The Procrastinating ANOVAist

I used to be a master procrastinator....well, I have returned to my old ways, if even for a minute. I am taking statistics, and I do not want to work on my ANOVA homework, so I decided I could make a bigger dent in my to-do list, if I just moved on to the next item. That brings me to you.

(What is an ANOVA you ask: I don't know either, which is why I am procrastinating the homework, but here is an image that makes it easy to understand {ha, ha, haaaa, ha}. Have you seen the show Numbers? I want to hire that man as my tutor!)

Yesterday I said I would share the workout training schedule with you, versus what I have done. I think it is easier to see what I was supposed to do versus what I accomplished. And so, here it is.

Monday
Training Program: Rest
Jennifer: Rest (Actually I went to dinner with a friend I used to work with, so I am pretty sure the cookies did not help the training program.)

Tuesday
Training Program: 3 miles
Jennifer: 4.08 miles; 82:54 minutes; 444 calories; 138 fat calories; 3.0-3.1 mph

Wednesday
Training Program: Cross-train 15 minutes
Jennifer: 4.25 miles; 451 calories; 140 fat calories; 77:22 minutes; 3.5 mph

Thursday
Training Program: 5 miles
Jennifer: 3.11 miles; 65:03 minutes; 340 calories; 106 fat calories; 3.0 mph

Friday
Training Program: Cross train 30 minutes
Jennifer: 4.14 miles; 82:37 minutes; 451 calories; 141 fat calories; 3.1mph

Saturday
Training Program: 6 miles
Jennifer: 5.14 miles; 106:13 minutes; 560 calories; 175 fat calories; 3.0 mph (To be fair I was walking at 9:00 pm last night, so I cut it a bit short: Will pick up that lost mile today.)

Sunday
Training Program: 5 miles
Jennifer: The Plan- 10 miles (if I can ever get my stats homework done and Matty's nails cut!)

Well, there you have it. I walked 20.72 miles this week so far (remember the 10 I want to do today would bring me to 30.72 on a goal of 19 for the week). I burned 2246 calories so far, and I still weigh a lot more than I did when I started this journey. Hmmmm....well, that is a thought for another day.

Oh, look! Scratching this off the to-do list really closed the cross-out gap between "mail Erik's warrenties" and "mail the bills".

Talk to you later,

Jennifer

Keeping Up

Pictures: Me to the right, Amy below.

I am learning the difficulty with blogging, just as I have learned about everything else I have ever started....keeping up. I cannot believe just how many times I thought (while walking on the treadmill), "Oh...I need to update my blog," and I just kept walking. Before you know it, the next time I thought of it again, it was the next day, while walking. And then, before you know it, a week goes by and nothing is new on the blog. Mom, are you seeing a pattern?

Actually, I was really feeling bad, until I just checked Chris and Heather's blog, who haven't updated "Their Little Family" since June 19th. Now, I don't feel so bad. :)

Well, the good news is that I am walking. The week of residency, my friend Amy was such a sport and we walked at night (mostly to restaurants because Walden did not feed us dinner). However, when I weighed myself when I returned home, expecting to see improvement on my weight, I found the exact opposite. I GAINED 10 pounds. I cried. My husband thinks I have lost my mind. I am not sure I disagree.

Anyway, I cannot believe all the support I have received from all of you, and the people at work. With your help, I was able to raise the minimum requirement of 2,200 in a little over one week, and the fundraising continues. I am actually working on helping my teammates raise their money, because I want everyone to be able to participate in this fabulous event. AND, my friend Lisa says I am good at it, so why not....it's not like it is not helping a lot of people. Besides, it satisfies my obsessive-compulsive side. Even though we have months to fund raise, I like it to be done, so I can move on to the next task- training.

Which leads me to my new commitment of keeping this up so you can see how I am doing in the training part. Tomorrow I will share the training schedule, compared to what and how I am doing. Maybe, if I am really brave, I will take before and after pictures, but I need to think about that. Seeing my size in a picture is not as cute as seeing a pregnant woman grow (that's for you Doreen). Nope, I only want to go down in weight at this point. I think the hard part is traveling so much. That tends to get me off schedule, and from now until at least November, it appears I will be spending a lot of time along the Mississippi.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Jennifer

Ooouch!

Tomorrow I leave for Minneapolis, Minnesota, for which I have mixed feelings about. I am going to my second residency for my Ph.D. program. Four residencies are required, so of these, I will be halfway done. I am excited for two reasons. First, I get to see my friend Amy, whom I met at a residency in December. She is a really nice person and we hit it off well. She is from New York, so I enjoy listening to her talk. We are not in the same program, but regardless, we have a great time and it is really important to have someone cheering you on. She also agreed to bring work out clothes, so we can work out during the week. The other reason I am excited is because I will earn another 6 credits toward the 134 or so required. It means I get to check another task off, and if anyone knows me, checking off tasks is what I do. I am okay with being compulsive.

The reason I am not excited is....I actually do not like leaving home all that much, because it breaks up the routine I referred to in the first post, as well as means I have to leave Erik, Michael, and Matty (the latter sleeps with me every night). I think they are okay with the break, so it could just be me. Erik refers to this as a vacation. Hmmm.....

