CrossFit

Here's a great article on CrossFit for female runners. I can definitely say that I have improved my room and my knee is not in nearly the amount of pain it used to be. CrossFit for Female Runners

Distracted..

So, I got on here to talk about one thing...and then I got side tracked post on the Dirt In Your Skirt forum. *sigh* Go check out what we're talking about here! 

Team in Training

I probably haven't discussed my participation with Team in Training as much as I need to...I run my 3rd race as a TnT participant on October 14th.  I managed to fund-raise the entire amount for that race in only a mere three weeks. Since I did so well at that, I decided to sign up with TnT again for the Louisiana Half Marathon on January 20th. I haven't been fundraising as much.  But I do have a Painting for a Purpose party in November and my Saints football pool is still kicking. So I wanted to share with you my Team in Training fund-raising site in hopes that you will check it out and share it with everyone you know.  Sometimes you never know who's lives have been touched with cancer and you can get some pretty amazing stories just by sharing my site. Thanks so much!

My Team in Training fund-raising page

Confirmation Emails.

I really love some of the creative ways businesses send confirmation emails. Here's one I just received from Ript.

Thank you for placing your order with RIPT Skin Systems!

This email is to confirm your recent order and to let you know that we have dispatched a small expedition team of world class explorers who have been air dropped over a remote section of the Amazon jungle.

The expedition team will carefully select and harvest plants to press the essential oils that we use in every RIPT kit, by hand, ensuring their sustainability so that others may enjoy RIPT for years to come. After having the oils blessed by a local shaman, the team will hike 57 miles to their LZ, fly back to Canada, and hand deliver the oils to our master chemists who will add them with nano precision to your tubes of QUICK FIX and DAILY DOSE.

After being inspected by 47 members of our quality control team, all recruited and required to have 20/10 vision, your order will be packaged by an ex-origami world champion (specializing in paper crane) and given it's own seat on the RIPT company jet to be delivered to your door.

We have held a moment of silence as we do for every RIPT kit that leaves us and have decided to name you "Customer of the Day" for 09/29/2012.

Just so you're up to date, here's where we sent the jet...

And here is my conformation of shipment:

Dear supremely awesome customer kimberly krapcha,

It is our pleasure to inform you that all of the items from order #1834 have been placed on a satin pillow, under a glass case, and comfortably buckled in to a seat on our private jet.

So now, go check them out Ript. 

Uninspired

So there's been many a times I've gone to write an entry and I sit there and I just can't get motivated enough to write. There's lots to talk about - kickboxing, CrossFit, Fox's birthday, USM and Saints' shitty 0-3 starts...but eh.

Maybe one day...thanks for sticking around =)

CrossFit

Friday, September 7th was my first CrossFit experience. It was also the first time in at least 5 years I have gotten weak and had to lie down as I experienced light headedness and tunnel vision.

After researching and desperately wanting to start CrossFit, I found a box in Hattiesburg that was way cheaper than any place I had found in New Orleans. After some email exchanges, I was meeting my trainer, Danielle, on Friday.

Apparently the box is closed daily from after lunch to 4pm.  Since I arrive everywhere early, I had some time to wait. As I was waiting in my car, lots of big dudes were walking around. Big dudes. Finally another big dude arrives and opens the box.  I figure it's time to go and sign my death waiver. I introduce myself and get to filling out paperwork.  Danielle arrives and introduces herself, I feel comfortable with her.

We start our work. I do a warm up stretch, ring dips, pulls ups, back extensions, and sit ups. I need a band for the ring dips and pull ups, but man, I felt sore from those for days afterwards. We start working on squats. The squat is essentially the basis of most CF workouts - front squat, overhead squat, etc. My form is...alright.  I learn forward - because I get tired - I'm right side dominant because I have no VMO on the left leg.

