Dissertation
Seems like I do pretty well on 2 out of 3 topics each day. That's not so bad. I spent 5 hours working on my dissertation. I holed up in a computer lab with one empty desk and worked as hard as I could. I was able to clarify my RQs, write out the lesson plans for the 6 week intervention (whew), and develop the framework for my scoring criteria. I also think I came up with a system for note taking while I read articles. Before I was taking notes on the article, writing them in a journal and adding them where I thought they fit on the actual paper. This caused my writing to sound like a string of short annotations/citations - ugh. Now I've made a simple table for each article that includes pertinent information in different cells (e.g., oral or written argument; key findings; citation; and notes that I think are important). Then I made a separate cell where I list the different sections of my paper I think will benefit from the particular article (e.g., Section IV persuasive writing - what we know about older students' persuasive writing). Finally - I way to organize my tangential thinking while I read!
Nutrition
I see that I eat better (and less) when I pack a lunch and snacks and get out of the house to work (plus I get more work done). I am really enjoying hummus on ww tortillas with cut up veggies and walnuts. Added some ham today and it was still good. Leftover organic pork chop and organic mashed potatoes from the night before with my favorite quinoa and edamame salad!
Movement.
Very little moving today. I carried around my gym clothes but did not make it to the gym. I did have acupuncture today and was able to relax. By the end of the day I could no longer focus on my writing and was getting a little overwhelmed about how I can get it finished in time to defend in May so I can do the study in the fall so I can graduate! Changing my travel plans helped (I was feeling like I was starting to get sick and I did not want to run myself down further). Now I have 3 extra days to write/keep the flow going!
March 31, 2010
March 30, 2010
March 29
Movement
Lots of rain today so I went to the gym to lift weights (arms) and do some cardio. A friend mentioned that she walks on the treadmill while watching tv and challenges herself by running/jogging during commercials. I tried it out today and was able to jog through 3 commercials! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks ;) I weighed 200 pounds this morning. Scary number but at least it is no longer increasing (I've managed to maintain this weight for a few weeks now - for the longest time all I did was gain!).
Nutrition
I made my favorite quinoa and edamame salad for dinner along with organic pork chops and mashed potatoes. Lunch was hummus on a ww tortilla with ham, carrots, peppers, and walnuts. Now if I could just make it through the day with only one serving of chocolate ...
Dissertation
I am helping a colleague with her dissertation on argumentative writing by scoring papers. This is a great help in looking at older students' writing and to get me thinking more about what I will need to do when it comes time to train others to help me score. Luckily my papers will be written by first graders who will not write nearly as much as college students! I am sending my advisor the next section of writing at the end of the day tomorrow. It is going to be a long day of writing!
Lots of rain today so I went to the gym to lift weights (arms) and do some cardio. A friend mentioned that she walks on the treadmill while watching tv and challenges herself by running/jogging during commercials. I tried it out today and was able to jog through 3 commercials! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks ;) I weighed 200 pounds this morning. Scary number but at least it is no longer increasing (I've managed to maintain this weight for a few weeks now - for the longest time all I did was gain!).
Nutrition
I made my favorite quinoa and edamame salad for dinner along with organic pork chops and mashed potatoes. Lunch was hummus on a ww tortilla with ham, carrots, peppers, and walnuts. Now if I could just make it through the day with only one serving of chocolate ...
Dissertation
I am helping a colleague with her dissertation on argumentative writing by scoring papers. This is a great help in looking at older students' writing and to get me thinking more about what I will need to do when it comes time to train others to help me score. Luckily my papers will be written by first graders who will not write nearly as much as college students! I am sending my advisor the next section of writing at the end of the day tomorrow. It is going to be a long day of writing!
March 28, 2010
Day Three
Movement
While traveling the past 5 days I tried to stick to my goal of "moving" every day. As you've read I did pretty well in Tampa. We drove all day on Friday to Santa Rosa but stopped to walk around an Indian landfill (filled with hints of life from 600 AD) and then we walked a tiny bit around our friend's neighborhood. I made up for it on Saturday though ... I walked on the beach for 20 minutes in the morning then we took a nice long bike ride to get a better sense of the area. It was quite the change biking up hills I must say!
Nutrition
Eating out is difficult. Even if I make good choices from a menu the food just seems to sit differently with me. Then there is the vacation mentality (eat the treats!) which I did on Saturday. We went to a beer fest which was quite fun, but since my body seems to reject alcohol I splurged on 2 buttery pretzels. Not such a big deal until I share how I followed this with plates of cheese and crackers, yummy cashew nuts, and dark chocolate m&ms (so good!). This morning it was as if I had a hangover from rich food ... crazy hot flashes where I felt ill and lots more than normal. It was enough to make me resist the Cinnabon at the airport (not such a bad thing).
