Body Composition Analysis

When shopping around for a family physician in Topeka, I stumbled upon Tague Nutrition Center.  They give a free consultation that promised a body composition analysis. Oh, and it's 1 mile away from my house. Sign me up!

I went in today and stood on a machine that seemed like a scale but also had handles. The metal surfaces on my feet and on the handles sent small electric waves through my body. I hardly felt anything. Then, a paper printed out and the nurse discussed my results.

Total weight: 144.6
Lean body mass: 110.0
Total body water: 80.7

My composition was then explained in a percentage form.  100% is totally "normal." On total body weight, I was 105%. Lean body mass was 105%. Body fat mass was 110%.  My BMI is 22.2 (21.5 is totally normal).

I really liked my Impedance Index.  This is a breakdown of my lean body mass by extremity.

Right arm: 115% (more muscular than "normal")
Left art: 115%
Trunk 90% (less muscular than "normal")
Right leg: 115%
Left leg: 115%

Basal Metabolic Rate: 1450 cal

The entire appointment took me 30 minutes.

I hope that all makes some sense.  She did say that my total body weight could be at 100% if I lost 1.3 pounds of pure fat.  I'm really close.  I love having this data. I'm sure I will do this analysis again. Maybe annually? I will be using the family practice that is right across the hall.  A great experience. I highly recommend that Topeka people get their body composition analyzed!

What Is Going On.

I feel like you deserve an explanation.

I am not a quitter.  When I commit to something, I do it. Blogtember seemed totally doable. Having said that, I was recently offered the opportunity to go to St. Louis for an NCAA Umpire Camp on Sept. 21 & 22.  When I accepted, I thought I would go an wing it with the skills I have developed in my 3 years of learning & working the game.  Oh boy, was I wrong.  In the past week, veteran umpires have told me: "Camps are not to learn. Camps are for strutting your stuff in front of Division 1 game assigners."  and "You need to study the 3-man system and know it by heart. Know the NCAA rule book by heart. If you don't, and you go to camp, it'll be immediately obvious to everyone that you did not study and you do not belong there. They will cross your name off the list."  and "If you study and know what you are doing, you could skip years of baby-step development and your career could be launched into some incredible territory immediately."

I'm an ambitious lady.  I also don't like to look stupid...especially in a highly critical context such as NCAA games.  So, needless to say, these past two weeks have taken a right turn.

I did get some sage advice that these are my priorities:
1. Family
2. Full time job
3. Umpiring

That means that I need to grade student tests tomorrow during work. I need to leave the school day tomorrow with Monday AND Tuesday lesson plans completely ready to go. I have a sub Friday. Those plans need to be completely ready to go.

Oh, and I'm in a graduate class.  I just got assigned a shit load of homework that is due Tuesday on top of existing literacy projects that are in the works.

Oh, and I'm training for a half marathon that is exactly one month from tomorrow.  I need to run 10 miles on Friday.

I can handle this, but the blog is not a place where I can go to play right now.  My apologies.  Please send me good vibes this weekend. Lots of pressure.  I swear this seems harder than being a student athlete. I'd rather be asked to hit a pinch hit home run (been there, done that) than study hundreds of pages worth of field mechanics and then maybe or maybe not be able to execute it in action.

Sept 13: A Self Portrait

How would I even begin to write this post????

athlete
wife
dog-lover
daughter
mom stepmom
reader
speaker
thinker
student
chef
planner
sister
friend
designer
budget keeper
umpire
opinionated
changing
shopper
improver
cleaner
soother
comforter
teacher
advisor
comedienne
smart ass.

Sept 12: Describe Ways Blogging Has Changed You

Blogging has helped me realize how connected we all are.  I just live life and go about my shit, but then I'll read blog posts where my friends are reflecting or expressing feelings and these just aren't conversations that we have every day.  I love it. It's the introvert in me.  I like to write and read.  Blogging is a great forum for that.

