The Further Adventures of Deluzy: Let the carols begin

Health and Wellness

The Google 15
An excellent weight-tracking tool that keeps track of your moving weight average over time so that no single weigh-in is a cause for ecstacy or despair.
Understanding Your Tests
A good preliminary resource for understanding your lab work (though of course it's no substitution for discussing results with your doctor)
FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal
An essential tool for me during my first 6 post-op months -- and a good reality check for anyone keeping track of daily food intake (e.g., calories, fats, carbohydrates, etc.) and activity levels
Gmaps Pedometer
A wonderful tool that allows one to map exercise routes and calculate miles covered and calories burned

Products I Like

Spanx
A line of comfortable foundation garments (and even easy-to-pack clothing) that comes in handy post-op to corrale that wayward, formerly obese flesh and make you feel comfortable. Available online, at Lane Bryant in larger sizes, at Nordstrom in smaller sizes, and sometimes at outlets for less.
Pure Protein RTD shakes
At an average of 35 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, and 160 calories, these ready-to-drink shakes work for me because I can chill them, grab them, pack them, and go. Available from a variety of online sources or at GNC stores.
Perfectly Sweet
Expensive but excellent source for sugar-free and no-sugar-added bakery and candy items.
Low Carb Corner
As near as I can tell, this site sells nothing but two kinds of breakfast cereal -- but as one who's avoided cereal since my DS surgery because it contains virtually no protein and far too many carbs, Protein Crunch is a wonderful option (i.e., 27 grams protein, 2 net grams carbs). It's horrifyingly expensive but for WLS cereal lovers, it's worth the occasional splurge.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Let the carols begin

Today it's time to put my nose to the grindstone and see to class prep for the last two weeks of the semester (not to mention the two weeks of grading after that -- through there's not much I can do there for the moment). Tomorrow I'm being observed and evaluated by a senior colleague in a class I don't feel wonderful about, and I need to figure out some approaches that will be both dynamic and useful to the students (always a challenge in this course). I've redesigned the class once, but it needs a lot of additional tweaking, frankly, and I won't be able to give it that kind of attention again until the summer, though I can make minor adjustments for the coming term. I know in advance that my colleague will write a generally positive report, as she's supportive of me and my career, but still ... that's all the more reason to do my level best. Students and faculty alike are exhausted at this point in the semester, unfortunately. Ah well, at least it's the first of three classes I teach on Monday, so I'll get the experience behind me quickly. (You'd think after almost 20 years of teaching, one way or another, these kinds of evaluations wouldn't make me nervous any longer, but they do.)

Oops, that reminds me: I have a peer review to do of a junior colleague myself this week -- man, 'tis the season!

Chanticleer Speaking of which, in an effort to create a more pleasant environment for myself today and in the final weeks of the term, I've changed the desktop, screensaver, and Holiday Lights theme on my PC at home because I'll be staring at the thing for endless hours, and I've begun streaming Christmas music as I work. The vast majority of what I listen to at the holidays is Gregorian or classical or traditional 19th c. carols sung by groups like Chanticleer but there are a few Big Band hits thrown in for good measure.

Yeah, I know -- don't I hear enough Christmas music in stores?

Well, not of the Good Stuff. And as I've blogged before, I intend to stay out of stores as much as possible this holiday season, and most of the music I stream has a calming effect on me as I work -- plus it reminds me of life outside and beyond the daily grind.

Both very good things at this point.

Posted at 06:43 AM in Holidays | Permalink