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

[rcyannacci]

The back is getting better (plain old asprin here too, Jane), but the insomnia is still here. Although I was able to fall asleep by 12:30 last night, I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't get back to sleep until 7:30. I was back up at 10, and this is all turning into a vicious cycle. I tried a lavendar bath last night, but I may reach for the Tylenol PM tonight.

Late start yesterday aside, I had a great writing day. I think taking the time after San Francisco to rewrite my introduction and solidify my argument was a good decision, because I am really confident in the direction I'm heading. The research is starting to fall into place better and the framework I've set up is helping me think through the topic with clarity as I write. In other words, I think I'm saying some really smart stuff and I think my advisor will be pleased in Sept.

Thursday-
B- leftover flatbread and spinach dip (just not in the mood for a regular breakfast today)
S- iced coffee w/ skim and a South Beach bar (getting some protein in)
L- leftover ww pasta from last night (I also packed a small salad, but found I didn't want it. I'm just not very hungry, I'm finding, when I'm really engaged in my writing. Wow- if I had known this sooner, I'd be tons lighter already )
D- DH cooked fried fish and I made a salad w/ blue cheese dressing. Too much fat, but very tasty.
S- a Flake chocolate bar. (OK- time to send the English candy away like I did the Ghiradelli...I've just been majorly craving chocolate the past few days.)

Exercise- Curves 30 minutes (I didn't push too hard today with the back, and did pretty well)

Not sure what my plan for today is. DH and I were suppose to go tubing with friends on one of the local rivers, but after talking last night we discovered that neither of us wanted to go and was just planning on going for the other person. So we called late and cancelled- I'm really through with social events that others want me to attend but that I don't want to attend. I'm in training to be a social hermit anyway, for the fall semester at least.

Anyway, with this extra time, I think I'll put the writing away for the day and work on prepping my classes. A change of pace, but still productive.

 

[crusin'minnie]

Good for you for making yourself a priority. True friends will understand this and be waiting at the cave entrance when the dissertation is over!

The chocolate cravings are the worst aren't they? I try the WW chocolate snack cakes (1pt each) or if I want real chocolate a three musketeer bar (6pts for the whole bar).

Good Luck!

 

[rcyannacci]

What a wacky day! My appitite yesterday was completely off. No idea why.

Friday-
B- last of flatbread and dip
L- piece of turkey and string cheese stick (we were on our way out the door to buy DH a bike for his B-day)
S- 1/2 a pita stuffed with roast beef and spinach and blue cheese dressing
S- chocolate! Ate a small pack of Cadbury buttons
D- chicken, cashew, and veggie stirfry
S- oops! chocolate again. the last Curly Wurly bar
S- double oops!! popcorn while watching a movie with DH

Exercise- Curves 30 minutes, 3 minutes on legs, plus a 25-30 min. walk/run in the evening.

So, I had almost zero appitite until 3:00 pm and really didn't get hungry until after dinner, thus the obscene snacking! I can only guess that this might be the product of my insomnia and my "clock" being off. I just hope, after this weekend, I can establish a regular schedule so I can go strong into the beginning of school.

Hopefully the double spurt of exercise will balance out my chocolate weakness for the day. I'm really glad DH was excited about the idea of a bike. He's been talking the last few weeks about wanted to start some sort of exercise program; he looked into some karate classes, but they were well outside our budget, and he hates going to a gym. But he looked interested when I mentioned biking. They just installed some bike lanes in our neighborhood, plus we have a wonderfully maintained park nearby.

So we got the bike, and then went to the park in the evening (sun was down, but it was still really hot!). I walked/ran the dogs , and he rode around. Anyway, I hope this is something we can start doing together, and I might even think about getting a bike at Christmas, if he stays at it.

OK- back to the writing. I took the whole day off yesterday, so Sat. is a work day for me. Hope everyong has a good weekend!

 

[rcyannacci]

Sunday-
B- skipped...no excuse, just got into work at my computer and forgot
L- ww roll-up w/ roast beef, spinach, and blue cheese. Also a string cheese stick
S- sugarfree fudgicle w/ peanut butter
S- handful of grapes and almonds
D- grilled steaks w/ sauted onions and mushrooms and mix of new potatoes and veggies.
S- 3 bites of the last Flake, split with DH

Exercise- 30 min evening walk/run/bike ride w/ DH and the dogs

Well, I was still hungry after dinner last night, but I managed not to make any more popcorn. Luckily, the chocolate is now gone so it can stop taunting me

Got some class work done yesterday. My Freshman Seminar is ready to go. I'm holding off on my other two syllabi because I have a meeting tomorrow that will give me more info that I'll need to incorporate.

I didn't get any more pages written on the chapter, but I did spend a couple of hours going back to fill in some footnotes and references, and took notes on two sources that have emerged since I started writing. Good thing I picked them up now; they are really going to help me flesh out my argument more fully. I'm back to the library today.

