Twenty for 2011 Medical Update

So, my lab results came in today. Thyroid is normal (among the ten million other things I was tested for...). Apparently I am not immune to chicken pox and have somehow expertly avoided it for nineteen years. Huh. I did, however, have an above average but not high ANA count. This is concerning as lupus runs in the family, and I am not really energetic. However, since I have symptoms pointing toward Raynaud's disease (constriction of blood vessels making me hyper-sensitive to the cold), I'm betting it's that. ... But I won't find out for two or three months. Considering the very many dangerous diseases ANA counts are associated with, I'm viciously hoping I either received a false positive or am just a freak of nature who seriously needs to move someplace warmer.

BUT since my thyroid is normal, and most of those serious ANA related diseases include debilitating to mild symptoms like WEIGHT LOSS, it's fair to guess that I'm an adequate, mostly healthy human being who enjoys cheesecake, perhaps, just a little too much. At $20 a platter, it's obvious I take advantage of the holidays just a littttle too much.

So, now weighing in at 142.2 pounds, I realize it's very necessary that I completely alter my diet. As of recently, I have lowered the amount of calories I eat. However, it just isn't working and exercise is not helping. So, looking to the past, I'm going to re-do the raw diet - only this time, further allowing myself to be exposed to the wide variety of healthy, overpriced, non-raw organic foods that exist. And yeah, the reward system will still be in place - that's what will determine whether or not I can have junk food.

The only problem I have with this diet is that it's never over. In order to maintain the weight loss, I'm going to need to stay on the diet. Hopefully it will become a way of life. And maybe I'll actually see some results this time.

Starting Thanksgiving weekend, this is gonna get tough.

Twenty for 2011 Week 3

Stats:

Weight: 138.6

Measurements

Calf: 14.5"
Thigh: 21.5"
Waist: 28"
Hip: 36"
Wrist: 5.75"

Total: 107.25"

LOST: 2.75 inches
(one half inch since last week)

GAINED: ~ .4 pounds

Funny thing I noticed: My calves got bigger. One of my thighs is bigger than the other. o.0

Pre-Update to the Twenty for 2011 Update

Fact: I'm more muscular.
Fact: I have actually gained weight, according to my new doctor who weighed me in at 140.8. ... She did not yell at me.
Fact: My measurements have continued to shrink, despite my still not being able to fit into tight jeans. Honestly, I think some of the strength training is just making my butt bigger.


While I am enjoying some of the results, there are still many changes to my diet that need to be made.

Initially, I thought that I could just eat anything I wanted in the name of holiday spirit as long as I worked out a lot. ... And trust me, I work out all the time. I don't doubt that I'm losing fat (it takes up more volume than muscle, explaining the weight gain and inch loss - however, it doesn't yet have so much mercy for my size 5's as it does for my bedazzled measuring tape), but it's kind of hit me that college is in very little over a month. The results are not coming quickly enough and the more I work out, the more the sciatica in my leg acts up. I'm turning into an old lady.

Instead of having a bowl of ice cream, I'm going to have to settle for a spoonful. Instead of having a soda once a week when I want something fizzy, I'm going to have to work for it. I have a lot of stuff I want to do - make videos, read books, watch some movies and DVD sets, college papers - before school. Perhaps this will be the catalyst to get me off the web and doing the things I've been putting off for months. Already in a week I've read three books. I feel kind of like a titan, but it isn't the best I can do. Reducing my calorie intake by incorporating "rules" into my diet might be the best way.

... taking effect.. tomorrow.

On Wednesday I had five vials of blood removed from me by a very kind lab tech. He was so gentle I actually found the guts to look at the tubes as he drew my blood - big mistake. I'm not queasy, but the way in which he drained me so quickly and the oceanic motion of the blood in the vials was.. grim. I got light-headed for the first time having blood drawn, but I couldn't back down. It was for important reasons that my blood was drawn and rushed to a hospital.