Sept 11: Fav Online Shops

I don't shop online as a normal routine. I have bought a favorite dress from Guess.  If one brand is my style, it's Guess.  I love everything. I also love Victoria's Secret swimsuits and clothes that, of course, they don't have in stores.

Sept 10: Describe a Distinct Moment When Your Life Took a Turn

When my life took a turn, I had no idea what it meant for a long time.  I was a senior at Pitt State...scheduled to graduate in May 2007.  I went to the September '06 job fair for teachers.  I met a rep from USD 437. I came to WRMS for an interview in October and signed paperwork in early December.

I was from Oklahoma City and my parents had moved to Jefferson City, MO my junior year of college.  So, I had no specific place to go.  I didn't like the BFE feeling of Pittsburg.  Get me back to a city!  Topeka seemed great.  Proximity to Kansas City was ideal.  So there it was.  Moved to Topeka and knew no one. I feel like I've written about this before, but I do feel that this is a pivotal moment.  Looking back on it, I'm proud of my fearlessness.  I didn't have a husband to go with me. I didn't have parents with me. A sister.  I was alone. And I built myself a nice little life.  If I could high five myself, I would.

Sept 9: Personality Test

I was told to take this test and reflect.  Are you sitting down? Are you calm? Because this might shock you:

I'm an introvert.
I'm intuitive.
I'm a thinker.
I'm a judger.

INTJ

Double duh.

These personality test results don't mean that I'm an extreme anything.  In certain situations {cough, cough--MY JOB}, I'm an extrovert. It doesn't mean that I can't empathize or sympathize. I just lean in these directions.  I don't need to say much more because you people know me.  (I'm certain no strangers read this blog.)  But before I go, I must recommend a book called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.  It helped me realize why I want to fake extroversion all day and then come home and be QUIET!!!

A Great Book

I just read a great book--Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones.

I follow author Jennifer Weiner on Twitter and she is quite vocal on many literary topics. I love it when she recommends good books. I always save the titles on Goodreads.  She tweeted about Silver Sparrow on September 8 and I immediately picked it up at the library.

It.
Is.
So.
Good.

The first line is "My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist."  The setting is 1980s Atlanta, GA. Dana is James's daughter...one of the two.  The one that is a secret.  The first half of the novel is told through Dana's 15-year-old perspective.  The entire novel bounces from flashback to present time that builds a complex history of how this "family" has come to be.  I was heartbroken on Pages 6-10 when 5-year-old Dana drew James, her mom, and herself as her family in art class.  The teacher was confused because as everyone knew, Dana didn't have a daddy.  So, James explained to Dana that night that he loves her SO MUCH, but she can't be calling him her daddy because he has another family and another little girl.  Dana says, "Your wife and your other girl is a secret?" and James replies, "No. You've got it the wrong way around. Dana, you are the one that's a secret."

Ugh!

So, we see this girl, Dana, and her mother, Gwen survive this arrangement where James comes over on Wednesdays for dinner.  He provides for her financially and loves her, but his primary place is at his other home with Chaurisse and her mother, Laverne.  Tensions build for Dana and Gwen when the point of view switches to Chaurisse's.  I won't say too much, but if you want a very layered, complex book about how life can shake up all of your expectations, you need to read this.  It's wonderful.

Sept 6: A Story About a Time When I Was Very Afraid

Haunted house tours scare the SHIT out of me. My dad took me when I was 10. To downtown OKC. Not appropriate. Colby & I went a couple of years ago in downtown KC. They make me very jumpy, uncomfortable, and irrationally afraid.

I recognize the prompt calks for a "story." I don't have time to make this into a story. 

Sept 5: Pass On Some Useful Advice or Information

Work harder than the next guy. I don't know which coach taught me that. I can't pinpoint the moment. But I have never been the best. Ever.

Average. Above average-ish. That's my game.

I made it to college level softball because I worked at it. Period. I studied the game. I showed up an hour early to hitting practice. I always said yes to catching extra pitching lessons. I didn't drink the night before workouts. I ran in the summers. I found a way to be successful. That's the real reason I made it. 