After a lot of reps of squats - about 35 minutes into the workout, I need some water. I grab some and sit on a box. I feel weird. I feel light headed. I feel, not right. I start to realize that while I'm fit for a 3 hours air conditioned workout, I am not fit for a workout in a hot box. I did not fuel for an outdoor, hot workout. I think "maybe if I walk around I'll feel better" I stand up, Danielle looks at me to see if I'm ready, I shake my head and start going down. Next thing I know I'm horizontal on a mat with the entire box of people wondering if I'm ok. Of course, I feel immediately better lying down. I joke that I just had to make an grand entrance to my new box. People are glad that I'm smiling and not unresponsive. I'm told it's not the first time someone has done it and it won't be the last.

I lay there talking to various people - I'm almost in awe of the support I'm getting while lying on the ground. Danielle comes to talk to me and I sit up.  We talk about the CF games and who in the box is a beast and who's been doing it the longest, etc. I tell her I'm ready to stand and I want to keep working. She looks in shock, but I reassure her we'll go slow and I won't push too hard.

By the time we finished, she was wanting to give me a bar and see what I could do - it was as if I never hit the deck. When I was leaving, I had everyone making sure I was ok and that I was coming back. It was definitely like a family - one that I didn't want to leave and that I can't wait to go back to. My next session with Danielle is this Thursday and Friday.  I crossfit every Thursday and Friday this month, I look forward to the challenge and I hope it gives me that push I need to get over my current fitness level on my current air conditioned gym routine. 

Spartan Race

Check out this video from the Spartan Race in Virginia.

Spartan Race Virginia 2012

And go here for more on Team X-T.R.E.M.E.

Isaac

Day 4 - Thursday

Three days of no one setting an alarm has been magical - even though we all roughly wake up around 7am. None of us were running out the door to get out, we knew it would take a while for B Team to get to us as 2 of them were on the Northshore, 1 we still hadn't heard from and 1 was in Houma where a lot of flooding happened.  Usual routine of breakfast and coffee took place.  Then packing and cleaning so our campsite was just the way we found it - actually probably cleaner.

I was the first to leave at roughly 9am. K was slow in gathering her stuff and she probably wouldn't leave until noon. We both had previously taken GPT for Friday so we could leave whenever.  A and S didn't have GPT for Friday, so they were going to work until noon to see their follow ups for Friday and be off for the weekend.  Rumor had it that if you didn't already have GPT for Friday, the only free day A Team was getting off was Thursday - no matter what time you left during the course of that day.

We like to refer to hurricane time as "screw the salary employees" time. Salary employees do not make any overtime while living at the hospital and we apparently didn't even get 24 hours off for living there for 62 hours straight. In one week, I spent 68 hours at the hospital. For that pay period, I spent 108 hours at the hospital but I'm only getting compensation for 80 hours.

Registered Dietitians are never essential until a disaster happens. On a daily basis, rarely does a physician care about RD recs...hell even during a hurricane they didn't. Apparently the only reason RDs are required to be there is that the department things the food service employees will just accept being fired rather than report for hurricane duty.  So essentially, we're the reliable backups for delivery trays. Oh hell to the no.

As soon as I was free, I drove by the house to make sure it was still standing, dropped some of my sleeping materials off, and headed north to Hattiesburg. I spent the next 5 days with the man, the pup, A/C and power and loved every minute of it. 

Isaac

Day 3 - Wednesday

We wake up not knowing we're on generator power, until people start moving and using the potty - only to find out the automatic toilet doesn't flush on aux power. Awesome. Definitely calls for coffee, so A and I head to Southport.

Grabbed the biggest styrofoam cups we could find and loaded up.  She chose to eat breakfast, I decided to go back to camp and make my oatmeal. We get back to camp, I get oatmeal ready, go to nuke it and that's when I remember we're operating on generator power. This is where I learn the beauty of the red outlets. All the red outlets were the emergency outlets, the ones we needed to do work. Unfortunately, that didn't help my cold oatmeal.  I headed over to Southport to see if any of those microwaves work, no dice. I drain most of the water out of my oatmeal, add my sunflower butter and flax seed and eat that mush.

