Beyond Recovery: Christin's journal of progress (comments welcome)

[rcyannacci]

Hey all- I found an open terminal at the U of Maryland library, so I can do a quick check in.

Calena- don't worry, you didn't pressure me. I'd been thinking about South Beach for a while, since my friend in NY had done so well on the program. And, I am glad I tried it. It was a great learning process for me, not just about good carbs and such but about what I need to do for myself.

I'm getting my PhD in theatre history, but my focus is on the cultural history of performance, so I do touch on some film studies. I present in an hour, so I'll try to post again tomorrow to tell you all how it went.

Saturday- travel day
B- last 1/3 of the SB meal bar I didnt' finish the day before and an orange
S- a handful of multigrain cherrios (I really missed these!)
L- a BBQ pork sandwich w/o the bun and some cole slaw at the Memphis airport.
D- a flank steak and gorgonzola salad and 2 small pieces of bread from the basket (oops!...it was hot and there was olive oil...I just caved)

Pretty good, actually, for a travel day. No exercise except walking through airports.

Sunday (so far)-
B- SB meal bar
L- a chicken salad at Applebee's (yuck!)

It's nice to be back on the East coast, even if it is as hot as Austin right now (OK maybe a little less hot, but a lot more humid). My flights yesterday were fine, I mainly read and preped my paper a bit. Once I got to Baltimore, the shuttle took me to the U of Maryland, and I checked into the dorm room I'd scheduled. I have two great roommates- a German woman named Nina and an Iranian woman named Farah. I saw one of my old profs. from Northwestern, so Farah and I met her and a man from Belfast, Ireland for dinner. Interesting dinner conversation, even though most of us were tired.

Today I've just been hanging out until my presentation, looking at the campus (beautiful), and chatting with Farah. I had no idea how little I knew about Iran!. She says that 60% of the college students are women (I had no idea) and that the arts community is thriving off government support. There are some restrictions on cultural expression, but many artists create in more abstract or symbolic expressions to work around these restrictions. I just love that I've gotten a chance to meet her; it's so hard to watch the news and get any kind of real human perspective.

OK- so it's no Leslie London trip report, but it's all I have so far

More soon...

 

[Lesli54]

You are doing great! I really hope your paper goes well. A publishing opportunity would be a real gift for you right now.

I liked your trip report thus far. I am jealous that you are talking with so many people from around the world, especially someone from the Middle East. DH and I love to hear reports from that area because of his family background. One of his cousins is in Egypt now, studying Arabic. So cool. Hope she comes back for Christmas. It is hard to find out what really goes on in other countries, so take all the first hand knowledge you can get.

Sounds like your eating hasn't been too bad. Keep up the great work!

 

[rcyannacci]

finishing Sunday-
D- a beef burrito w/o the tortilla and some queso w/ chips
(I forgot to ask them to forget the rice and felt really full after this meal.

Monday-
B- fruit cup and iced coffee (not many breakfast options, so it was natural sugar or processed sugar in the form of muffins, etc. )
S- a SB snack bar and some coffee
L- chicken nuggets and cole slaw (no carbs, but too much fat...I forgot how hard it is to eat on a college campus.)

Well, my presentation went really well! There were a couple of cancellations, so I was 1 of two speakers during the session, meaning we had a nice discussion following my paper that gave me some excellent feedback. The best comment I got was write faster and publish soon because my research is needed in the field. Unfortunately, the editor for the journal was one of the cancellations and didn't get to hear it, but I was given a few other suggestions for journals that might be interested.

I'll attend more meetings today and tomorrow, but I think I'm going to take Wed. off to go to the National Folklife Festival on the Washington mall and see a few of the museums.

 

[rcyannacci]

Monday day cont.
S- small brownie (those coffee breaks at conferences are killers!)
D- a BBQ pork platter w/ steamed broccoli and a salad, 1 whole grain roll.

Tuesday-
B- yogurt and iced coffee
S- banana
L- (not until 4:00!) a sandwich w/ whole grain bread, veggies and cheese (I left the crusts off, and a small brownie and cookie w/ coffee at the break. (I literally stuffed all of this in during our 15 min. break...I was starving because I took my lunch break to go to Curves, and underestimated how long it would take to walk there.)
No dinner yet...

Exercise- 15 min power walk to Curves, 30 min on machines, and 15 minutes walk back.

 

[calena]

I'm glad things are going so well at the conference. The feedback on the paper sounds great.

 

[Lesli54]

Pretty impressive! It must feel really good to know that people are interested in your work.

Have a great day!

