Sunday, August 3, 2014

Diet and Fitness Routine

Simply put: I'm a sprinter when in comes to my diet and fitness routine. Short intense spurts of motivation and obsession are followed by long rest periods. About 4 months before our wedding I did crossfit 3x weekly coupled with the strictest form of Paleo diet known: the Whole30 program. 

No legumes. 
No dairy. 
No grains aka no rice or bread.
No added or artificial sugar or chemicals. 
No alcohol. 
Basically No fun...

Hello chicken, roast beef, tuna, green beans, broccoli, sweet potatoes, avocado, salsa, mashed cauliflower, eggs, sausage, bacon, black coffee, tea, water, pineapple, apples... repeat...repeat...repeat.

Right before my Bachelorette in May, I was a solid 114 pounds. (5'3")

Middle
For me this was a gain of 2lbs from appetite-drainning Match Day, yet down a total of 10lbs from New Years.  To be honest although the diet was hell, by week 3 of the Whole30 program I had more energy than ever before. My body felt clarified. Rings were loose. My brain was able to distinguish that a cheat meal would absolutely wreak my mood, skin, nails, and stomach. The diet became easier since my brain now "knew" better than to eat certain foods, however; it all change at the first bite of our wedding cake. All I could think of was sugar for 8 weeks after.

....People when I fall off the wagon, it's like being sucked into a black whole coming out 5lbs heavier and 2 inches thicker on each thigh. Further stress  of moving to a new city, closing on a house, and getting a new job pushed working out down on my priority list. It was on the flat out "I-don't-care" list AKA the section of my to-do list where I embarrassingly write things down only to feel more productive even though I NEVER do them.

I eat paleo about 60% of the time but I finally signed up for the local Crossfit gym and have been attending the classes. Yes, the classic "turtle who cant roll over" style of getting out of bed and off the couch was back the first week. My abs were tender to even touch. Note to self- DON'T STOP WORKING OUT. It hurts to start over.



Crossfit really is an addiction once you get going.




If you ever want to meet people, go to a class. People bombard you with kindness and encouragement... while getting your ass handed to you of course. Truth: everyone is high off their own endorphins. Everyone is proud of themselves and each other when the hour is up. You'll never receive so many high fives in your life. If you are looking to feel a part of a community, try crossfit.




Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Our Residency Home

About a month and a half after Match Day we contacted a program recommended realtor. It turned out that our residency location has an extremely low cost of living. It would (to my surprise) be cheaper to buy than rent for 5 years. The ladies on the LDW facebok group have told horror story after horror story about buying during residency. After our realtor showed us around to 20 places in 2 days, it seemed we really had no other option only coupled with the fact that literally all the residents in the program have houses or condos. We took the leap and put an offer in!

When we set the date for our wedding prior to our possible residency move, I had no idea how crazy our timeline would actually be!

May 1st, 2014: He turns in keys to his medical school apartment in Toledo, Ohio. All of his stuff was transferred to the garage of my apartment in Lancaster, Ohio but he stayed at his parents place in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. (RED)
June 4th 2014: Last day of school in Lancaster, Ohio. (Purple)
June 6th, 2014: Rehearsal Dinner (Yellow)
June 7th, 2014: Our Wedding Day! (Yellow)
June 12th, 2014: Close on our first house in Huntington, West Virginia (Blue)
June 14th, 2014: Turn in keys to my Lancaster, Ohio apartment. (Purple)

I am SOOO happy to finally be settled. Our honeymoon was our move and I'm quite content with it.




In Huntington we were able to get a ton for our money! We got a medical housing loan through Huntington Bank where the PMI is dropped which was amazing.

Without telling you our address, zillow.com listed our house with the following:

Facts
  • Lot: 6,599 sqft
  • Single Family
  • Built in 1942
  • Cooling: Central
  • Heating: Other
Features
  • Attic
  • 2 Firepaces
    Flooring: Carpet, Hardwood
  • Parking: 1 Car Garage - Attached, Off street
  • Partial basement
  • Patio
  • Side Porch
  • Security System
  • View: City
    2 blocks to Ritter Park/Tennis Courts/ Bike Trail
Room Types
  • Breakfast nook/pantry
  • Dining room
  • Family room
  • Laundry room
  • Master bath
Construction
  • Exterior material: Brick
  • Roof type: Shake Shingle
  • Room count: 9
  • # Stories: 2.0
  • Structure type: Colonial
  • Unit count: 1
Other
  • Floor size: 2,821 sqft <<<This includes the half finished basement.

95% of the windows are brand spanking new. Not to mention a new roof in 2012 and new furnace negotiated at closing. We got all this for $160k with closing paid by the seller. Humm... can you say Yess??! Our mortgage is about $950 a month and property taxes are a low low low $1400 per year! Soon after we learned his program also gives him a $2000 bonus for matching there, free loops, pgy1 book mailed free, a $500 a year suit find, all dry cleaning reimbursed, and $500 step 3 reimbursement. Can you see now why after putting in an offer, my freaking out about not matching in Columbus, Ohio ended! Score!

