I'm back!

Hello all! It's been nearly a year since I started this blog and unfortunately have gained some weight since then. It's been about... maybe 15 pounds? I think. I don't know. I didn't go back and check what I wrote when I started.

However, I felt as if I should start updating since I'm going to start doing something about my weight problem tomorrow (or today since it's 3:11am).

Some quick updates: I'm an EMT! Yay for me. It's been awesome so far and well worth it. However, with joining a fire department comes drama but very good friendships. Gotta take both, unfortunately. I think therein lies my problem! They LOVE to eat and I love to eat with them! And what they eat, and what I eat, isn't particularly healthy (even though I do my best to not get too crazy as they do).

Anyway. I'm trying to do something new with a no-salt, no-oil diet. I know, I know, diets are bad, blah blah blah. But I want to cut down portion sizes just like I did 2-3 years ago when I lost 25 pounds.

I have to start the gym again which I hope to get to sometime tomorrow if not then on Tuesday. We did just get hit with a major snow storm and I have been up since 9am on Saturday. We had a 16 hour snow standby where I only got a good 2 hours of sleep.

I had planned to go food shopping yesterday (Saturday), but that didn't work out because as soon as I got out of my final (yes, on a Saturday), the snow had already started to make the roads slick. So, I'm going to have to improvise what I eat tomorrow while I go food shopping (hopefully) tomorrow.

The one thing I'm worried about is my knee. I'm not going to try to overdo it (at the gym, that is). That and my back is still killing me.

Anyway. I hope this blog is going to serve its purpose to help keep me motivated. I think getting to the gym is going to be the toughest part; I'm sure once I start going a few times, it'll get easier to drag my butt there.

I know I'll need motivation especially when classes start up again at the end of January and the stress comes back full force. Gotta love Organic Chemistry.

Until tomorrow,
Kate

The coughing is still pretty bad and annoying. I feel congested in my throat and stuff.

However, I did get to the gym Friday (and last Monday if I didn't mention it before). Only did fifteen minutes on the elliptical because I still wasn't feeling well and didn't want to push it. However, I did a massive amount of weight lifting (more than I usually do). I even repeated some machines.

Hopefully I can trek out to the gym tomorrow... but with over a foot of snow expected, I have no clue, nor am I in the mood to walk there.

On a good note, classes are canceled tomorrow (or today since it's passed midnight).

Still studying my head off. Mid-terms this week and the county EMT exam. Here comes the home stretch! =]

-Kate

Just when I'm starting to feel better, I go and start to get sick again. What the HELL, man?! I'm losing my voice and my throat is killing me again.

This is because everybody is sick over here and they in turn get the people who are healthy or just getting over being sick, sick AGAIN! This is ridiculous!

I took Nyquil 20 minutes ago to stop my coughing and to hopefully get to sleep. The thing is, I can't stop coughing!

This sucks.

However, I did go see a Broadway musical tonight, "In the Heights." Very awesome and hilarious. I highly recommend it if you are in New York City. One of the best I've seen.

Hoping to get to the gym tomorrow if I feel well. I can't wait for March to be over (and it hasn't even started yet).

-Kate

I went to the gym today. Yay! =]

However, I was pressed for time so I only did about 15 minutes on the elliptical. Also did some weight lifting for a few minutes then had to take a shower and speed to class so I wasn't late.

=]

-Kate

Starting to feel better

After nearly relapsing back into sickness TWICE, I'm finally starting to feel better. However, this cough is slightly more annoying and consistent than it used to be before I got sick.

Trying to get to the gym but to be honest, it's on the bottom of my to-do list for the next few weeks. I have those 3 major EMT exams coming up plus mid-terms starting next week. I'm heading for the home stretch for EMT and I REFUSE to have wasted SIX months of my life at the EMT Academy and just fail the exams.

The good part is now that I'm officially in the fire department, I get to go to the town gym for free. Yay! However, I have to wait until I get my badges next month because it's "proof of ID."