Dissertation
I got nothing done on Saturday but am okay with this as I was vacationing and hanging with friends. On the plane ride home I was able to read 2 articles and take notes. It still overwhelms me how when I read one article I feel like I have to read five more and add yet another section to the paper. But I can't look at the big picture - small steps is the only way to fight the anxiety of the task at hand :)
While traveling the past 5 days I tried to stick to my goal of "moving" every day. As you've read I did pretty well in Tampa. We drove all day on Friday to Santa Rosa but stopped to walk around an Indian landfill (filled with hints of life from 600 AD) and then we walked a tiny bit around our friend's neighborhood. I made up for it on Saturday though ... I walked on the beach for 20 minutes in the morning then we took a nice long bike ride to get a better sense of the area. It was quite the change biking up hills I must say!
Nutrition
Eating out is difficult. Even if I make good choices from a menu the food just seems to sit differently with me. Then there is the vacation mentality (eat the treats!) which I did on Saturday. We went to a beer fest which was quite fun, but since my body seems to reject alcohol I splurged on 2 buttery pretzels. Not such a big deal until I share how I followed this with plates of cheese and crackers, yummy cashew nuts, and dark chocolate m&ms (so good!). This morning it was as if I had a hangover from rich food ... crazy hot flashes where I felt ill and lots more than normal. It was enough to make me resist the Cinnabon at the airport (not such a bad thing).
Dissertation
I got nothing done on Saturday but am okay with this as I was vacationing and hanging with friends. On the plane ride home I was able to read 2 articles and take notes. It still overwhelms me how when I read one article I feel like I have to read five more and add yet another section to the paper. But I can't look at the big picture - small steps is the only way to fight the anxiety of the task at hand :)
March 25, 2010
Day Two part 2
Dissertation
I got up at 4:30 to make a 6:30 flight! I slept on the first plane but found myself reading feverishly and taking notes on the second flight. I'm still working on the persuasive writing section. It seems there is always more to read and learn and synthesize and write!
I got up at 4:30 to make a 6:30 flight! I slept on the first plane but found myself reading feverishly and taking notes on the second flight. I'm still working on the persuasive writing section. It seems there is always more to read and learn and synthesize and write!
Day Two
Movement
I'm in Florida so I decided to get my exercise today by walking the city. I spent about 3 hours walking all over town exploring. I stopped periodically to read or have lunch. Back at the hotel I spent some time playing in the pool (mostly doing leg and arm exercises because I don't know what else to do). Although I've been feeling a little frustrated about my body image I'm happy to report that I did get noticed at the pool ... well, it was a seven year old boy but I think it still counts.
Nutrition
I'm trying different foods now that I am post chemo and foods do taste a little different (I no longer like hamburgers or mac and cheese). We went to dinner at a Spanish restaurant and everything was very tasty! Dinner was followed by Flamenco dancers performing - kind of felt like I lost weight just watching them.
I'm in Florida so I decided to get my exercise today by walking the city. I spent about 3 hours walking all over town exploring. I stopped periodically to read or have lunch. Back at the hotel I spent some time playing in the pool (mostly doing leg and arm exercises because I don't know what else to do). Although I've been feeling a little frustrated about my body image I'm happy to report that I did get noticed at the pool ... well, it was a seven year old boy but I think it still counts.
Nutrition
I'm trying different foods now that I am post chemo and foods do taste a little different (I no longer like hamburgers or mac and cheese). We went to dinner at a Spanish restaurant and everything was very tasty! Dinner was followed by Flamenco dancers performing - kind of felt like I lost weight just watching them.
March 23, 2010
Day One
Moving
This morning I worked on the leg machines (2 sets of 25 one each machine) then met my neighbors for a walk around the neighborhood. I had to catch up as they'd already started so I actually jogged a block at the beginning to catch up (and again at the end because I was wearing shorts and it was still cold!). My legs are a little sore from walking in the mountains this weekend wearing my shape up shoes - feels good to be sore.
Nutrition
I'm quickly learning how sugar affects my body. I had peanut butter brownies this weekend on my college suitemate reunion. Very yummy but I had 4 night sweats as a result. I'm trying to pay attention to which foods cause me to bloat/flash more/swell then see what I can do about reducing these foods from my diet or learn how to partner them with other foods to reduce the side effects. Beans and corn for lunch today!
Dissertation
Today I plan to email my research questions, add an outline to the PW section, and read another article to add to the section.
This morning I worked on the leg machines (2 sets of 25 one each machine) then met my neighbors for a walk around the neighborhood. I had to catch up as they'd already started so I actually jogged a block at the beginning to catch up (and again at the end because I was wearing shorts and it was still cold!). My legs are a little sore from walking in the mountains this weekend wearing my shape up shoes - feels good to be sore.
Nutrition
I'm quickly learning how sugar affects my body. I had peanut butter brownies this weekend on my college suitemate reunion. Very yummy but I had 4 night sweats as a result. I'm trying to pay attention to which foods cause me to bloat/flash more/swell then see what I can do about reducing these foods from my diet or learn how to partner them with other foods to reduce the side effects. Beans and corn for lunch today!
Dissertation
Today I plan to email my research questions, add an outline to the PW section, and read another article to add to the section.
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