Similarly, I had a job by October of my senior year at Pitt State because I did two practicum instead of one. I did "Honors" projects so that my degree would say "With Honors."

Not trying to toot my own horn. I know it will read that way to some people. I don't care. It's kind of like when I lose weight and people tell me "Good job." Do I feel like I should be proud? Yep. Same with the aforementioned. I worked my ass off and I'm proud of it. I'm not ashamed of it.  I don't even feel like I'm the "hardest" worker. I always feel like someone is outworking me. That pushes me. 

Work harder than the next guy. 

Sept 4: If I Could Take 3 Months Off...

I took 24 hours to think about this one. Obviously traveling is where it's at.  However, I would really get a lot of joy out of going out into the great big world and becoming a dingleberry.

What.?

I just want time with my family and friends.  Like in their life.  I would like to spend a week at my mom and dad's house.  Just reading and cleaning and cooking for them. Or running errands.  Same for my sister. Same for Jen. Same for many, many other friends.  I feel like we all just need an extra set of hands or an extra adult to help with this and that.  I also miss these people so much because we are all just living our lives.

Of course, when I'm done with that, I would love to take Colby and Alex and travel.  I don't know where.  It almost doesn't even matter. I need to travel with lots of "me" time built in. Lots of reading time.  I just need time and money not to be an object.  If you would like to see SOME of the places I would like to visit, see my Pinterest board.

Well, it's a dream.

Sept 3: Where I'm From

Kind of neato: I teach a poetry unit to start the year of 7th grade language arts.  As part of their final assessment, they have to write a free verse poem that is a collection of metaphors for where they are from.  I'll write my own here!

Where I'm From

I am from the red dirt of
dry, hot Oklahoma.
From an afternoon in July
and two hearts that still beat together.
I'm from popsicles and daycare.
I'm from mac 'n cheese and Diet Coke.
A kitty named Socks and
sweet, sweet Mable.
I'm from a talker and a worker.
I'm from pizza when Mom
is doing it all alone. Tired.
I'm from puzzles that stay on the kitchen table.
I'm from swim team and
'90s bangs. Full House and Saved by the Bell.
I'm from music videos and Faith Hill.
Jeans, a white tank, and Jagged
Little Pill.
I'm from 8th grade depression that got fed with
graham crackers
Oreos
and jars of peanut butter.
From Britney Spears, Tim McGraw and
Seventeen Magazine.
I'm from my sister's terrible 'tude
and her undying devotion.
I'm from constant academic
challenges.
From basketball shoes and
the dirt-leather-sweat of
the diamond.
I'm from a series of best friends
a brief moment of sisterhood
that I will never forget.
Christine. Shelby.
Kayla. Marcelina.
I'm from Sonic Drive-in.
Polos & visors.
Two pairs of jeans in my closet.
Paying my own way.
I'm from pre-prom
at Bricktown.
7-Elevens and football games.
I'm from knowing I want to leave home
and never come back.
Not because of misery.
But because of a gut feeling
and a desire to move on.

Blog Challenge: Blogtember!

My former colleague, Meaghan, over at Savoring the Sweet Stuff is participating in another blog challenge! Many of my blogger friends and I participated in the Blog Every Day in May challenge this past May.  It was fun to have topics to write on that I didn't come up with myself.  However, it was also a challenge because sometimes the topic is a bit forced, too personal, etc.  So there were a few posts when I said, "Nope, not discussing."  Having said that, I REALLY enjoyed reading my friends' musings.  So, I'm committing.  I'm working full time (duh), taking a college class (oh my), and traveling to St. Louis for umpire training mid-September (good gracious).  But I'm still committing.  Oh, and I have a husband, step-daughter, and two fur babies.  OH, AND I WORK OUT!  Yes, that's right. I'm guilt tripping all of you.  Join me!! Choose a few topics or all.  Don't let me be alone. Cheers to a month of posts.  The blog is back!