Just thought I'd update here. Starting soccer next month; games are on Sunday's, or so I've heard.

The team handball coach never got back to me. Figures. I expected it, but it still doesn't make it any easier to accept.

Softball season for my team starts soon as well. I'm pretty sure that's all I can handle right at this moment anyway.

-Kate

Sick again

While my ear is semi-cleared up by now... I am getting sick again. My throat is back to killing me and I feel even more sluggish than before. This sucks.

Took NyQuil about a half hour ago. Really tired.

I feel like a sac of potatoes because I haven't done anything. Then again, I've been deliberately leaving my car parked at the farthest parking lot in the farthest spot just so I can walk more on campus. Also taking the long way to the classrooms (provided I'm not running late). Trying to make up for it in little ways.

Yeahh. =[

-Kate

Middle ear

Finally got myself to an ear doctor yesterday. He said my middle ear is clogged with fluid, which I already suspected. He looked into my nose with a small camera and what not. Went through various sound tests to see how much fluid there is in my ear.

So, he said he's going to give it four weeks to clear up with prednisone, or something similar to that, and some nasal spray. If it doesn't clear up by then, he's going to have to rupture the ear drum to drain the fluid out, which I also expected.

It's annoying because I can barely hear out of that ear and I feel kind of unsteady when walking, lol. I think the gym is out of the question for at least the next week or so. I get so frustrated with this ear that I just want to rip it off... that and my throat. Grr.

I really hope that in four weeks my ear clears up. I definitely do not want to rupture my ear drum deliberately.

At least I'm feeling slightly better due to the z-pak antibiotics that I'm on. My throat doesn't hurt to swallow as much anymore but the coughing is still pretty bad.

-Kate

Still very sick

I am still very sick so with the exception of classes, I have been holed up in bed all week. It was a fight to even get my ass TO class, even EMT class.

I think I've had everything known to man these past few days. Fever (no more, thank god), sore throat, sore jaw, sore body, ear infection plus pain, ear is clogged it feels like, headaches, stuffy nose, dizziness (no more either), and being very lethargic. Oh, also a very hard time falling to sleep and staying asleep.

And of course, I'm still sick on the Super Bowl! So not fair. We have a party to go to in an hour-ish, but I'm contemplating not going.

Grr. Tomorrow is my long day in classes, too. Plus, I have to give a presentation to my Philosophy class. Now that should be interesting.

-Kate

Sick as a dog

Well. I feel like crap now, haha. Got back from upstate on Sunday. On Friday, my first day there, I went to the gym the hotel had. I did the elliptical and treadmill (yes, WHOA, haha!).

I did the elliptical for 15 minutes, I think. Don't remember the resistance, etc.

As for the treadmill, I wrote it down in my cell. I jogged on speed 4 for 6 minutes and 30 seconds. Then I walked on speed 3 until 8 minutes. Then I started to jog again on speed 4 until 10 minutes. So, I did 10 minutes in total for around .63 miles.

I then did a vigorous weight training workout and I topped it off with some light yoga my friend showed me.

I then went to the gym on Monday and did the elliptical for a half hour. Don't remember the resistance. Around 6, I think. Did forward and backward.

Tomorrow is my gym day, but I have a slight fever of 99.9, a sore throat where it hurts to swallow, the sides of my neck hurt, my jaw hurts, my ears hurt, and my whole body hurts. I also have that feeling of vertigo, I guess. It's hard to describe. Like when you stand/sit up, the whole room starts spinning. Plus a headache.

Wonderful.

The college semester started on Wednesday and already I ran into a lot of problems that are stressing me.

However, a coach for soccer got back to me and told me to register which I will tomorrow. Yay! I can't register for kickboxing because I have a class during the kickboxing class. Great.

Okay, I took nyquil about 15 minutes ago.

I'm getting really tired.

-Kate

Do you think...?