Since we were on generator power, a lot of the restricted zones that you need to swipe your badge for access were on lockdown. To enter the NICU, you had to force the doors open.  The stairs weren't accessible due to them being restricted on the 10th floor (NICU floor) so randos can't steal critical care babies...Side note: I don't know why you'd want to steal a NICU kiddo...sure some of them are pocket sized, but removed from their equipment and they die pretty quick.  So unless you plan on stealing a ventilator as well, stealing a NICU baby isn't a good idea.

So the elevators...were slow.  Some of the public elevators weren't even working, so everyone was using the service elevators. Being on the 10th floor and not being able to access the stairs - my usual routine - I was forced to use the elevators. Waited about 5 minutes to figure out the public ones weren't working. Waiting for the service ones...after 5 minutes in I started feeling very anxious.  I did not want to be stuck on the 10th floor.  It's not that I didn't like my unit, I just didn't like the idea of being stuck. As soon as the elevator came, I pushed 9 and got off one floor later.  I was not about to be stuck in a crappy service elevator, I'd take my chances on the stairs.

The stairs were...wet.  There are no windows in the stairwell or exposed pipes or anything that would make you assume where the water came from...but a few flights were quite wet with water flowing to the next flight. Quite an interesting day...

Lunch was spaghetti in Southport with A and then back to the cancer center to chart.  Our computers at our nursing station at camp didn't work, so we were at the reception area charting and printing our assessments. Due to generator power, the network would go down, yay for electronic medical records! [insert sarcasm here]

I decided to nap while she worked out. Dinner was a sandwich I bummed from K because she had the supplies and she wanted to eat the thanksgiving dinner that was being served in Southport. There was rumor that the 6:30pm meeting was about releasing us the next morning. Rumor was confirmed that evening with an email - we immediately started texting B Team and then conference called our Chief Clinical RD who was at home during the storm.

We were informed we could leave Thursday once B Team arrived.  There was a curfew in place until 6am Thursday am, so we let them all know they should be ready to hit the door by 6am because we were ready to get out. 

Isaac

Day 2 - Tuesday

The night before, we all decided not to set any alarms - we were all awake before 7am. We awoke to look out the windows and see people running and cycling on the levee. Cars driving down River Road like a regular day. The sun was shining. Yet here we all were, on lockdown at the hospital because A Team was active. Livid was an understatement.

I will refer to my fellow RDs with first initials so you can distinguish them from one another. A and I woke up and needed to take a walk so we threw on some shoes and went over the Southport to check things out. Grabbed coffee, spent some time in the RD office and then decided to head to work upstairs. Apparently my office in the NICU was being used as sleeping quarters for the A Team NICU nurses - not a big deal at all, except that I needed to get stuff out of my office.  Unfortunately I had to bother the ladies, grab my binder and do some printing. I grabbed a C.O.W. and posted up in our administrative assistant's office and started my work. Since we had a nursing station in our "camp" I was just gathering my assessments and then decided I would chart and print notes at our campsite.

A and I apparently had the same idea because she met me over there and we charted away.  Our lunch consisted of my homemade biscotti, some freeze dried fruit and pistachios. I think we were still in denial about having to eat cafeteria food. S and K were still over in the hospital side doing their work and eventually they made their way back to camp. Up to this point...it still doesn't really look much like a hurricane outside - just some wind and rain.

A and I couldn't take a day without showering, so we decided to hit the gym - thank goodness we have one at the big O.  A nice hill workout and then a shower was a nice break from the "work" of living in a hospital for a hurricane. It also helped me feel less lazy.

Tuesday evening events were pretty standard as if we all were at home. All of us were in our jambes, lounging around and watching tv and playing on the internet. It was like we were all just chilling at work.  The winds were picking up and we could watch everything through our big windows. Eventually, we all passed out.

