little variety pack... I bought the Sugar Cookie, Nutcracker Sweet, Sugar Plum, Gingerbread annnnnnd Candy Cane Lane to share!

One last thing, Bonesarepure, I haven't forgotten about dairy free recipes for you!  I promise I will post some soon!!

Just read this article... very interesting!

Calmed down

I felt terrible last night, but woke up in a much better mood.  I decided not to fast after I got on the scale (post lax-tea, mind you) and saw 126.8.  I then went to a "Burst" class with a friend at our local gym.  According to my heart monitor, I torched just shy of 500 calories.

Thank you, lovely readers, for encouraging me and giving me some perspective.  You are all too nice.  Fasts work much better for me when they are not punishment, so I ate two rice cakes with vegan cream cheese and jam for breakfast, one square of chocolate, and I just made soup (frozen veggies soup base, 90 cals, 1/4 c veg. stock, maybe 5 cals, 1/4 c tomato juice, not sure, and some Chik'n strips) with two more rice cakes.  I am going to take my cleanse pills and hope for the best in the morning.  I am going to run before my dentist appointment and probably not have much else tomorrow, since I am having some minor repair work done and will be all novocained.

I am seriously considering joining this fitness center for the winter months.  It's a chiropractic, new-age kind of place with a great class schedule and I will have somewhere to go when it is too cold/snowy to run outside.

Thank you, again, for the constant support and encouragement.  I have eight days to see 124.something.  I could never do it without you girls.

I promise to comment tonight and take photos in my running gear/of Moses tomorrow.

Dashing through the snow

This is the view from my window... I woke up this morning to a lovely dusting of snow and decided it was the perfect opportunity to get my bum out of bed and run four miles. I feel totally invigorated now after lounging about for the greater part of yesterday evening watching Harry Potter.

I was 126.6 after my run this morning, so my plan is to eat a decent breakfast (1 banana with 2T natural peanut butter and 1/2c plain soy milk) as my only meal of the day. I'm eating it now and I'm not sure if I can even finish. I normally eat rice cakes for breakfast! Seriously, I left about a 1/4 of the banana in the bowl, I just can't do it. Anyway... I figure this breakfast should tide me over until (hopefully!) tomorrow. I need to hydrate well today because the air inside is very dry now. Lots of tea, water, and seltzer for me today.

Juan is coming on the 17th,  I hope he is surprised with my weight loss. The last time I saw him I was about ten pounds more than this. It's funny, because my clothes are obviously fitting differently, but when I look in the mirror I see absolutely no changes. I am still dissatisfied, particularly with my arms and legs. I now have eleven days to get to 125 or under.

I am going to get to leaving some comments. I was terrible over the weekend and barely wrote on anyone's blogs! Je suis désolée mes petites fleurs!

P.S. I will definitely post pictures of our new cat very soon... little Moses :)

P.P.S. Mich, I got the Evian spray at Sephora.

Not much to say today

(I borrowed these photos from GreenWeddingShoes - it's a wedding planning blog that I read every day for aesthetic inspiration. These dresses/girls are too lovely)

The same again today - 127.6. Obviously better than gaining, but I've done quite well today so far, so I'm hoping I lose.

I did not run this morning because I slept in a bit and then went to the dentist. My dentist said my teeth looked very well taken care of :) Then, I helped touch up the paint in my brother's room.

Nothing else exciting is going on in my life... I put in a Sephora order - does that count? Haha I bought a bottle of Evian water spray, which I highly recommend, Josie Maran cream blush, two Smashbox eyeliners that were majorly on sale, and a Nars lipgloss and Bare Minerals eye shadow for my mom's stocking. My dad/brothers cannot be trusted with buying all of my mom's presents!

I also bought the most gorgeous La Perla lingerie on RueLaLa yesterday (it's a sample sale website, let me know if you are interested in signing up, because if I invite you, I think I get coupons if you actually make a purchase!) Totally unnecessary, but practical and to-die-for. I put that one on the credit card. I need to stop shopping - I have to buy both of my brothers' presents and a present for my best friend, Kendal. Otherwise my Christmas shopping is finished... alas, however, I need new front tires before the snow comes and I have three more graduate school applications to complete, in addition to dental work and returning to the optometrist.

My lovely new lingerie that I bought to wear for my honey when he arrives... Clearly I will not look like that, but I think it will be tastefully flattering and feminine.

I brought the new cat home last night. My mom has decided to call him Moses.

How is everyone? Alice D is having her wisdom teeth out today, I think - so send some good wishes and prayers her way.

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ADELINE :-D SHE GOT IN TO LAW SCHOOOOOL!