 

[jay-nee]

Wow, that is great that your presentation went so well. Good for you, you obviously put alot into this and deserve the recognition! WAHOO!!

Too bad it is so hot out here - it has been horrid! Today is much, much better - it was 55 when I got up - raining, but I don't care! I am enjoying being cool again!

Honestly, the best part of college for me was the diversity! Here in Maine, you have to really work to find anyone who is not from New England. As much as they are nice and all, it's so interesting to learn about the different cultures and I love accents! I always try to figure them out. WDW is cool that way too. We usually go in the fall and there are usually lots of folks from Europe - we've met people from just about every country - just chatting in line or on the bus, etc. So much fun!

Well, have a great LONG weekend! And, thanks so much for taking the time to give us all an update!

Happy Friday!

 

[rcyannacci]

I'm back! I didn't get back to the library to post my eating, so I'll try to pick up and remember the last two days...

Tues, cont.
D- pesto pasta w/ chicken (there was a noodle place that everyone was raving about, and I just had to try it. I love noodles!!! Too many carbs, and I felt uber-full after dinner, but it was worth it. At least I got a lot of good vitimines from the basil in the pesto.

Wednesday-
B- yogurt and iced coffee
S- banana
L- chicken strips salad w/ ranch dressing
D- grilled steak sandwich on a (gulp!) white bun. I was at a mall and didn't have many choices. Even though I ended poorly, at least my calorie intake for the day was pretty low.
S- some trail mix

Exercise- lots of walking on campus and around Washington...

Thursday-
B- fruit bowl and iced coffee
L- mediterrian salad w/ grilled chicken
S- trail mix
D- piece of pizza at the airport
S- trail mix

Exercise- 15 min walk to Curves, 30 min there, 15 minutes back (this was a really good workout!)

It was a FANTASTIC conference- I met a ton of people and took a lot of notes from other people's presentations that will help me think through my research and teaching. The last day I met one of the senior scholars in the field whose research has really influenced my work. We stood in line for coffee together, I introduced myself, and eventually I got to tell him about my research. He seemed very interested, and left the conversation saying that he would look forward to reading my book once I had published it! I was so excited! I need to file that moment away in my head and bring it out whenever I get frustrated about my writing.

On Wed., after a morning at the conference, I played hooky and went into D.C. I walked around the Mall and looked at some of the Folklife Festival, although most of the tents were empty. Then, I went to the National Gallery of Art- I love this museum! I was feeling in the mood to see some American art (there's tons of European works there too), so I went to the right corner. Art museums can be so large and disorienting, I think, unless you go in with a plan of what you want to see. I didn't have much patience with the portraits, but I did spend some time with the landscapes. I spent the most time looking at some of the earlier American folk paintings...these have such a distinctively American, really New England, feel to them. Most critics would say that they were second rate art from second rate artists who lack the same technique (composition, perspective, color) as Europeans during this time, but I think they are so expressive of the American character during the 18th century. OK- art lecture over.

I did go to the gift shop and buy 2 prints of paintings that struck me...one of a woman painted by John Singer Sargeant and once of a NYC landscape painted from the perspective of Greenwich Village in the 1920's (this is the time period and location I'm currently writing about, so I thought it might be inspiring in my work study.)

After the gallery, I went to the new American Indian Museum on the Mall. Beautiful buillding, and the exhibits were well done. I only had an hour before it closed, so I mainly just looked around 1 floor. The history is really well done, and all in conjunction with native tribes. It seems primarily geared toward families- something to appeal to all generations, and there is even a study center with computer stations. I sent my DH a virtual postcard from one of the terminals.

I wasn't ready to go home, so I went to the Metro and took the train to the Pentagon City Mall to do some shopping. My Mom and I always went here when we visited D.C. Shopping for clothes is really difficult now, as I am somewhere between a 16 and 18. The petite sizes typically only go up to 14, but petite women's usually start at an 18W, which is too big now. I am having some luck with XL sizes at places like the Gap or Limited. Didn't buy anything, however, just mainly window shopped.

I took the train back to College Park and waited forever for a bus back to the campus. It's fun striking out on you own in a city, but I had wished DH had been there to share the fun.

Yesterday, I mainly took it easy. I booked my shuttle to pick me up at 3:50, had a leisurely breakfast, read my book, went back to Curves to workout, ate lunch, read some more, and then went to the airport. I really don't like air travel much- airports are pretty depressing places, actually, and it's impossible to find any good food there, especially on the tight schedules they give you.