I was tested for electrolytes, hypothyroidism (which will make me gain weight easily), and a rare autoimmune blood disorder that makes me swell in response to cold, among other things. I'll be anxiously awaiting the results until next week. Wish me luck, I suppose?

Twenty for 2011: Week Two

Stats:

Weight: 138.2

Measurements

Calf: 14"
Thigh: 22"
Waist: 28.5"
Hip: 36"
Wrist: 5.75"

Total: 107.25"

LOST: 2.25 inches
(one inch since last week)

LOST: 2 pounds

Am I celebrating progress? Nope. The average person's weight fluctuates 2 pounds each day. However, I weighed myself as this the other night, so it's promising. However, judging from where I lost my weight, I'm not doubting that it could be water weight that will just come back.

What I've been doing - strength workouts on the wii fit. They seem to exacerbate the slight sciatica I've been having in my leg, but according to the internet, core strength will help it go away. Can't win, I guess. I've been eating less and did one hardcore cardio session this week - running 5-7 mph for about an hour, going slower when I needed air. I find it helps to work out to a beat and focus on exhaling more than inhaling.

To be continued!

Twenty for 2011 - Week One

Stats:

Weight: 140.2

Measurements

Calf: 14"
Thigh: 22"
Waist: 29"
Hip: 36.5"
Wrist: 5.75"

Total: 107.25"

LOST: 1.25 inches


What I attribute this to:

1.) Errors in previous measurements. Afterall, I doubt my wrist actually got smaller - although to be fair, I have naturally tiny hands and so I do expect to see a difference at some point.

2.) Initial measurements were taken during PMS (meaning I was bloated - now that I am menstruating, I still am bloated to a certain extent and I intend to use Jillian Michael's water weight trick to shed some of that weight). While I may have lost some water weight already, resulting in my losing inches around my body, I have done some strength training, potentially resulting in more muscle mass... Canceling out that weight loss.

3.) Drinking water with lemon in it (lemon is said to increase metabolism), strength training on the Wii Fit, yoga, and jogging indoors. The fact that I lost inches without losing weight may also be explained by losing fat and gaining muscle.

As the water weight issue will still be an issue next week, real results will not show until Week 3.

Also, ladies, remember: unless you want gravity to help your muscles to over-stretch while exercising, always wear a sports bra.

Twenty for 2011

Mmm, the holiday season. Just after you finish off the Halloween candy, it's time for pies and Christmas cookies. If you've got a sweet tooth like me, it's a death sentence in the doctor's office. January of last year, I promised myself I'd be at my ideal weight by the time I graduated. .. Didn't happen. .. And that's even without temptation. College for me will arrive shortly. Classes start January 10th (and I don't even know when I'm moving in) and having a sweet tooth as I do (and a dislike of eating in front of others), I'm not too sure how the Freshman Fifteen is going to pan out for me.

Sweets are my reason to keep the extra blubber. Besides, it's friggin' cold out! Who cares if I bought that electric toothbrush and whitening paste, floss not once, but TWICE a day, have sensitive teeth, and owe all four or five of my cavities to sweets? Some lying part of me says it's worth it. But even so, my clothes aren't going to survive being dried at school and that brings me to this moment.

All I know is, I'm going to be grouchy if I don't have my sugar fix. Maybe my mellow attitude is accredited to years of overtolerance to sugar - I don't get hyper.

So after the YouTube Food Experiment fiasco that led to nearly a YEAR of digestion and intestinal issues (yum), no damn vegan, vegetarian, or raw SUPERHUMAN diet is going to keep me down. It's time for a new diet - one that includes sweets.

Few people know or accept that a balanced diet includes fats. It also includes not overdosing on fiber, which is exactly what I did. The detox on my body was so bad that although my mind felt clearer than it has in years and although I felt energetic, my body was crushed. My acne flared up horribly and I couldn't move. I never went to a doctor with my concerns (actually, I brought them up at a physical - they were ignored), but later read that crash cold-turkey detox diets often take a toll on the liver, heart, and kidneys and can result in death if continued. And although I suspect I have thyroid issues that are slowing my metabolism, I also doubt that I consumed enough calories to maintain such organs properly. So these sweets might be doing me a favor in this case.