Isaac

Day 1

I worked a normal day in the NICU.  Talk began about activating A Team and Isaac becoming a real deal hurricane. Rumors were abound of us reporting in the am to be in house for the duration of the storm.  Throughout the day, departments were distributing parish reentry packets, parking passes, and essential personnel badges. Those of us on A Team were allowed to finish up work and then head out to prepare to live in a hospital for quite a few days. About 4pm, we got the email - A Team was to report Monday evening before 11pm. I secured the house as much as possible, packed my belongings and took a shower - I had no idea where and when my next one would occur. I reported to Ochsner Main Campus around 9pm. Checking in was easy, we just had to report to our department and then set up camp. There are 4 RDs on A Team...essential personnel, we're still not sure why we're here.

Checking in...was interesting.  We were first told to report to the Information Desk in the Atrium and get our wrist bands.  While standing in the very long line, there was an announcement that our wrist bands were given to our department managers. I wander down to my department office...lights off and locked. All I could do was sit and wait.

About 20 minutes later people start to show up. It's close to 10pm now, I'm tired and all I want to do is sleep. No one knows what's going on, all everyone wants to do is say how much they didn't want to come in and all I want to do is sleep. One of the other RDs and I go grab my stuff and we walk over to the Tom and Gayle Benson Cancer Center - the RDs were sleeping in the chemo lab. We stake our claim and post some signs to keep randos out. Here's a view of our sleeping arrangements.


The other 2 RDs come in eventually and around 12:30am we're finally headed to sleep. 

Working and working and working...

Today I put in a good 10 hour day - at the office. I'm still working now...I had 17 or so kiddos to type follow up notes on and 1 new assessment. I got 6 notes type and into the computer. Yesterday our NICU Lactation Consultant and I went to a day long conference on Neonatal Nutrition. We knew about 98% of the information that was told to us, but it's still nice to get that validation that we know what we're doing. I went into work today knowing I had a ton to do, but I also had a spark to do really great assessments on this kiddos.  Not that I wasn't before, but I've always just felt like I was writing a pretty note in our EMR just to have a pretty new from a RD present.

Today I did nitty gritty assessments.  I looked at linear growth and overall gains over the past month. I looked at the most recent CMP and Phos levels. I looked at protein to non-protein calorie ratios.  I looked at growth vs. intake. I looked at Multivites and osmolality. I got 6 kids charted on. I have hand written assessments for all the kids for today - I just emailed myself 3 notes to enter tomorrow.

But today I also did an experiment on Beneprotein and formula. I did discharge teaching for 2 parents. I spent some time with a mom that's had her baby in the NICU for 130 days and I never had the time to sit down with her. I complied numbers for products and prices to see if we're wasting money and can cut costs without cutting quality. I spoke to my Neos about the best way of getting my recommendations under their noses so we can get these kiddos to grow to their full potential.

I may not have done a lot in the billable aspect of my job or been seen as "productive", but today was the first time in a long time that I felt like I was performing at my full potential as a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatrics & Neonatal Dietitian.

Also, NICU related. Yesterday a few of us toured the new NICU area, we got to share our opinions on everything from wall color/texture to floors to furniture. It's really exciting being part of the build and knowing that we're allowed to have such an influence of our new unit. I'm so ready to start seeing my new office and formula room get built out!

Time to type some more notes. Work never stops. 

Over the river and through the woods..

So..I joined Klout this weekend. Not really sure what it's about besides a popularity contest and seeing how much cooler you are than everyone else? I'm going to keep giving it my all and see what happens. You can find me here.

This weekend I decided it was time for the pup to get up to date on everything.  He is now a fancy pants miniature schnauzer who is allergic to fleas. *headdesk* At least he's pretty.

Roller Derby bout on Saturday. Hub City Derby Dames vs. Emerald Coast. We totally blasted them in points even though they put up a really good fight.  Girls were flying everywhere.  No one could stay on eight wheels very long. I want to do it so bad. Strawberry Paincakes and I had a good talk on how to get me involved and get me a tryout. It will be a reality...soon.

