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November 22, 2005
Tailoring School to My Interests
Today’s weather was not good. I had the pleasure of biking to work in the pouring rain. My raincoat worked 100% but my jeans got soaked. I considered changing into my running shorts (I figured that was better than my running tights-I had both with me) but I decided both were inappropriate for the office setting. Not to worry, my pants dried completely over the next 2 hours. Then I went back out in the rain and biked to school. I got soaked again. My feet were soaking wet too this time. I changed out of my “walking shoes” into my front line running shoes b/c they were dry. My classmate said it looked like I had 4 feet b/c I had all these sneakers and socks on the floor and they were all the same kind. I guess non-runners don’t have a zillion pairs of the exact same sneaker.
I am pretty sure my nutrition class thinks I am recovering from or had an eating disorder. During class I mention athletes a lot and today we were talking about calcium and bone density and I had lots to say about it and the consequences of being underweight, eating disorders, etc. Then my prof asked if anyone in the class has had their bone density tested. I am one of the youngest in the class, where ages range up to 50 years old. You’re not supposed to get tested until you are much older than me (50s? older? Never unless you are high-risk?) I don’t really know the guidelines but I do know it’s rare for a 25 year-old. I had my bone density tested in April as part of a research study I was in that compared the bone density of runners with rowers. So I shared my experiences with that without sharing the detail that I was in a research study. Then after class I changed into my running clothes, headed past all of my nutrition classmates who were mingling in the lobby, and started running outside. This follows my announcement the first day of class when we all had to share what our nutrition interest was. I said that I was particularly interested in learning about athletes, their special nutritional needs, eating disorders, and the female athlete triad. I have no idea what my classmates think, its just interesting b/c a lot of what I have said (especially the bone density test) makes it look a specific way. I will say that I do have a personal interest in the female athlete triad. I eat enough (so I don’t have that arm of the triad), but I do miss a few periods a year (so I have amenorrhea, the second arm of the triad) and I have concerns about osteoporosis (the third arm of the triad) b/c of my personal risk factors (family history, small frame/thin, Caucasian). So yes, I do like to stay abreast of research in that field for both personal and public health reasons.
My family has started e-mailing about the Turkey Trot. My 23 year-old brother needed race info…and by the way…how fast were we all planning on running on Thursday? My Dad ran a 25:xx 5K this past weekend. The 23 year-old has a pulled stomach muscle but assuming he feels better on Thursday he would like to try for a 24 minute race. I told them I was hoping to come in around 25 minutes but I wasn’t picky b/c I was just getting better myself. At this point my Dad chimed in and suggested it sounded like my broken brother and I should be the ones in the Master’s division, not him. We have no idea what the 14 year-old is planning on running. We never include him in e-mails for anything b/c he insists on using a really complicated e-mail address with letters and 6 numbers that no one can remember.
I also realized that I have recently started included lots of information in my blog about how much activity I get while commuting and running errands. That’s pretty detailed, kind of boring, and definitely a new thing I started keeping track of. I realized I started doing that about the same time I started working on a new school project: The Built Environment: Increas1ng Phy5ical Activity in a Rebuilt N3w Or13ns.* (We're pretending we have control of the Federal money). It’s all about how to reduce barriers to inactivity in people’s daily lives through changing physical structures (speed bumps for cars, bike lanes, wide sidewalks, streetlights, putting destinations closer together, making routes aesthetically pleasing, having amenities for bikers and walkers (showers and bike racks!), safe routes to school, etc). I love the project and it’s definitely made me more conscious of my own daily physical activity.
My final nutrition project: Is body weight a good indicator of overall health? I think it’s one of those questions where the answer can go either way. I will keep you posted on my opinion.
**I had to change the words a bit b/c I don't want my blog popping up when people (like my groupmates!) search for info on the topic.
Posted by Audrey at November 22, 2005 08:56 PM
Comments
The Built Environment sounds like a very interesting project!
I also find it interesting that you had a bone density test. I never have had one (and I am 50), but I do HOPE and believe that my running should keep my bones pretty DENSE! And calcium tablets should help, too!
*jeanne*
Posted by: *jeanne* at November 22, 2005 09:18 PM
kind of funny about the perception your 'mates might have given your questions and activities but hey you are just very passionate about nutrition and health etc! maybe they just think the same thing, that you are passionate about the subject and live healthy, nothin' wrong w/that!
Posted by: brent hopkins at November 22, 2005 11:30 PM
since my job pretty much deals with weight issues, i can tell you that there are several large population based studies dealing with the question you're asking in your project. it's usually termed in BMI versus overall mortality or something. there's a healthy level around a BMI of 23 where the mortality gets higher if one is either heavier *or* lighter than that. of course there are confounding factors like people with severe illness having very low BMI's. but anyway, there are papers out there. let me know if you can't find them.
Posted by: Danny at November 23, 2005 12:28 AM
I think your classmates probably think you are a crazed super athlete that is highly aware of her physical condition. And who likes to ride her bike in the rain.
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at November 23, 2005 10:04 AM
I second what Jon thinks. If you think about it you probably work out more than 90% of people.
Good luck tomorrow! I hope you kick your familys' butts!
Posted by: Barb at November 23, 2005 01:37 PM