So, I called the local team handball club coach here. He asked for my height and weight and, to be honest, I was extremely uncomfortable giving my weight. I started rambling and said, "I'm 200 pounds but, to be honest, I don't really look it. I lost 20 pounds since August and I'm very dedicated because I know you need to be athletic for this sport." Then he agreed and what not. Then he took down my number and said he'd call me back when they had the gym available at the college that is near me.

I hope he calls. I think just telling him my weight kind of got me more motivated to do well. I'm currently in Albany for an American Legion Convention thing. And thank god the hotel here has a gym. I'm gonna go work out tonight after whatever function is in an hour.

Ugh. Just telling that guy my weight has me slightly sick. Do you think he's going to call? I hope he does. My friend here tells me there is no reason why he shouldn't. I don't know. I mean, he also asked me if I played other sports and I named softball, soccer, and basketball.

Great, now this mind game is going to be on my nerves this whole time. I hope he calls. I really do. If not, I'll try again once I finally lose more weight.

I refuse to give up.

-Kate

After quite a few days, I'm back to posting, haha.

The midnight to 5am shift went rather well. I observed an awesome trauma and hope that next week at the same day of the week and same time will bring more.

As for everything else, I'm pretty sure I've reached a weight loss plateau and am very disgruntled. However, I will not let it kill my motivation. I know I have to make some changes. I'm eating right and have good fruit and vegetables in my eating habits. I think the change I need to make is to go to the gym more than once a week, haha. If anybody who actually reads this blog has any advice on breaking free of a weight loss plateau, I'd be grateful to hear it!

Dad and I took a walk today and probably walked two miles around town. I hope we decide to do this more often. We then took a drive in the car and mapped out how far a mile is around town. So, I'm going to attempt to start running, hopefully.

Well, nothing else really to report. I weighed myself today and am around 201.5. So, yeah, I've been hovering around this number. I know I need to add the gym more. I think it's that and the way I've been sleeping - going to sleep around 5am and waking up around 2pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to sleep around 5am and wake up at 7:50am. On Sundays, I go to sleep around 5am and wake up around 9:30am. That can't be good. Hopefully once classes start Wednesday, my sleeping schedule will be back on track. That will be a good change; hopefully a change for the better.

Again, any advice would be helpful! =]

-Kate

Slightly better

I can definitely say that while I am still sort of overwhelmed with what I have to do, I feel slightly better today.

I went to the gym today, later than I expected but oh well. It was packed to the brim with people. Every aerobic machine was filled in for the 5pm gap except a bike. My luck. I wanted the elliptical, but I had a bike. So, I made the best of it and will not go at that time ever again. It never is as packed as I've seen it around that time. Yeah, it's the time everybody usually goes but holy crap! Well, I can't go at that time starting next Wednesday anyway. My classes are all late classes so they end around 6:05 or 6:40pm. One ends at 9:40pm and that's Monday. So, I will be going early around 10am if I can get my butt up at that time.

Anyway, I did a half hour on the bike. I did level 7 for about 20 minutes and then cranked it up to level 9 for the remaining 10 minutes. In total, I got in just a tiny bit over 6 miles. I would add the calories I burned, but the damn thing switched off on me too fast when I remembered.

Then I did two weight machines until I got called home because I had to watch my brother while my parents went out. And, like I said, it was so packed I would have ended up waiting 5 minutes for one damn weight machine. Ridiculous.

Then I got home, did DDR for about an hour and after, lifted my dumbbells for a few minutes.

I can't weigh myself Tuesday night/very early Wednesday morning like I usually do because I have to do an ER clinical rotation at the hospital for my EMT class. I'm doing it from 12am until 5am. I was thinking about hitting the gym after that, but it doesn't open until 9am and the other closest one of that branch opens at 8:30am. I am 100% sure I will be sleeping by then, haha. Hopefully before I go out Wednesday night I can get to the gym.

All in all, I think it was a productive day. =]

-Kate

Freak-out mode

I'm pretty much in a freak-out mode right about now.