 

[Cruise04]

This just must have been the weekend for some of us to have an off weekend. I was totally off this weekend as well and I just don't understand why I was so hungry yesterday. And I ate normally - it was really weird.

Glad you were able to find another source to use - that must feel good to have something fresh to use. Keep up the good work on your writing!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[calena]

The biking/walking/running with DH sounds great. I love it when DD goes with me and I wog and she bikes. Wish DH would do that but he is loath to do exercise "that way." He runs a landscaping company so he does do a lot of physical work, but it seems different somehow.
He will take walks on the seashore though!

 

[pearlieq]

Hi!

I hope you're sleeping a little better and your back is healed! It's so cool that your DH got a bike--we've been wanting them for a while now as well and need to just break down and get them! Your evening at the park sounds like a lot of fun!

I hope you have a great day today and get a lot done!

Keep up the great work!!!

 

[rcyannacci]

Hi all- thanks for stopping by. I missed posting yesterday- exhausted (still not sleeping great), writing, then going out for DH's birthday dinner. I'll try to remember what I ate Sunday.

Sunday-
B- 1/2 pita w/ PB and strawberries
S- string cheese
L- small serving of egg salad (no bread) and a few bits of a salad w/ soybeans and carrots.
S- grapes
S- candy bar (being alone in the library got to me...and I'm hopped up on sugar...this has to stop soon).
D- roastbeef roll-up sandwich on ww flatbread, blue cheese dressing and spinach. Also some tortilla chips w/ melted Jack cheese and salsa. (Home myself)

No exercise- day off

Monday-
B- same
S- same
L- same roastbeef roll-up I had for dinner last night, plus some baby carrots
S- grapes
D- went to a Tapas restaurant for DH's b-day w/ friends. Had 2 spinach empanadas, plus bites of the following: ravioli, grilled chicken, moz. salad w/ grapes and mint, olive oil and bread, artichoke dip on crisps. Plus a glass of red wine and 1/2 an order of tiramisu for dessert...literally, this was the best tiramisu I've EVER eaten. Completely homemade, very creamy, so yummy.

Exercise- Curves 40 min. plus 10 min. on legs and abs

Writing is going well, but I'm pretty tired. I pushed through yesterday, and only left the library 30 min. early because I thought I might get a nap before the evening festivities...no go. I tried, but just couldn't sleep. So I went to Curves, and exercising did make me feel better. So did the glass of wine at dinner I did take 2 tylenol PM last night and slept 8 hours, so hopefully I'll be better today. I'd like to get in 5 pages today, pushing toward a full chapter draft (unedited) by the end of the week.

I also met with the chair at the school where I teach to talk about my new class. He was very complimentary of my teaching abilities and left a lot of the syllabus to me to re-write. So that felt good. I should have about 10 grad. students in my seminar, so it should make for a great discussion. I have to write the syllabus this weekend, and put together a course pack of readings next Monday...which is why I'm pushing to end my draft by then...Aug. is always such a rush every year!

 

[goldcupmom]

Good Morning, Christin! Glad to hear the teaching is working well.

How's the weather been in Austin? Is it cooling off some. Here in NM we've been downright fall-ish!

Get some rest and take care of YOU! Everything else will get done.

Have a good week!

 

[crusin'minnie]

Well maybe this 8 hours of sleep thing will become a trend.

Glad to hear things are going well with the new class.

Have a great day.

 

[Jane E.]

Christin, whew! you sound busy. Loved hearing about the tapas for your dh's birthday. We have a restaurant here called Tapas but I can never get dh to go because its downtown. I've been wanting to try it for awhile & after reading your review I'll have to figure out how to tempt him to try it. The last time we were down there for a movie he just wanted to eat at Chili's afterwards. Looks like your workouts are going great!

 

[septbride2002]

You are a busy busy busy woman! Great job on the writing!

~Amanda

 

[rcyannacci]

Thanks again for the support, everyone. It really is helpful.

Another bad night for sleep, only about 5 hours. This is not particuarly helpful in terms of focusing on my writing. I guess as I'm coming up on these deadlines, I'm getting more and more stressed...I just need another week to get everything done...oh well.

I did get a great workout in yesterday at the pool; the library closed at 5:00 (I didn't know in advance...) because summer classes are over, so I went home and got that in before dinner. Bad news is that dinner was a disaster, in terms of healthy eating. DH was off today and I just assumed he'd be planning dinner...bad assumption. I was exhausted and he was feeling lazy, so we ordered out chicken wings!

I think my plan until I get this chapter draft finished is just to maintain, in terms of weight, and stay on target with my exercise. I just can't seem to focus on everything at once and food is the last think I want to think about. I'll try to make healthy choices as much as possible, and I'll keep an eye on the scale to make sure the direction isn't turned. Then, in September, I'll start the downward path again.