We've been living together for about 6 weeks now and our long distance relationship is thankfully in hindsight. This medical journey is one heck of a roller coaster.




We will need to update the kitchen a bit and one of the bathrooms before selling in 2019. More posted to come with before and afters!


Monday, July 28, 2014

Our Wedding!

My definition of love:



Love is a blind connection, often unspoken, yet noticeable to everyone around. True love is rare, unmistakable, and restful. It unintentionally defines the person who I am today. Love has made me entirely change my outlook of the world since, without hesitation and without conscious calculation; my every decision is naturally made in care of Charlie. It is the recognition of my own flaws and honest attempt to become a better person for him. In time and after every new experience we overcome together, my loves grows deeper, with more maturity, and clarity. It is an unbroken trust that no matter what is thrown our way, how many miles are between us, or how long it’s been since we have seen each other that we will be OK, and even better, on the other side. Time is not our enemy but a friend. It’s an excitement for the future. Love an intense feeling of satisfaction I can make him, my best friend, happy. It’s celebrating with him through his and my accomplishments, and being immeasurably proud to stand by his side through it all. True love is timeless.


The day was a whirlwind of joy and excitement. The only time I cried-cried was the night of the rehearsal dinner around midnight when my brother and parents were in bed. I just finished editing the ridiculous soundtrack for our epic dad-daughter dance when I thought to check my email. I opened a thank you note from one of my former students, whom also was my classroom aid for a period of time. In the email she thanked me for a great year, helping her to love math, remembered my wedding date, and wrote that she was thinking of me. Quiet tears ran down my face past my smile sitting Indian style and hands in my lap. It was a moment I needed to myself- at peace with life.

I remember getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep. When I heard dad's alarm go off I shuffled down the hall past my parents bedroom. Mom immediately cried when she saw me. Laughing I said "Oh Mom...Already??!" and hugged her. Dad fixed his usual big breakfast with plenty of time for Mom and I to get to the Studio East Hair Salon. 

I loved the venue choice for our 180ish guests! The Wheeling Artisan Center's first floor is a restaurant/bar area followed by a glass/art gallery on the second floor. The third floor was our party. The dancing and tables where on one side, food and restrooms on the other separated by a sky light lit balcony connected by an elevator bridge, walking bridge, and bar bridge.

Our hotel was in walking distance which proved to be very convenient for those of us who shut down the downstairs bar with live music. People told me before the wedding that the actual night goes incredibly fast, but I didn't believe them until waking up to a pretty solid hangover the following morning. ;) So caught in the moment, Charlie and I left my flowers at the venue and cake topper in the hotel refrigerator. In hindsight a very telling clue into our relationship. Flowers whither. Cake spoils. Our company will not.

Thank you to everyone who made June 7th, 2014 unforgettable.  




































Hair: Studio East Hair Salon
Make Up: Adriene Pace
Photographer: Alisha Thomas Photography
Second Shooter: Rebecca K Swingle for LifeLens Photography
Videography: Luke Nelson 
Pastor/Officiant: Mark Zelewizc

Dress: La Jeune Marie of Columbus, Ohio 
Dress Designer: Jim Hjelm 8011
Bridesmaid's Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo Fiona Turkish Blue
Bridesmaid's Shoes: Nine West for Bridesmaids
Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Jewelry: Kirk Kara and Haute Bride 
Tux: Mens Wearhouse
Flowers: Boadners Florist
Venue: River City Artisan Center
Church: Calvary Presbyterian
Bride's Workouts: True Fit Athletics Crossfit

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

72 Hours Post Match Day

Welp... It's over.

Huntington, WV and Marshall University Orthopedics here we come!!

I have felt so many emotions over the last few days. I remember walking into The Match Ceremony in Toledo, Ohio thinking that very few people have moments in their lives like this one. I mean really.? A few posts ago I mentioned his interview offer list. I think the final count was 20 hospitals. Notice below that Marshall was his last on the interview trail and also notice I didn't know what city it was in. Opps. Interviews aside, the ranking process itself was intense. His draft order was completely flipped flopped after I and everyone around me declared January as my own personal Panic Attack Month. To put it another way, I used so much of the Bath and Body Works "Stress Relief" lotion after Christmas break, the students started to comment I smelled like men's deodorant. Hum.. No joke unfortunately. In retrospect, I don't think there is a manual on how to handle being "Married to Medicine". I really did like Philli but the high cost of living scared the bejezzis out of me. As I started to realize that the next 5 years for us would likely be where our first and maybe second child would be born, I wanted a place that would work comfortably. Philli (to me) would not have been the easiest option. The medical community group I belong to on facebook was amazing for being up front, honest, and forthcoming with family budgets. His first rank was done toward the end of the interview trail, right before his Marshal interview. Before my Philadelphia melt down, I really had pushed him toward the "prestigious" school route... ivy league... top-20-ortho-hospital-in-the-nation type places. Those schools to me say "successful" aka "I am one of the smartest people in America". He went to those interviews though at Virginia Commonwealth University and UPenn feeling unsure of the cultural academic attitudes, overwhelmed by the abundance of research projects,  disappointed by the hours spent in the OR (relatively speaking to the community programs), yet highly impressed by the facilities. I kept telling him that 5 years is 5 years. Not forever. Ultimately after he heard my major concerns of cost of living and wanting the option to stay home with kids his rank list completely flipped from "big name" to close-to-home community programs at the top with less to no research requirements and significantly more hours spent in the OR from day 1. Probably the hardest thing about the rank process is really knowing what you want out of life NOW. He said that if we end up at home-home that a community program would be best to see a a variety of cases but poor in the fact that the specialize complex cases would be limited. Going to a "big name" would help get fellowships and provide connections to start in a city. To be very honest, I don't think my mindset was quite right to make that decision during the month of February 2014. His placement now will hopefully still allow him to go back to Columbus, Ohio if we choose to later. He asked me if I saw myself retiring there and I couldn't answer him. I typically am an amazing planner and need to know every detail wasn't working for that question. I can see the 2 of us together, old, with grandchildren, a 2 story living room with a huge Christmas tree; but for the life of me, I have no idea where that setting's address is. I guess that's a good thing? ...but I digress...