Diet take 2.

- Will consist of smaller, more frequent portions. I will drink before I eat in case my body is confused about what it really needs. Snacks will include something with protein, fiber, or a low amount of calories if it's deemed filling enough. ... 100 calorie packs aren't cutting it.

During the YouTube Food Experiment I lost about 8 pounds in a week and a half. I did not exercise, unless shopping counts. 90% of my physical exertion included typing at my laptop while I laid in bed all day. However, now that I've brushed up on health information, I know that the more muscle a person has, the more calories they can burn as their metabolism improves. Not to mention the fact that I am a pitiful weakling who constantly needs help from men who make me feel, ironically, much smaller than I really am. To combat that, I intend to do a lot of strength training. .. And, you know. Cardio so I don't end up looking like a linebacker.

Current stats:

Height: 5'3"
Weight: 140.2
BMI: ~ 24.8
BMI at which I would be overweight: 25

I don't appreciate BMI scales since they tend to be inaccurate, but it's what my doctor will probably use to determine how many papers about proper diet she should print out for me. I'm saving trees, here.

This is what really matters to me...

Measurements

Calf: 14"
Thigh: 22.5"
Waist: 29"
Hip: 37"
Wrist: 6"

Total: 108.5"
Goal Total: ~ 100
Goal weight: 120

Losing 1-2 pounds a week as recommended, I can effectively lose 8-16 pounds by New Years Day. Double resolution:

I want to lose twenty pounds by February of 2011.

My question is, is it possible to do this without Yo-Yo dieting?

And to anyone who questions me revealing such personal information, I'm pretty accepting of myself. The only time I've ever been sincerely called fat was when I was very overweight for my age at 8 years old. It stunted my growth - I should be taller. I weigh less now than I did then. By dedicating this information, I'm forcing myself to go through with this. As much as I want to do this, it's going to suck and I encourage anyone doing the same to tell someone about it - every extra push can make a person go miles farther.

Samsung Rogue

While I would love to switch over to AT % T to use the iPhone, I am unfortunately still broke and on my parent's contract on Verizon. Because of this, last year I chose a new phone for my eighteenth birthday - a Samsung Rogue.

While newer versions have been released since I purchased the phone (just my luck - this always happens to me), it really seems to me like the old version is much the same. This cell phone is based solely upon touch-screen technology and thankfully is very durable. If you are one of those types that loves technology but uh, tends to break things easily, this bulky phone just might be for you.

Then again, it probably won't fit well in your pocket and seriously, it's not that great of a phone.

Clarity of other line: horrific. At some point it gets tiring to constantly blame the other person for having a crappy phone and you will wind up saying, "just call me on my house phone."

Texting: excellent. Messages send back and forth in a flash. but... how do you cancel a text? For a year I've just hit every key and have gotten lucky only once or twice.

Camera: Lukewarm. It takes decent photos, but there is often a blur or glare and even when your arm is perfectly still, there is a good chance your picture will appear warped.

Clarity of your own voice: Good. While this depends on the other person's phone, the Rogue is great at picking up sound.

Touch-screen technology: annoying. see below.

Malfunctions: Too frequently. When you receive a text while deleting texts (even if you're just on a screen with the option to do so), the phone will go blank and not turn back on. In order to fix this texting crisis, you must remove the battery and turn your phone back on, waiting for the three hour logo screen to pass. Note: you're probably never going to fit the cover back on correctly.

Secondly, often times it sends texts out to people you clearly did not want it to. Sure, this means you can't trash-talk people (a phone encouraging moral values... huh), but it gets pretty embarrassing when your girlie insights to your best friend are sent out to your powder-keg ex-boyfriend.