The weather lately has been crap, yes, crap. It will be nice and overcast and great temperature and then it will rain like it hasn't rained in years.  This will last all of 20 minutes.  Then the sun comes out and it feels like you're in a convection oven.

Due to the crappy weather, we nixed our Sunday am long run. Fox had a lunch and I had a grooming appointment for the pup, so we went our separate ways. I decided that while I was out running errands, I should go for a run. Seems legit since I'm one of those weirdos that always has a pair of running shoes in the Jeep. I headed out to Jackson Rd. station on The Longleaf Trace and headed West. I started along with a jog - no negative splits or even a watch to time me - just jogging.  I found a trail a little down the way and decided to take it.  I really enjoy trail running - much more than road running. I feel...freer. I was flying down the path, just to see where it would take me. That is why I want to do more obstacle racing. That is why I want to do more trails. That is why I want to stop running these dang marathons. 

Worthwhile?

I have a feeling this post might not be much of anything. I am exhausted - from the weekend events and I think I'm battling a head cold of some sorts.

This weekend was the Red Dress Run! Here's our group shot:

Red Dress Run 2012

It rained a good bit of the morning so we got a late start to the event. We made it just in time to actually watch the run (I had no idea people actually ran). We ended the event with bacon cheeseburgers from Yo Mama's which I would usually agree in saying that it's one of the best burgers around, but on this particular day that we burnt and a bit dry. Epic Sad Face. We came home shortly after where I pretty much slept until the next morning.

Sunday we decided to bring some furniture to my parents' house and pick up a tv. Dad also informed me that my truck tire was there to be picked up.  Apparently there was some miscommunication in where my Spartan training course was to be built...I say it's going to be in my parents' yard and they seem to think I have some hidden acreage somewhere to build it on. We'll figure it out. Now that I have my tire, hay bail, and sandbags all I need is an awesome wall and some mud.

Today Fox and I registered for the 2013 Jackson, MS Warrior Dash.  9am heat - everyone should sign up with us! Promo Code for $5 off EXPIRES TONIGHT 12WDNTL02

Also, some time this week we'll be registering for the Seabee Volkslauf Mud Run next month! 

Cleaning House

So, completely unrelated to anything...but I'm selling quite a few things.  I'm cleansing my diet, I'm cleansing my life.  Getting rid of the unnecessary. So check out my Amazon Storefront. Shop around, buy something.

Egg cups anyone?

Fox was in town this weekend! But unfortunately, I had to work the weekend so we couldn't have our lazy wake up late and have an amazing breakfast weekend. Instead, I got to work super early on Friday am and came home in time to make brunch! I made the usual pancakes and sliced up some cantaloupe, but then I experimented.

Part of my slow transition to Paleo is eat more protein in general. I love carbs. Love, love, LOVE carbs.  So I've been scoping out the interwebs in search of recipes and easy ways to incorporate more protein. Bacon & Egg Cups. Hmm...we like bacon and eggs aren't so terrible. So here's the finished product:

I cooked the bacon slightly in a regular skillet. Then I placed one piece of bacon around the inside of the silicon cupcake molds. Next I cracked an organic brown egg inside the bacon. Bake for about 25 minutes and hurrah bacon cups! Definitely let them sit on a paper towel once you pop them out as they are a little bit greasy.

Here's the picture of Fox's brunch plate:


So some thoughts.
While I loved the silicon baking cups, I did not enjoy cleaning egg out of the ridges. I would suggest baking cups that are smooth (if they make those) or the large scalloped edge ones. Or just use your actual muffin/cupcake pan.

Second, these tasted just like eggs with bacon. I need more kapow than that. My next attempt might be some scrambled egg concoction with spinach and mushrooms - kinda quiche-like.

I'll do some more tweaking and let you guys know how the next batch turns out! 

A Trip to Whole Foods

Today I did some shopping for my slow progression to Paleo. Most of the cheese is out of the house and besides a giant bag of Cheerios (from the Sam's 2 pack) and some baking supplies, most of the grains are out of the house as well.

