Winter & Weight Loss

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Winter is particularly hard on my weight loss efforts.  I have found it hard to stick to an exercise routine.  Watching what I eat has been particularly difficult.

Exercise

Some disciplined people can follow an at-home exercise routine.  However, that is definitely not me.  I went to a fitness studio where they held Zumba classes.  The people there were really nice and I liked the atmosphere.  It was great, but it was a hike to get there.  Walking that far in the snow is a major deterrent for me.  There is a YMCA that is much closer, but I have postponed getting a membership.

Diet

I have tried hard to watch what I eat.  I started off well eating veggie stir fries and trying to keep my carb level low.  I have tried to follow the modified atkins diet, which is supposed to be helpful for those persons with seizures.  When the weather turns bad, my eating habits turn bad also.  When I had to start leaving earlier to get to work, I started stopping by the local Dunkin’ Donuts to pick up breakfast.  I have also eaten more pizza and pasta then I care to admit.

What do you do to stay motivated during the winter time?

 

Snow Covered Trees

Too many snow storms: When is spring going to come?

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The city I live in has recently hit by a series of snow storms.  At first, I thought the snow looked beautiful.  But after a while, the subzero temperatures, cloudy skies, and mountains of snow have really started to affect my mood.

Getting to Work

Getting to work is a hassle.  I take public transportation and walk to the train every morning.  The mountains of snow that have built up make this difficult.  The people who live in the neighborhood have done their best to keep some of the sidewalk cleared off.  The train doesn’t work as efficiently as it normally does.  I have been lucky and still managed to make it to my classes on time.  I just want the snow to melt, so the train will work on its normal schedule again.

Social Events

I have been only venturing outdoors long enough to go to work and back.  For every other event, I seriously consider whether it is worth braving snow, cold temperatures, and slow public transportation.  There were not many events that passed.  I used to venture out on the weekends to coffee shops or free events in the city.  I don’t go to those events because it’s ‘too cold.’

When is spring going to come?

I feel like a caged bird at the moment.  I want to go to events and do things, but I don’t want to be cold in the process.  I want sunshine, warm temperatures, and most importantly, no snow.  When are the warm temperatures going to come back?

In an effort to change things, I purchased a plane ticket to fly out and see my sister.  I will not leave until March, but hopefully the change in scenery will do me some good.  I have recently found out that some of my bosses and co-workers travel to warmer locations during the holidays.  I think I know why now.

Inspirational Quote

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“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.” ― William W. Purkey

work-life-balance

Has Much Changed from Last Year?

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It is the end of January 2015 and I find myself still trying to make ends meet. I will be able to save money if I keep using the principles that I learned last year.

Food

I can save a lot of money on food.  There is a local discounted farmers market near me, and it is open all year.  I just need to be careful of the produce.  I was able to buy produce for less money then at the local grocery store.   Eating out at restaurants has become a very expensive, so I will have to limit it to special occasions only.

Health Insurance

I knew that I had to reapply for health insurance, but I needed to try to get an option with a lower premium.  I needed to save money wherever I could.  I applied in December, and even had to send them proof of my income.  After calling to make sure that everything was going okay, I was able to choose health and dental insurance for myself.

Workload

I am actually teaching more classes than last semester.  I didn’t see any choice in the decision since bills need to be paid, and I need to save money.  I am working at two colleges teaching math at one place and physics at the other.  I am trying to use good time management skills to make sure everything gets done when it should.  Unfortunately, I have gotten paid at one of the colleges yet.  I’m not sure how much longer I can keep working like this.

I would like to be able to attend more networking events.  This would help increase my chances of getting full-time employment.  However, many of these events are expensive.  I will have to be careful to select some good networking events that are not terribly expensive.

When you are trying to make sure you can pay all your bills, it is hard to think about what job would be perfect for you.

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US News Article – Educating the Public about Epilepsy

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There was an article that came out recently on US News and World Report called Epilepsy 101: Living With Seizures.

I am very happy that they decided to do the article.  It talks about one specific person’s struggle with epilepsy and the story helps illustrate some basic information about the condition.  More articles by reputable newspapers such as US News are needed to help get rid of this stigma and misinformation.  Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that does not have a cure.  Maybe if more people understood it, then they would be willing to fund institutions attempting to find a cure.

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What do I want to get out of full-time employment?

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I have been encouraged to reflect on what I want to get out of full-time employment.  My search for a full-time job has not been going well, and hopefully this will help me focus some more.

Current Job Status

Right now, I have accepted teaching positions at two colleges.  I have bills to pay like any other person, and I want to try to save up some money.   Lately, I have made little mistakes at work.   I can’t help but think that I would not have made them if I had worked at only one place full-time instead of stretching myself between two part-time jobs.

In one of my colleges, I used to feel good after teaching a math course.  Recently, that enjoyment has turned to frustration.  I feel overworked and unappreciated.  I used to think that working there as an adjunct professor might be a step towards eventually working there full-time.   I know now I was wrong.

What do I want to get out of full-time employment?

  1. math & science – I have liked science ever since I was little and don’t believe that will ever change.  I would want a full-time job where this can be an advantage.
  2. financial stability – I am working from semester to semester.  Sometimes I don’t get the number of classes that I would like leaving me financially at a disadvantage.  I need to stop this trend and find a job with more financial stability.
  3. Introvert – As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I am an introvert and tend to find being in large groups for an extended period an exhausting experience.  I would prefer a job where I can take a few minutes to myself to recharge.
Christmas Ornament in a Tree

Christmas Vacation 2014 – It was sooo cold

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I am back from my Christmas vacation.  I had intended to update my blog more often than I did, but I had to use WordPress for Android.  Unfortunately, I reached my roaming data limit very quickly.

The Weather

Mother nature tried it’s best to get in the way of my plans.  My plans were changed on many occasions because of snow, icy roads, and extreme cold.  I was not even sure that I would get back home because the weather got bad on the day of my flight. During most of the trip, it was so cold.

The Airline

The airline did an okay job.  On the way to my destination, everything went well without incident.  I did my best to get some rest despite the screaming kids on the plane.  A bad snow storm had started just as I was going to the airport to come home.  There was a delay due to missing flight crew.   The airline did a good job of de-icing the plane so that I could get home safely.  I am still unhappy with the number of delays that I had to tolerate and the long wait for my luggage.  I got back home at 2am!

The Health

My health remained pretty good during the holidays.  I didn’t have any problems on the airplane or during my travels while visiting my family.  I made sure to bring along a good supply of my medicine so that I wouldn’t run out.  I did eat a lot more than I wanted.  My sisters and I have formed a small weight loss support group to try to help each other lose the weight we gained last year.

The Family

My family was all happy to see me.  When I arrived home, I was given a gift in the way of some cash to help pay for travel expenses during the holidays.  Who could ask for a better Christmas present?  Despite the weather issues and flight delays, it was great to see them.