All and all his 4th choice is where we ended up. Not terrible. A top 5 ortho match from what I hear is fantastic. We did have our hearts set on Mount Carmel in Columbus, Ohio though. I could have kept my amazing job (with higher than average salary for a teacher), he would have been able to moonlight, and again, we would be in Columbus. The program director even sent him a thank you for interviewing. He also rotated there. We ranked them 1st. Mount Carmel only takes 2 interns per year. Who knows? We might have been their number 3?  Oh well. It has been difficult saying goodbye to everyone at work. Facebook gave it away to ease the blow.

It was absolutely devastating not to open the letter to find his 1st choice.

Here is my play by play (very candid) Match Day experience:

10am: Putting the finishing touches on hair and makeup. I skipped breakfast I was so nervous. I didn't sleep but only 5 hours per night and consumed less than an adequate amount of calories due to nerves the week prior. My weight the day before match day read 116lbs... aka down 8-9 lbs in 3 months. I was dieting for the wedding, doing crossfit 2x a week, and eating paleo for the most part. The Match anxiety definitely helped.

11am: The school had set up a very nice appetizer station while we mingled with his friends.

11:40am: 3 people came to say wonderful things about the class' match outcomes

12pm: We opened letters!

12:01pm: Speechless. Heart sunk. No tears.

12:03pm: Speechless. No tears. He and I stared at each other with blank faces. One of this extremely unsensored and spontanious friend's asked "How do you feel about his match?" All I could say was "I don't know."

12:10pm: Speechless. Still staring at each other. Still not crying. I know he is disappointed. We both know I have to quite my amazing job. He knows I am devastated. No words needed but "Do you want to go?". I said "yes". I was really doing my best to not lose it in front of his friend's parents and fiances.

12:15pm: long silent walk to the car

12:16pm: lots of tears during the car ride home.  I remember bargaining "what if we ranked it differently"... "I'm sorry I freaked about about cost of living." ..."You have to spend 3 months in K-Tuck for peds your third year. What about me with kids?" etc...

12:35pm: He reminds me of all the good things we talked about when deciding to rank Marshall 4th after I said my share. I'm feeling more positive and forgetting about my job.


I know all of this because the video cam I used to record the ceremony was mistakenly not turned off an put in my giant hand bag...


Around 3pm: I finally am excited about the move to Huntington. I finally text my Dad.

7pm: We made reservations earlier in the week to have a very very nice dinner in Toledo. At this point I'm feeling very proud to be at a table with the fiance's or spouses of 3 other soon-to-be surgeons. None of his friends go their first choices. They ranged from 3rd to 8th on their rank lists. One friend will be going to Houston, TX for ortho (8th pick), another to Grand Rapids, MI for plastics (5th I think), and the last for general surgery at Riverside Hospital (3rd) in Cbus. All of his friend's opened their letters and basically had the same reaction except for one. Another one of the fiance's has the exact same situation as I do with quitting a great job to start over. It was good to hear everyone being positive at dinner.

9pm+ : drinks and mingling with the rest of the Toledo MS4's who just opened letters

                                                           -----------------------

72 Hours Post Match: After setting into the information, researching, and being in contact with a few people down there, it actually does seem like a good fit. The 2 other interns also are getting married this summer around the exact same time as we are! Crazy. I really hope who ever they are, that we become friends! (How silly does that sound!) We received his start date from the program as June 18th. Medical School graduation is May 30th. My job ends June 5th (teacher work day). Our wedding is June 7th which means we can now take a bitty honeymoon!! Finding housing and a new job for myself is now my top priority though. Praying the stars align and it all works out! I am applying to 2 jobs tomorrow.

"Positive things don't happen to negative people."

Being "Married to Medicine" does not come with a manual. The fiance actually said he would put my reaction up against the other significant others in our group. I got over the news relatively quickly.

Excited to see what the future holds! NO MORE LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP!!!