To begin, here's what $102 at Whole Foods can buy you:

Yes, that is bacon. Organic non-nitrate/nitrite (read: cancer-free) bacon. I got it to make egg & bacon cups for breakfast so back off! I have 3 dozen brown organic, cage-free (my dad's favorite) eggs. Local honey. Organic unsalted butter. 100% dark chocolate. Enough coconut water to drown my muscles in awesomeness. You'll notice there's a bag of coconut water there, apparently it's a powder you just add to water.  I'm going to drink the Zico water and use that bottle as a refill container that I can just throw powder into in the am and just add water post workout. I'll let you know how that turns out.

I absolutely love the bulk bins at Whole Foods! I got some raw almonds for snacks and salad toppings as well as some shredded organic coconut. Hail Merry makes some of the most amazing packaged raw organic food ever. So I splurged and got 2 tarts.  If they're delish, I'll learn how to make my own! I also got freeze-dried apples.  I really enjoy those because they crunch like a chip and they're not overly sweet like dried fruits. Plus they're super low cal and there's FIVE apples in one bag!

Also got some dried cranberries for my oatmeal in the am.  I still like my oatmeal, that's going to be tough to give up. It's organic brown sugar oatmeal then I add ground flax seed and peanut butter. Once my peanut butter is finished I'll move on to almond butter, but I think I'm sticking with my oatmeal.  I'll be a forward thinking cavemanwoman.

Also while I was out and about, I took a trip to World Market.  I had a 10% off my total purchase coupon so I bought a few things.

I decided to try some of the Danielle veggie chips. So I got the coconut and the pumpkin. Also got the snapeas because I had a craving for them earlier today and I have no idea why. What isn't pictured is the 2 liters of coconut water I bought here before my trip to Whole Foods. Grand total spent: $13.90




Lastly, I'll discuss my workout. Today I just wasn't feeling it and I contemplated skipping it all together. I walked into the weight room, sat down at the ab crunch machine, cranked out some sets and just felt blah.  Went to my favorite back machine - the lat pulldown - and cranked out a few sets of those.  I felt better but I still didn't want to be in the gym. I wandered around a bit and made my way to the leg press. I'm scared of this machine now. But I know, I so know that I need to do more with my legs than just kickboxing and running. I'm so reserved when it comes to my knee, but I can't hold back anymore.  I need to strengthen it. I put the weight on 80# and did a few sets, I felt good - I felt better.  Now I'm feeling better and I head to the hyper extension bench. I grab a 25# plate and do my oblique crunches.
Once I'm finished with those, I head upstairs for my run.

I end up cranking out 3 miles in 36:40, it evens out to a 12:20 minute mile, but I did the first one in 12:40, the second in 12:30 and the 3rd in 11:30. Hurrah for negative splits! Apparently my new shoes allow me to run so well that I blew out a toe in my sock. I guess this means it's time to spend some money on new socks.  Now that I think about it, I can't remember the last time I bought socks.  Oh well, tomorrow is new day!

The Easy Way to Donate to my Cause!

Louisiana Half Marathon!

I did it. I started over fund-raising that I went ahead and signed up for the Louisiana Half Marathon in Baton Rouge on January 20, 2013. Of course, I decided to do this with Team in Training - you can view my new fund-raising page here. Please donate!! Or if you like Saints football, you can purchase a square in the football pool - all details are on the website!

Just doing a quick update as I'm pretty tired and still have a list of things to do before bed this evening.

Workout of the Day

 I signed up to get the Spartan WODs - granted I don't always do them due to a pack of equipment, but sometimes I'll do pieces/parts of them. One of them last week was "Power ½ Hour of Push-ups:
Grab a watch and pick a set number of push-ups to do each minute for 30 minutes.  After doing a set number of the push-ups at the start of a minute, you recover the remainder of the minute." Fox and I chose to do 120 push-ups for the 1/2 hour of time which equaled 4 push-ups per minute. I started off doing man push-ups and after 2 sets I wanted to die.  So, I reverted back to the girl ones but I put on my MMA gloves and did them off my knuckles instead of palms flat on the ground. I did my 120 and then on my last minute I decided to rep max out and did another 13. 