I was reading an article some ESPN special writer did on the USA Women's try-outs that she went through. Holy shit. There's a whole lot of running involved. I mean, duh, I knew that... but like sprinting and timed shit that I am most definitely not prepared for. Hell, I hate running with a passion. I guess I better start getting used to it.

4.8 seconds to do a 30 meter sprint.
1.3 miles has to be run in 12 minutes.

That may not seem like a lot to quite a few people, but to somebody like me, it definitely is.

I have no idea where to possibly begin.

I guess I should also mention I have to jump 17 inches vertically, too?

Oh, and a 90ft ball throw.

Yep. I'm feeling just great right about now, haha.

And just because I was browsing around their site yet again, I decided to look at their application form. Of course they asked what non-handball teams you've played in high school and college and what awards you've won. Too bad I don't have anything to list. Maybe I should seriously see if I can get a walk-on position at my college's soccer team. I need to get myself back in the goal. Again, too bad (or good in their case) my college is a big Division I school.

I have no idea where to start. I'm seriously asking for ideas, major ideas. I need a personal trainer on-hand to be sitting right next to me because I'm at a total loss right now.

Trying to keep my optimism up for 2009. January isn't even half way done yet... cannot sink down yet.

One of the team handball clubs in my area wrote back to me telling me to come down. The catch is that they don't have a women's team yet. So, the women practice with the men. I responded back. I guess if I play on a club team for a while, some of my shit should organize itself out, right?

Right?

=\

-Kate

Let me tell you - DDR definitely kicked my ass the past two days and I'm only on the level above "beginner." I was sweating bullets by the time I stopped both days despite having the fan cranked up. I was half tempted to open the windows as well, but I'm sure that wouldn't have went over well since the temperature has been around 35 degrees, haha.

I hate to say this, but I think I've seriously hit a plaque with this losing weight thing. The first 20 pounds I took off over the summer and into early fall came off easily. I guess now is the hard part. I had no trouble maintaining the weight but am having trouble shaving more off. By now I seriously would have lost 5 pounds easily already. Well, I shouldn't be too picky; I'm almost at the 5 pound mark. I did say mid-January, right? It's almost mid-January.

After going to the firehouse, I plan on going food shopping for fruit and stuff. I need to get those as a snack since my stomach keeps grumbling and just gnawing on gum (sugar-less) and water isn't helping. I find myself going downstairs and picking (not too much) on food.

I think I need to start keeping track of the calories again. I also believe most of it has to do with my sleep schedule being out of whack. Meaning me eating at weird times is definitely messing up my metabolism.

I think it also has to do with psyching yourself out. Mostly being optimistic and positive rather than putting yourself down. I do have to admit that this is hard for me because I am equally as hard on myself. But that's something else I've been trying to change this year. So far, I think it's actually working. I still have that good feeling in the pit of my stomach about this year... at least, it feels good, haha.

Well, I was going over my schedule for classes that start in about a week in a half. Haha, the only good (or bad, depends how you look at it) thing is that in order to get to my Public Speaking class, I have to walk up 5 floors. Hahaha. Normally it would only be four, but I enter in the building through the basement. This should be fun. I'm usually ready to pass out by the time I get to that floor. I deliberately avoid the elevator because I know it's more exercise to walk up the stairs. It also helps (or doesn't) that the college was built on what used to be a golf course.

-Kate

I have some serious issues about falling asleep. I think I'm starting to become an insomniac and it's highly annoying. Can't wait until classes start so that maybe I can straighten it out to a certain extent.

As for the weight thing I was going to post yesterday, I think, it was 201 late Tuesday night. Getting closer to breaking 200! Woo!

I attempted to measure around my stomach with a tape measure, but I'm not sure I did it correctly. I think I shall go Google it so I can do it correctly.