I've been terrible about commenting lately, thank you so much for not abandoning me!

P.S. I finally watched the VS fashion show online the other night. Ridiculous. Seriously.

Pouring rain

Oh December first. Does anyone else love the beginning of a new month? (I know Adeline does!) Putting everything behind you for a new start? That is why my favorite holiday is New Year's Eve. I just love beginnings!

I did not get to run this morning because it is absolutely pouring outside today. Luckily, I braved a bit of drizzle yesterday and ran anyway.

127.4 first thing this morning. I am so pleased that I am losing. My goal, as some of you already know, is to be under 125 by the time Juan arrives. Well, he bought his plane ticket last night and arrives on the 17th. That means 17 December days to lose about three pounds. I think that is totally reasonable, right? I think I will be able to lose a bit more.

Once I get close to 120, I think I will be ready to cut my hair. My sophomore year in college I donated all of my hair to Locks of Love. I have been dying to do it again and I am totally smitten with Ginnifer Goodwin's latest hairstyle.

Breakfast was my usual two rice cakes with a bit of vegan cream cheese and jam with a big much of Nutcracker Sweet tea, my absolute holiday-season favorite. If you can buy Celestial Seasonings, I highly recommend trying it. I will have my low-sodium V8 and a baby yogurt while at work today, and likely nothing after I come home from work at 8pm. I hate eating so late at night.

I hope everyone has a great day. Thank you so much for the ridiculously great feedback on my application essays.

One last thing, if you are not currently following the beautiful Alice D, please do. She just put up the greatest little vlog and you'll all adore her charming personality and accent as well as her stunning beauty.

Application time!

Yesterday, I was absolutely thrilled when I stepped on the scale and saw 127.6 (126.6 after my run!) staring back at me.

This morning, not as good, 128.0 first thing and 127.2 after my run.

It serves me right, seeing as I had a great day barely eating on Sunday, and yesterday I did not do nearly as well.

Luckily, I can refocus today and make tomorrow even better. And on the upside, I ran more than three miles both yesterday and this morning (in the 45 degree rain!!).

In case you're interested... here is what I wrote for my application (I know it isn't related to most of what I post on this blog, but honestly, a little change from reading about weight-woes is nice every once-in-a-while right?)

Feel free to leave feedback! Merci mes amies... I hope everyone has a lovely, happy, strong and controlled day. Get your bodies moving and get those endorphins flowing - they're the best for warding off the blues that seem to affect so many of us!

Update: Application officially submitted!!!

Personal Statement

Public health workers have the novel opportunity to treat populations and to help close the gaps in healthcare that arise for a myriad of reasons. I see the need for such professionals, and feel intensely drawn to a discipline and a field that aim to improve the health of populations. As an undergraduate, I was inspired by the work of Dr. Paul Farmer as I pursued my BA in communication and pre-medicine, hoping to continue on to a master’s degree in communication and then to medical school. During my first year in graduate school, I took a course in epidemiology, which reinvigorated my studies and changed my vision for the future.

While studying epidemiology, I grew to understand the complex web of factors that contribute to the movement of diseases, and knew that this was the concentration to pursue. I became aware that the incidence and prevalence of diseases among a group of people is the result of much more than germs. Genetics, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, and environment each contribute to the health of a population. Understanding the root causes of disease allows public health professionals to determine the best courses of action to treat, limit transmission, and ultimately prevent new cases. Most importantly, the practical nature of public health studies encouraged me to go beyond simply theorizing about the best plan of action, and consider the real-world factors and limitations that determine treatment, prevention, and educational solutions.

During my studies in San Diego State University’s graduate program for communication, I researched the multifaceted communication issues within healthcare. I recognize that clear, effective communication has significant influence on patient understanding and compliance, public acceptance of health protocol, and the working relationships between organizations, doctors, patients, and public health entities. In San Diego I also worked as a health educator for the CASBIRT research project, spending many hours screening emergency room patients for drug, alcohol, and tobacco use as well as providing education on these substances and brief interventions. Additionally, during my college summers and over the past six months, I have been working for a veterinary practice. Even as a receptionist, I advise clients about the diseases that may afflict their pets as well as methods for testing, treatment and prevention. Through these experiences, my interests deepened as I cultivated knowledge and improved the communication skills necessary to help educate individuals on public health issues, such as alcoholism and the importance of vaccinations.