Anyway, I'm home now. Today, I'm going to try to regroup. I'll go swimming at some point (it's way too hot here!) and review my research so I can start writing again and use my conference experience as motivation!

 

[Lesli54]

Glad to have you back. Wasn't it nice to get away for awhile? I am glad you had a good time.

Now I want to go to DC. Both DD17 & DD15 have been with their classmates and I have driven by, but never had the chance to stop.

I am also at the in between size. My tighter 18's fit fine, but are getting loose and the bigger 18's just hang. Yet, I am not into 16's either. Good thing it is summer. Baggy shorts don't look near as bad as baggy pants.

Have a good day and try to stay cool.

 

[rcyannacci]

Yeah, I'm hoping by the end of summer, I'll be in a better fitting size. Some new clothes for fall would be nice

Friday-
B- bowl of multigrain cherrios
L- taco salad
D- chicken strips and a salad w/ vinegrette and strawberries
S- sugar-free fudgicle w/ peanut butter

Exercise- Curves 30 minutes, abs 5 and legs 5
I was going to go swimming, but it was closing in on 100 degrees here, and I hate it when the water in the pool is too warm...its like swimming in bath water. I think I'll be alternating my routine in Curves for a while, one day heavy on the machine, the next on cardio.

I weighed in yesterday at 205, but I'm going to try hard not to be so obsessive about the pounds. If I'm in one-derland by the end of the summer, I'll be happy. Other than that, I'm going to work hard to keep exercising (even in this summer heat), continue eating healthfully, and stay focused on my work.

DH has today off, so I'm only going to do a little writing today, probably consolidate my conference notes into my teaching/writing files and write a few emails to organize panelists for my next conference at the end of the month (San Francisco!).

 

[Lesli54]

Good job at getting back on track. You are right not to worry about the lbs. I know that some of it was the fact that you were gone from home and a little off your plan. You will be in ONEDERLAND before the end of the month, I just know it!

Keep up the great work and have fun organizing.

 

[rcyannacci]

Saturday-
B- multi-grain cherrios
L- Subway 6 in. club on honey oat bread
D- home-made pizzas with whole wheat crust!!! So yummy! DH cooked them on the grill, and they tasted like brick oven pizzas. We did one pesto and tomato and one pepperoni.
S- Dippin' Dots ice cream (my brain was somewhere else on this one...we used to get this all the time when I was younger, and I just immediately bought some)
S- sugar-free fudgicle w/ peanut butter

Exercise- Curves 40 minutes

(OK- going a little overboard on the carbs, but I'll ease down again this coming week)

Sunday-
B- same
L- leftover pizza
S-sugar-free fudgicle w/ peanut butter
D- pepperoni role, strawberries and raw carrots
S- slice of cheddar cheese.

Exercise- went to the lake today, a place called Volente Beach. It has a few waterslides, so I got some good exercise climbing the tower and swimming in the lake. Nothing sustained, however.

BIG YUCK!!! On my way down from the locker room to join my friends for fireworks on the beach, I tripped and fell on my right ankle. It started swelling up immediately, and hurt like crazy. Of course I fell right in front of the people playing vollyball, so it was quite a show, with lots of people yelling "are you OK lady?" But, honestly, it hurt too much for me to care about being embarrased. Long story short, no fireworks, I hobbled my way to the car, and now I'm sitting here with a sprained ankle just praying that I'll be able to workout again in a week

Oh well- plenty of time to write, I guess.

 

[jay-nee]

to hear you took a tumble. I hope you feel better. Take care of that ankle, really nurse it. I hope you are putting some ice on it. I think 20 minutes 3-4 times a day is what your supposed to do. Thankfully there are plenty of nurses on WISH, someone will pop by.

I wish I could be here for you this week. Sorry... I won't have comp access until Sunday evening. So, take care of yourself and I will check in then to hear that you are feeling great, ok?

to you... stay on track with your eating to make it through... munch on veggies!

I'll be thinking about you...

 

[Lesli54]

Sorry to hear about the ankle. Make sure you take care of it so you can get back to your exercising routine soon.

Have a great holiday!

 

[septbride2002]

OUCH! How is the ankle today? Any better?

You will need to share with me your pizza recipe. As in - what crust and where did you buy it

~Amanda

 

[rcyannacci]

Thanks for the sympathy, everyone. The ankle is still swollen, but doing better. I've been icing it off and on (that's funny, icing...like on a cake...have I mentioned that I love cake?...ok, back on track) and staying off of it as much as possible. If it feels OK tomorrow, I might try to go swimming.