Hopefully hitting the gym tomorrow. I've been using the WiiFit quite a lot. We also just got DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) so that should be fun. Hey, it helps if I can't get to the gym because I don't have a car and I use it for 30 minutes. 30 mins cardio, anyone? Yeah, it's not a great substitute, but it works (especially if you do the highest level). Didn't get a chance to try it out today, though. I was exhausted from the 3 hours of sleep I got last night. And I'm still awake. Wtf.

Okay, enough of me complaining.

=P

-Kate

Unfortunately, I did not get to the gym like I had hoped to yesterday. When I was studying, I realized how much I let the information just float out of my mind during our short holiday break. Making a cumulative test on the day we get back is just no fun, haha.

However, I did get the WiiFit in for around 45 minutes when I took a study break around 9pm. Actually, my brother was telling me to do it, haha. The gym would have been closed by that time anyway. Then I continued to study until around 3am reviewing my notes the rest of the time and procrastinating in between.

The exam was fairly easy, but I made the stupidest mistakes on the easiest questions. To be honest, I don't think I got enough sleep last night to function through this test accurately. I knew the right answers for at least half the ones I got wrong, but I still put down the wrong answer. The ironic thing is, I thought I put down the right answer! Despite this complaining, I did pass, haha.

Anyway, not here to talk about my exam. Although, that was stress-inducing for a little bit there.

I've gotten two compliments in the span of a week about people seeing me lose weight again. This makes me incredibly ecstatic because I just don't see it and I didn't think I changed that much for others to notice. Apparently I have.

I think I'm going to do the WiiFit again tonight since I skipped the gym yesterday. Tomorrow I hope I'll be able to go after I go to the ear and eye doctors. Again, I have no idea because I use my dad's truck to drive (meaning he's out of a car). I think once college starts up for the spring semester, I'll have more freedom in terms of using the truck because I'll have it all the time. I guess as long as I stay as active as I can, I should be fine for now. What would be even better is getting a car of my own; hopefully soon, haha.

I just realized I weigh myself later tonight. This should be interesting, haha. I think I've been pretty good in terms of eating and portion control.

Maybe I'll post a separate update later. I think I'm also going to start using a tape measure to measure my waist line and what not just to keep track of my progress. Hm, that's something to think about also.

-Kate

Thought I'd quickly update in between study sessions.

Well... there's nothing much to update on, haha.

I went to a firehouse party last night and resisted all the junk food there. Yay me!

Hopefully heading to the gym tomorrow if I have a good study session for the rest of the night. I know I'll need a break and the gym will be the break. And I finally charged my iPod because exercising watching the fitTV and HGTV channels is just boring. Pfft, even with music I can't seem to be entertained. I try to watch videos on my iPod but even that can't seem to capture my attention for too long. I'll have to think of other things but I can't quite think of anything else.

Okay, well, back to studying.

-Kate

2009 with a bang

Wow. It's the new year already. Haha. It still feels like 2008 and that nothing has changed but in reality, things and people change every day. I feel pretty good about this year, actually, but I guess we'll see what happens.

Anyway. Nothing much has been going on. New Year's was pretty good eating-wise. All my neighbor had was like little appetizer things set out. Well, I didn't eat all day because I wasn't feeling good, but I did snack on some of the things they had there.

Today was a good day as well. Finally hit the gym earlier than I expected. I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical varying the resistance on it. I started out on a lower resistance than I had in August because I want my body to get used to it again. So, I began on 4 for about 15 minutes, went up to 6 to push myself for 2 minutes, and went back down to 4. Then I started going backwards on 4 then pushed it up to 6 then back down to 4.

I also did some weight training as well before and after the elliptical. I wish I knew the proper name of the machines, haha. I really need to write down the weight of what I did and how many reps so I can increase both. Definitely need to write that down on Monday when I go again.

Still haven't got any responses back from the team handball clubs I e-mailed. I keep telling myself it's because it's only the day after the new year. See... I did say I was impatient.

Well, off to study for EMT all weekend.

-Kate