Tuesday:
B- ww toast w/ PB and strawberries
L- selection of salads from Central Market salad bar, including egg salad, soybean salad, sesame noodles, 2 bites of pesto tortillini, and 2 bites of couscous, all on a bed of spinach.
S- chocolate bar
D- 8 chicken wings, blue cheese dressing and celery, and 1/2 a large order of fries

Exercise: 40 minutes swam laps

Writing today- staying home (trying to conserve on gas!!!), attempting to finish section, approx. 5-6 pages.

 

[crusin'minnie]

Sounds like a good plan. You know how to make good food choices, so as long as you continue to do that and keep the "wings" to an occasional thing you should do fine.

I know you are feeling the crunch, but you will get thru it and be so much stronger for it!!!

 

[Jane E.]

Great job getting in those swimming laps. Hopefully, September will come quickly so you can get back into your losing mode! I'm so glad that younger ds isn't home now because he'd order chix wings about once a month & they smelled just too good to resist. (Once he ordered'em so hot he almost got sick!)

 

[Cruise04]

Sorry to hear you aren't getting great sleep right now. I'm sure that once you hit the deadlines and they pass and the semester gets started some of the stress will leave and you'll feel much better and sleep better. But do try to get some rest before then as it's a few weeks until September, unfortunately!!!!!

You do look like you are doing pretty good with the foods. Good idea to focus more on your writing and what you need to get accomplished then trying to lose right now. If you maintain that will help you get right back into it in September and probably have an awesome loss!!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[rcyannacci]

Trouble getting to sleep again, but I did sleep through the night and got about 7 hours...so that should help.

I was having trouble focusing on my chapter yesterday, so I switched my energies to some of my class prep work and finished the syllabi for my new grad. class. Once I got into it, the time flew!

My food was pretty good, actually.

Wednesday:
B- ww toast w/ PB and strawberries
L- string cheese stick and 1/2 ww pita w/ roast beef, blue cheese, and spinach.
S- handful of almonds (and jelly bellies that DH left on the table)
D- nachos w/ shredded chicken breast
S- 1/2 carb smart fudgicle w/ PB...just didn't feel like eating the while thing.

Exercise: Curves 40 min, plus 10 min on abs and legs

Writing today: back to the chapter. I fixed an organizational problem I had yesterday, so I'm back on track and working on a section that should go pretty quickly. Hoping for 6-7 pages today. The end is in sight, and I'm the only thing holding me back

I am going to take a little time today to check people's journals and surf the net a bit...I feel like I've run out of things to eat and need some inspiration for new meals.

 

[rcyannacci]

Trying to get an early start today- better sleep last night

Thursday-
B- toast w/ PB and strawberries
S- string cheese stick
L- ate way too late after staying at the library. Went to grocery store, and then to Wendy's. Got chicken strips and a chili, but the silly person put fries in the bag after screwing up my order, and once there, I ate every single one. I haven't had fast food french fries in ages (and won't have them again for ages more)! Not as good as I remember, and yet I seems to down them all.
D- summer soup, from new recipe, excellent! had navy beans, corn, chilis, and green onions, plus a salad and 2 corn bread muffins w/ butter.
S- 1/2 a carmel stick that DH split with me.

Exercise- swam laps 40 minutes.

Well, today is going to be a doozy. The school where I teach has majorly screwed up schedules, and I might be scheduled for another new class. That would be *2* new class preps during the semester I'm trying to finish a complete draft of my dissertation!!! Plus, the class meets when I'm current scheduled for my freshman seminar (the "welcome to college" class all freshman have to take). So, it looks like I'm going to have to drop the freshman seminar, to keep the grad seminar and take an intro to creative drama class...moneywise, only lose a little bit (the freshman class was only 1 credit, once a week), but it's still frustrating since none of it was my fault! Unfortunately, as a part-time instructor, I have no advance contract or security, so that's that. And, on top of all of that, the reason why I lost my regular class is because they gave it to a faculty member who should have been fired due to some innappropriate actitivities with an undergraduate student!!! He had to be taken out of his regular classes because most of the production labs met at night. Amazing! (OK- rant almost over...) The only upside of all of this is that I really love the material of the class they are giving me; I did creative drama in schools while I lived in PA and love the thought of teaching new teachers (education majors, for the most part) how to implement drama into their classrooms as a way to teach reading, writing, etc.

OK- better get going. I'll be fielding a lot of phone calls today, and trying to write in-between all of that!

I'll try to catch up on everyone's journals this weekend.

 

[lillygator]

Wow - what a crazy schedule! I hope you end up with what you want though!

 

[pearlieq]

Aaaah! What did they do to your schedule?!? I hope they get it fixed up for you soon! The new class does sounds absolutely fascinating, though! I love following your career--it sounds so interesting and fulfilling!

I'm glad to hear you slept a little better last night. Hopefully once some of this stress has passed and you're settled into your new schedule things will get easier.

Your summer soup sounds great. Glad you found some meal inspiration. Have a great day today!