Ultimately, I intend that my education in epidemiology, combined with my interdisciplinary background and interests will allow me forge a career in public health. My highest aspiration is to acquire the knowledge and skills to aid mothers and infants struggling with issues such as HIV/AIDS transmission. I believe that my personal qualities, strengths, and experiences will allow me to make a meaningful contribution to the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Scholarship Addendum

For the duration of my studies at San Diego State University I had the privilege and responsibility to be a teaching associate for a freshman-level public speaking course. While I had no prior teaching experience or training, I quickly discovered that I was up to the task of instructing, encouraging, and challenging my students. During each semester, I demonstrated my leadership skills through teaching six courses per week, with a total of seventy-five students. My students not only improved their research and writing skills throughout the semesters, but also became more comfortable within my classroom environment and their peers, which led to advancements in delivery.

Last year, I had the unique opportunity to work for the San Diego State Research Foundation CASBIRT program. This experience allowed me to see first-hand some of the challenges faced by patients and healthcare practitioners that ultimately become public health concerns as well stretched my perspective on public health issues. Working for this program has reaffirmed that a career in public health is the right choice for me. I believe that I am a suitable candidate for Columbia’s scholarship program because of my strong leadership abilities and insatiable yearning to make a difference.

500 words for Post-Grad goals

After completing my MPH, I eventually envision myself working for a larger organization, either on a national or international spectrum. Though working in humanitarian aid is my eventual goal, I feel it is important to gain experience in epidemiology by way of a smaller organization, such as a county or state department of public health. I believe that focusing on the health of smaller, local populations is equally noble and important as compared with work in developing nations. Furthermore, smaller scale operations provide unique opportunities for decision-making and responsibility that may not arise in extremely large organizations. Such foundational experience and understanding of the basic tenets of public health practice are essential components of becoming a well-rounded practitioner, which is another one of my objectives. Thus, immediately following the completion of this degree, I picture myself working for a local government’s department of public health.

Ultimately, I would love to be involved with projects that are directed toward the prevention of disease transmission between mothers and infants. My initial interest in disease transmission took root while reading about humanitarian aid organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières and Partners in Health. Since that initial awareness, my interest deepened while my friend, Nathan, spent nearly two years volunteering in rural Uganda through World Harvest Mission. As Nathan shared his experiences, I learned about the struggles of access to medicines, patient awareness and compliance, and malnutrition that are tied to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Hearing Nathan’s stories merely provided a taste of the greater problem facing the global population, and I wish to dedicate my life toward finding practical solutions.

While I am unsure of the specific path that will lead me toward my niche in public health, I know that an MPH is a crucial step. In the end, I am inspired to help others, and I think that a career of service in public health is the perfect outlet. Thus, I see my future education at the Mailman School of Public Health as a foundational element of achieving my goals.

A little miracle

I saw a little miracle when I hopped on the scale after my run today and it read 127.0. That's correct. Plateaus be damned because I am on my way down again!

This morning, I ran an easy-paced 3.2 miles and then walked my parents' dog Petey for another 4.2 this afternoon. Overall, I think it was a pretty good day. I had a baby soy yogurt for breakfast, left-over salad for lunch, a few bites of chocolate, a mini Luna bar, and hot chocolate made with plain unsweetened almond milk, 1 T cocoa powder and sugar-free hazelnut syrup.

I am finishing up my Columbia University application tonight/tomorrow. Polishing my resume, re-writing my personal statement and writing a bit about post-graduation goals. The "soft" deadline is December 1st, so I want to submit it Tuesday night at the latest. I am excited to submit all of my applications and start moving forward with my life again!

Thank you for all of the congratulatory remarks on my 5k. Obviously, 26 minutes is hardly competitive, but I am not a runner by trade and I am quite proud! It just goes to show that you can really do anything you set your mind to. Even if you do not think you like running, I suggest you try it. When I crank up my iPod and go, I am so distracted by the music and beautiful scenery that I release so much stress. For example, yesterday was a REALLY long day at work, I had hardly talked to Juan in the past 48 hours, and my extended family came over for dinner (I barely ate all day in preparation). So, at dinner, I ate two helpings of salad, a baked potato with hummus, and a glass of wine. Honestly, afterward, I felt so heavy and disgusting that it made me completely depressed. I was totally gloomy the rest of the night, and knew that this morning I needed to just get out of bed and put my sneakers on. I felt so much better when I got back from my run.

One last bit of new before I go off to comment - my family is getting another cat! We already have six outdoor, one indoor, and two dogs, but there is this amazing little cat at the hospital where I work who had to have one of his front legs amputated due to an accident. He is the sweetest thing and my parents agreed to adopt him! I promise that when he is all healed and ready to come home, I will post pictures :)

I hope everyone had a lovely, thinspired weekend. We can be strong and do this. If you had a bad week last week, turn it around. Try and focus on one small area where you can make a change. All of those small changes add up to a lot of progress.