Monday-
B- 2 deviled eggs
L- left-over pizza (BTW, Amanda, the crust is really easy, but can be time consuming because you have to let it rise. It's the recipe from Calif. Pizza Kitchen...let me know if you want it.)
S- sugarfree fudgicle w/ peanut butter
D- hamburger no bun, grilled onions, big ceasar salad

No exercise (stupid ankle!!!)

 

[pearlieq]

Sorry I've been MIA for a few days. I loved your report from DC--we're going to be there in a few weeks, so it's interesting to hear about what's going on now. You've really got me hankering to get to the National Gallery. I love early American art!

Which Curves did you go to? I found one off of the Eastern Market stop on on Capitol Hill and another that looked to be in the North part of Georgetown. Trying to figure out which will work better since we're going to be staying near Metro Center.

I am so so sorry to hear about your ankle! I hope you feel better soon!

You did such an awesome job eating at the conference! It's really hard to stick to it while you're traveling and you did a great job!

 

[rcyannacci]

Thanks, pearlieq! I went to the College Park Curves, which would be decidedly out of your way! It was really nice, though...I love being able to go to Curves while I travel. I found one in San Francisco that's quite a few blocks from my hotel...but I might be able to figure out the subway. That is, if I can get an hour away from the conference...I signed up for way too many committees this time.

National Gallery...they just started an exhibition on Whistler in the East Gallery which looked to be fantastic. I was sorry I missed it. I love looking at his seascapes. I love American art in general...there seems to be more history surrounding it, or at least a history that I connect to.

OK, being at home all day led to some snacking, but I kept it mainly undercontrol.
Tuesday:
B- out to breakfast with DH, who had the day off. 2 eggs, 1 1/2 sausage links, 1 1/2 slices of bacon, 1 swedish pancake, and a few fork fulls of DH's hash browns. No OJ, just coffee. (We haven't been out for a big breakfast in forever!)
L- popcorn in the afternoon (still full from breakfast)
S- sugarfree fudgicle and peanut butter
D- veggie night! Creamed spinach, sauteed green beans with mushrooms, and lima beans. 1 1/2 glasses of white wine.
S- another fudgicle...I could have done without this, but I was feeling cranky about my ankle.

Ankle update- the swelling is down some more and I can hobble around without it being painful. I'm still going to take it easy the rest of this week and not push it too much...I did do some ab crunchs and leg lifts last night, and I'll do the same today. I might try to swim tonight or tomorrow morning.

Writing goals- I've spent the last two days organizing my panels for my San Francisco conference at the end of the month, so today it's time to get back into my chapter. I need to review my notes and articles and try to rough in 2 pages to get back on track. I'm going to just keep repeating to myself what a senior scholar told me in DC- write faster, publish soon!

 

[rcyannacci]

Wednesday
B-skipped
S- string cheese stick
L- last of the leftover homemade pizza
S- sugarfree fudgicle w/ PB
D- salad w/ chicken breast, blue cheese, pecans, and pears
S- popcorn (I need to get out of the after dinner snack habit again)

No exercise- ankle is healing, but slowly.

 

[rcyannacci]

Hooray for little victories! No after dinner snack yesterday!

Thursday-
B- multigrain cherrios
L- 6 in. Subway turkey on wheat (would it kill them to introduce a whole grain bread?)
S- sugarfree fudgicle w/ PB
D- out with my good friend from high school. Had a cup of shrimp and corn bisque and a fiesta salad w/ grilled chicken- so yummy. Oh, and 2 pieces of ww bread w/ olive oil. I should have stopped with the first, but it was hot, fresh, and so delicious. This place makes great food, but it is so expensive. After tip, I spent $23 for soup and salad!!! And, I drank water!!!

Exercise- swam laps 40 minutes. I took it easy in the beginning because of my ankle; I could feel it, but it wasn't hurting, so I went the full 40 min. It was great actually! It was nice to get back to exercise, and about 20 min. into the workout, I just felt so strong and energized. I pushed myself through a harder series of laps, and it felt really great. I'm slightly sore this morning in my upper arms and chest muscles, but not bad, really.

Writing- I think I finally got past my block yesterday and am ready to launch back into the chapter. Now that my ankle is doing better, I might have to drag myself back to the library, since I get so much more done there than an home. I love my dogs, but they really are distractions...so is the TV...and the internet...

Actually, it was really hard to concentrate yesterday with the news from London. I've stayed right on Russell Square a couple of times and the area was just so familiar. I was also talking to my friend who'd been in NYC on 9/11- she was really affected by it too, obviously.