Additionally, after just one year my touch-screen has begun to fail. So far holding down certain options or positions on the screen and/or dragging icons seems to fix the issue, but overall, I'd say do your research and find a better phone.

CoverGirl Fantastic Lash: Worst Mascara EVER

When I first learned how to apply makeup, I used this product a lot since it was cheap. Not much has changed regarding that factor, so needing money for school, I tried following that route again, forgetting how awful this mascara is.

Lengthens? Yes.

Curls?: NO

Waterproof: Not even SWEAT proof. You can blink this stuff off. Also, waterproof mascaras in general (although they are usually better than this) tend to not work as advertised and can even make your eyelashes fall out or stop growing.

Clumps: You'll spend five minutes trying to make it look decent, never mind right. The brush is awful no matter what technique you use. Blinking into it, using the brush, it's useless. Just buy another mascara.

Joe Boxer Underwear for Women

Do we all remember the man from this commercial?



Joe Boxer.

Well, Mr. Boxer, I have a few words about your underwear..

I have always worn the same size underwear. In fact, before I got a job, my mother used to make me buy everything cheap... Being a young adult now, money burns through my pocket. However, I remember a day when your underwear satisfied. It was comfortable, the band was perfect, the patterns were not hideous, and I trusted the products I bought and their durability.

Your durability now? I broke through a single thin band the first day I wore a pair. Your actual women's boxers have weak bands, ride up, and sink in the back. Seriously?

Well, I guess at 5 pairs of underwear made by foreign children and sold for $15... You get what you pay for. So much for trying to be a shop-smart college student.

Aerie, you forever have my soul.
Well, my hips at least.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

For years I have struggled to find a really great foundation. Usually they leave me feeling greasy (even the oil free products) or caked up...

However, with a little maintenance, Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse really isn't a bad foundation at all and can be found in nearly any aisle where they sell makeup. Another perk? It's not expensive at all.

While many people complain about this product, it's really a matter of your skin type. If you have incredibly dry or flaky skin, forget about it (you're better off using liquid makeup). Otherwise, use a primer such as Rimmel's Foundation Primer! It's completely worth it and will save you from using a lot of foundation. You wouldn't paint your living room without priming it first, would you?

I hope not.




As for cover-up (used around the eyes to lighten dark circles), I don't even own one! I got a nice [fading] brown tan over the summer, so I just use a lighter shade around my eyes. Hopefully I can finish the pot of Smooth Mousse I'm using now before it's winter and I'm back to lookin' pale and pasty again.. Remember ladies, indoor tanning will make you look leathery, wrinkly, and old (not to mention orange), and we simple girls? We'll probably be laughing. Save it for proms only.

Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pens

If you've ever waltzed down a beauty aisle at your local CVS or supermarket, you've seen these bad boys (girls?).

And believe me... They're bad.

I used to have a friend who was incredibly decorative with her nails. Her mom was a manicurist and my friend was a bit of a diva, so naturally, she had every nail brush and warm bright color known to womankind. I let that slide for a while until a couple years later when I jumped for these.

1) They aren't cheap. For so little nail polish, I could easily buy the same thing from Claire's or Icing at half the price.

2) They're WATER BASED! If you don't know what this means, it means that you need to put an extra coat of clear nail polish over the pattern immediately after doing it, otherwise it will wash or rub off. For lazy people like me (and for people who know that too much nail polish will cause peeling..) that's just not going to happen.

3) It's not even a brush. It's a pen. Hence the name. Expect dig marks in your base color.

4) Sometimes the color doesn't come out... Some times too much comes out. The entire color-disposing pen system is just a pain in the ass.

Watch the video below to see a tiger or zebra patterned nail style that I did recently using a discounted Claire's duo-brush nail polish.



Products used:

Neutrogena Wave Review

By now, all the ladies have seen this product in stores. Everywhere from CVS to Stop & Shop stocks it on their shelves, and let's be honest... It's not too expensive.