It felt great to be able to crank out 133 push-ups in 30 minutes.  It wasn't hard, it only took 30 minutes, AND it was a great workout. I'll probably do it again tomorrow after my running.

Food.

As most of you know, food & nutrition is my job.  Although I currently do it on a premie scale and mainly in liquid form...but I do still know a thing or two about adult food.

I've decided to slow transition to the Paleo diet. I think this is the best for me because it's a combo of gluten free and processed junk free.  I need to eat more real food - more clean food. I need to put the cupcake down.  I need to stop making Snappy Turtles my dinner. Just because I know the calories in something and I know it's within my limit for the day, doesn't make it good for my body.

I am past the stage of just using an app like Lose It to get where I need to be. Now, don't get me wrong that app (and similar ones) are fantastic for people looking for somewhere to start their weight loss journey.  There's been a lot of success with that app in my office and I am SO proud of those ladies for sticking with it. I am missing the candy in my office though...but I don't need it!

Back to Paleo. I'm not going straight into the 30 day Challenge, but more of a modified transition to Paleo. I just bought a case of oatmeal from Sam's and there's no way in hell I'm throwing that away.  So my plan is to finish the grain and dairy foods that I currently own without buying any more.  The tricky part will be buying all the food and prepping it for the week on Sundays. I will learn to make time. I will learn to stick with the plan.

Also, If I'm on a "I WANT PASTA!!!" tangent, I might buy some of these Miracle Noodles to satisfy those cravings. Pauline of Fighter Diet endorses them big time because she eats like a hoss, mainly because that's how she trains.  She's like 200% Beast Mode. By the way, I don't want to look like her, but I have a ton of respect for her.

Educated and Certified.

Back in May I took a computerized exam to become a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatrics. The exam is a computerized simulation.  You get nine questions. Yes, I said NINE. Each question is a case study.  You're introduced to it with a nice little diddy about the kiddo and then it says "what information would you need to gather to complete your assessment?" You look down and there's a list of no less than 15 items. Once you check something, you cannot uncheck it. You lose points for selecting answers that might cause harm to the patient OR that are deemed unnecessary and might cost your institution time and money.  You receive no points for an answer that doesn't harm the patient or cost extra time and money, but it isn't relevant to complete your assessment.  You receive awesome points if you select answers that are appropriate for you to make a complete assessment.

Each question has about 10 parts to it.  You're scored in two areas: Information Gathering (IG) and Decision Making (DM).  IG is just that - gathering information to build your assessment.  Selecting probing questions instead of just Yes/No answers.  DM is what you do with that information. For instance, if a selection revealed that kiddo goes home with grandma every night and that's where kiddo's blood sugar is getting screwed up and you choose an intervention that doesn't involve grandma in any way, you're going to lose points.

They also had selections in there that - for an untrained person - would sound correct.  For example, a teen comes to you just diagnosed with Type 1 DM, what information would you collect to perform your assessment? Glucose Tolerance Test could be a selection.  Some of you out there might be like "oh, yeah! GTT, perfect!" because you do a GTT for pregnant women to check for Gestational Diabetes. No my friends... See you already know they have a Type 1 DM diagnosis, over loading them with glucose is far from appropriate and could potentially kill them.  They had tricky stuff like that in there.

So my 9 case studies took all of an hour and a half to complete - no going back, remember? Once you're done, your computer basically says "have a nice day!" and you get to leave.  You have no idea if you passed/failed/totally sucked.  Scores are sent to you 6-8 weeks after the close of the testing window.  The exam is only offered twice a year - May and November.  I came home last night and found an envelope from CDR on the counter. I cringed because I KNEW I screwed up the cystic fibrosis kiddo big time.  Apparently I perfect scored enough of the other questions to make up for the CF kid.