The point of my story is that I have to get on an airplane tomorrow morning, bright and early at 6:45 am. I have to check in at residency no later than 4:00 pm. Therefore, due to travel, I don't think I will be able to walk tomorrow, so I made up for it today by walking 8 miles! Yup, 8 miles on the treadmill (thank God for Law and Order DVD sets)! The treadmill is a fabulous invention for those who live in Phoenix and don't want to face the 110 degree weather to take a walk but that is another story.

Anyway, a couple of days ago, I received my first blister of the journey. It didn't hurt that much so the next day I walked again. I bought some moleskin at Target with my friend Lisa (who is also walking in the 3-day) so today I put that on. Well, the one blister seemed to turn into 3 blisters, one on top of the other. Okay, I am no baby but it was pinching a bit. So, what does all this mean?

It means two things. First, I must get new shoes when I get back next Sunday, because it is very apparent mine do not fit (or I walk very funny). AND I had to find out how to take care of a blister...officially.

So, I did my research on the Internet. I cannot remember what we did before this fabulous invention, but I am sure I had more time in my life since it is easy to spend countless hours on it before you know it. Anyway, I cannot beleive what a little blister can do, so I thought I would share, so you know that they are not always that little.

Watch for a skin infection while your blister is healing. Signs of a skin infection include:
Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth.

• Red streaks extending away from the blister.
• A discharge of pus or a honey-colored fluid.
• Fever.
• Swollen glands.

A skin infection is more likely if:

• Dirt remains in a broken blister, cut, or scratch.
• The blister is in the genital or anal area, in a skin fold, or between the toes.
• You have a greater risk of infection and complications from a blister if you also have other conditions, such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or immune system problems, which cause problems with healing.

A cut or a scratch may turn into a blister-type sore that oozes a honey-colored fluid and forms a crust. This may be caused by impetigo, which most often develops on the face but can affect other parts of the body. Most broken blisters do not become infected if they are properly cleaned and cared for. Home treatment measures for cleaning and caring for a broken blister can reduce your risk of an infection.

Call your health professional if you have a blister and signs of infection. A health professional can evaluate your symptoms and recommend treatment. Prompt treatment of an infection can help prevent serious complications.

So, there you have it. Blisters can be serious, so when you get one, make sure you take care of it. I am proud to say, after cleaning, disinfecting, and popping, my toe is in the road to recovery. I guess I will survive to walk another day.

Jennifer

References

Youngerman-Cole, S. (2005, June 22). Blisters and a skin infection. Yahoo Health. Retreived July 14, 2005, from http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/aa67302

What Are You Talking About????

Have you ever really thought about what you have contributed? Have you ever really thought about what you really wanted to do? Have you ever seen one of those books titled, 1000 Places to See Before You Die, or 1000 Things To Do Before You Die? And have you done any of those things on your list, or will you do them another day?

Well, this is my attempt at working on my list today...

Let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Jennifer Lech (previously a Foisy). I live in Phoenix, Arizona with my husband Erik and my two Pugs Michael and Matty (Matilda). I have lived here for five years, an Army Brat, and transplant, most recently, from the Seattle area. I love it here, even in the summer when it is warm.

For a career, I have found myself in higher education. I have worked in higher education since 2000, and found education to be something I understand. I am currently the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Grand Canyon University, which is a leadership position for the academic branch of the University. I was recruited for this position by my boss, and have been mentored into this role. I think what I love the most is knowing that someone's life is improved because of what I do everyday.

I am also a student myself. I attend Walden University as a candidate for a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences. I guess I thought it would be a lot like another master's but, I am finding out differently. Just after the last Research Theory Course and my current Statistics course, sometimes I have no idea what I am doing, just ask my Mom on Saturday or Sunday morning. BUT, I try hard.

So, I guess I tell you all of this, because my life is like everyone else's. I am trying to improve myself in my career, through education, for my family. I am the typical overacheiver, type A personality, and I have taken on habits over the years that support those personality characteristics. I have quit smoking, gained some weight, started smoking, kept the weight, quit smoking, and so on. I recently participated in a Maricopa County Quit Smoking Class, where today I can say I am 4-weeks quit. This time, I really think there is no going back, but that is what this journey is about.

I want to do something that matters to me. I want to finish a challenge I have wanted to do in my life, but was too lazy to work at. I want to do this now, to teach me to participate in life again. I too let the routine rule my world! NO MORE! I am taking back my happiness and getting fit. No more feeling like I am drowning.

So, you are here to witness my journey, my personal transformation through my desire to participate in the Susan G Komen Foundation's Walk for the Cure. I will be walking 60 miles in three days, and not only is this a challenge I want to overcome, but I know my efforts will help someone improve their quality of life.

"The estimated numbers of new breast cancer cases and deaths for 2006 included an estimated 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2006. An estimated 40,970 women will die from breast cancer. It is estimated that 1,720 men will be diagnosed and 460 men will die of breast cancer during 2006. In addition to invasive breast cancer, 61,980 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to occur among women in 2006. Of these, approximately 85 percent will be ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)." Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2006.

I know, through your support, I can do this and in the process, I can change my life too.

Until next Talk...

Jennifer

Picture Reference
Wichita State University. (2004). Tres Mujeres Caminando (Three Women Walking). Retrieved July 10, 2007, from webs.wichita.edu/.../threewomenwalking/