But is it worth the money?


In my opinion, if you need to exfoliate BADLY and have terrible skin, absolutely buy it. As for me, a person whose skin is normal yet can't pick if it randomly wants to be oily or dry, well, it's kind of useless...

This is not the best product Neutrogena has to offer, and the vibrating base may just be the only beneficial thing about it. Vibration and exfoliation prompts blood to rush to the surface of the skin, replenishing improperly nourished cells. This can and absolutely will improve the health of your skin.

However, I find that whenever I use this product I'm still basically sniffing bubbles as I accidentally would while washing my face with soap and water. I can't choose what I want to put on the pads (there's no difference between the different brands of pads.. really, one just looks prettier), which is a pain.

The vibration feels amazing on the skin, at least until I got used to it. However, this is about the only thing the Wave does do a better job of cleaning than soap and water - my face felt cleaner, but not by much. Half the time I feel like I'm washing with old makeup residue - seriously, it takes it off like a miracle. And then I need to flip the pad over and if I'm not done? Time for a new pad.

My skin care regiment as it stands now includes soap & water, hot showers (always wash and condition your hair first!), drinking a lot of water, and these two godsends:






If I do not drink a lot of water or fruit juice (more than 8 glasses), my skin becomes dry, leathery, and pale-yellow looking due to my olive undertones. It isn't pretty. My skin is fine in the summer, but I still have to make sure I exfoliate now for the winter.. Afterall, dead skin is what causes a lot of acne. I even use the apricot scrub all over my body, leaving it feeling very soft. It doesn't compare to other products such as Biore's Pore Minimizing Exfoliator.


Is there anything particular you do to help your skin?

Friday the 13th Remake

Last night, after much hesitation, I finally took the plunge and agreed to watch the Friday the 13th remake with my older brother. Ever since I was a little kid, he's encouraged me to watch horrible, nightmare inducing.. well, horror movies including, but not limited to, such series as Friday the 13th, Chucky (ruined my childhood), and Nightmare on Elm Street. He's even upped the ante and forced me to sit through even more creative, less inhibited indie films. Typical guy thing to do. But obviously I was sort of interested... Right?

One thing is for certain: this remake DID scare me. Not so much for the kills (too many "surprises," in my opinion) as for it's realism. Being an eighteen year old, I know that teenagers are yeah, becoming increasingly stupid. I found myself relating to these college students and their jokes. Rampant libidos and nudity aside, the characters all seemed like people I'd met before, including all the static characters such as the hillbilly and the old woman. Their actions also seemed realistic; pretty boy tries to impress his peers for popularity, and CELL PHONES were actually mentioned, which was nice. The only thing that jolted me back to the real world was the sight of Supernatural's beautiful Jared Padalecki.

However, Jason is different in this movie. He runs (but what's to make us think he never could?) and is very, very smart (although again, people change; just because he was mentally handicapped as a child doesn't mean he would grow up knowing nothing). One major complaint of mine is that Jason is a little -too- smart. For those who already watched this movie, you'll know what I mean when I ask, did Jason become a frigging architect? How did he create those tunnels? It makes sense in the larger scheme of things because it's an easier way for him to travel, explaining how he seems to teleport through scenes, but seriously? And where did he get all that stuff? I doubt Daddy had a sharpening wheel and chains like that in his tool shed.


Really a great movie. I encourage you all to see it.

Does anyone have an opinion on the latest Freddy remake? I haven't bothered to yet.

What's your favorite movie?

Motherload

I find that with college coming, I no longer have the money to splurge on the coke-like addiction that is WoW. That's fine; it's been a while, anyway, and melted my brain with its repetitive fabulosity (what?). Now that I'm penny-pinching, online games seem to be the way to go.

Yesterday, I revisited an old favorite of mine, Motherload. By XGen Studios (known for high-quality [though sometimes glitchy], unique games), Motherload does not fail to impress. However, the first time I played, I eventually just got angry and quit...