My credentials are now: MS, RD, CSP, LDN

I can't say thank you enough to my friends and family who had faith in me and supported me the entire way and never let me give up. I love you all.

P.S. If you combine Louisiana and Mississippi, there are less than 20 RD's with this certification and now I'm one of them!

Back from the Dead

Well, after that dramatic post back in February with the cliffhanger of an ending - I am alive. I finished/completed a full marathon a week before my 30th birthday. I hated most of the race, but I had a fantastic partner in crime with me for the majority of the race and an amazing roommate to talk me through the final 2 miles.  My 30th birthday was amazing, I am truly loved by my awesome friends. They continue to amaze me. I have more to write, but I got sleepy all of the sudden. More tomorrow.

Running...and Possibly Dying.

So, as most of you know I signed up for my first full marathon. I run it on Sunday.  Yes, in roughly 113hours I will be trudging through the completion on my first 26.2 mile race. What you don't know, is the stupid thing I have done (besides signing up for a marathon in the first place). For those of you who don't know, when  you sign up for a race they ask for your predicted finish time - so they can place you in the proper corral. Since this was my full marathon, I wasn't thinking properly as I put my expected finish time. Instead, I put this:

So, yeah, that's not going to happen.  I will be bumping back to corral 11 or so because the Kenyans do not want me getting in their way. So yeah, light a candle, say a prayer do whatever you feel like doing to make sure I finish this race.

On a side note, I get on a plane less than 24 hours after this race to fly to Houston for a Neonatal Nutrition conference that starts at 7:30am. Shoot Me NOW.

Breakfast

The most important meal of the day is breakfast.  I like to think that it sets the tone for the rest of the day.  It jump starts your metabolism and get's that engine running. It's not something that has to be consumed as soon as your eyes open, but you can't wait until lunch time to put the first bite of the day in your mouth either. It doesn't have to be an elaborate spread that is time consuming to prepare.  Breakfast can be simple.

Monday through Friday I wake around 5:45am (definitely not trying to eat then) and I'm out the door to work around 6:40am. If I'm running late, in a hurry or I know I won't have time to sit and chew food for breakfast - I'll grab a Ready -To-Drink protein shake.  My go to is the EAS AdvantEDGE in Vanilla - 100 calories and 17gm of protein - and it tastes great.

When I have time to sit and chew, I reach for my Better Oats oatmeal. I go to the Maple & Brown Sugar Oat Fit.  It is 100 calories as well with 4gm of protein. It doesn't taste like a diet oatmeal and with 25gm of whole gains it keeps me full.

You may notice I eat small portions for breakfast, I eat small amounts roughly every 2 - 3 hours instead of large, bulky meals 3 times a day. If you find yourself needing larger meals, add some fruit like blueberries to your oatmeal or a banana with your protein shake. Just make sure you eat SOMETHING within the first 2 hours of waking up.

My Best Friend Wrote A Book!

Ok, so I know it's not food or exercise related, but it's mental health =)

My beautiful, amazingly intelligent, best friend for a quarter of a century has written a book. I absolutely love her to death and I am so privileged  to have her in my life. Lauren Cropper, you are amazing!

Go get her book from Amazon now!

Do Work!

First ever! Challenge of the Week: Pushups

One of the most basic of exercises. For this challenge, focus on proper form instead of reps. Watch this video to make sure you're doing it correctly. Once you get form down, challenge yourself to see how many you can do.  Ladies, you can start on your knees if you need to, but at least try it from the toe position first! Post your success comments!

New Year, New Theme

 

I’ve decided to make a change to my blog.  I no longer want the majority of musings about my life and what’s going on – those of you who know me, know what’s going on in my life already. Instead, I’m going to make my blog more of a guide for nutrition and exercise.  I have quite a few friends who are always asking for advice or recipes or tips for budgets, so I’ve decided to make a place for all of that. Look forward to Challenges, workouts, recipes and helpful hints!