SPOILERS*

The beginning is fairly easy. You drill for minerals. Rack up some cash. Drill some more. At some point you get bored, but don't realize it because your fingers are sore and you just want to see what the real point of this damn game is. You don't give yourself carpal for nothing in return.

As you near say 1,500 feet down, boulders begin to show up, blocking your path. It's really not a big deal, as you can easily maneuver your way around them. It's when the lava pockets emerge that SUCKDOM begins to show through. What I mean by that is this: you can have all the fuel in the Martian world and the greatest cargo hold and drill known to life, but you're screwed if you don't have a fully upgraded hull. Well, maybe not screwed, you just need to be careful. Your ship WILL explode if you hit them.

Past about 3,500 feet is around where undetectable gas pockets will really screw you over. It is imperative that you buy some nano repairers at this point. A little after 6,000 feet, everything you can drill through that is not a mineral or will not land you some cash WILL blow you up. Period.

Throughout the game several screens pop up with messages. At a certain point, it becomes obvious that there will be a boss by game's end. After you've spent a year drilling (I beat this game in several hours - seriously, just forget the petty ore and do yourself a favor; dig deeper and grab the most valuable minerals you possibly can), you will reach a floor, or perhaps the inner crust (I'm not a geologist - maybe it's Hell?). There will be an opening at the far right of the screen. When you go through it, you must fight your boss with a MASSIVE amount of explosives. And yes, you must have them with you all at once. If you find you need more explosives or more nanites, you're gonna have to start the boss sequence all over again because there are two bosses, so be prepared. Additionally, if you've collected a lot of ore by the time you hit the bottom of the ground, your machine is going to be weighed down, sometimes to the point where it cannot lift and you'll need to ditch some minerals by clicking them in your inventory... Even if you have the largest cargo hold available. In this way, it's kind of realistic.

All in all, the bosses are easy. With at least 40-50 nanites and large explosives each, there's really nothing to worry about if the game means that much to you. I've never beaten the boss sequence until today. However, one serious frustration of mine was that just standing near the bosses resulted in hull damage, while if my machine was too far away, no damage was inflicted at all. I just had to see how this game ended... Even if it stole away precious time. I'll leave the ending to your imagination, though.

All in all, fantastic game if you need to kill a dull day.

Play it here now: http://www.xgenstudios.com/play/motherload

Microsoft Lifecam Cinema Webcam

As some of my YouTube subscribers remember, about a month ago I did a review on this webcam. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to use it very much, there are a few things about it that I initially noticed.

SOUND

The microphone is not great, but is still good quality. Additionally, there is a high-pitched whine at some points, but it doesn't block out sound.


PICTURE

The HD on this camera is just what the box says and more. With my old Logitech webcam, I needed to use special lighting - which is a miracle to be able to place in a small, crowded apartment. However, the Lifecam Cinema automatically corrected the lighting, making spots that were even dark to the eye suddenly visible. My laptop is from late 2006 and only stores 139 GB (most of which is full), so the video does flicker. However, I have seen other reviewers, both with new MacBook Pros and with PCs, use the Lifecam and still have an occasional blink.





PRICE

This is a key factor for some people. I'm not going to lie: this camera came out in Fall of 2009 and nearly a year later, it's still not cheap. I bought mine at BestBuy for $80 only to find out a week later that it was literally half the price on Amazon. Do your homework before you buy!

EFFECTS

I can't say enough how incredible the effects are. Of course, some of them are useless, but the majority of them were fun to share with family and friends.

EASE OF USE

Amazing. Although the webcam is designed for larger LED monitors, it will still fit on a laptop or desk (yes, it offers the option - something I personally worried about). The download did take a VERY long time, but after that, using the webcam is easy even for the technologically disabled. My parents could manage it - even my mother, who often needs help finding the 'X' button.

Overall, I'd say this cam is a great buy! Perfect for college students or video-bloggers who want to keep in touch with the world.