Weigh In - Week 3

So this week wasn't quite as successful. I'm UP .6 of a pound. I really don't feel like I gained any weight, I sort of feel like its just a fluxuation, or perhaps I really didn't lose that much weight last week. Who knows, but I am trying not to get discouraged. I've been working out a lot (weight lifting 3 days a week and running about 2.5 miles 2 days a week) so I definitely feel like I am in better shape, perhaps just not any thinner.

If I'm not around the next two weeks its because I am trying to be more productive on my case, and I also managed to make lots of plans which leaves me less time around the house and for blogging. But I'll be here... just trying to adjust to working at home!

Shhh.... doctor sleeping!

The afternoon, post-call. (The afternoon after he was on call at the hospital all night).

If I had a money tree

For someone who isn't exactly working, I manage to stay pretty busy... so busy that I haven't been blogging as much as I thought I would be (considering my husband is gone so much).

But what I've been meaning to get around to is talking about "work." Last month I was offered an opportunity to do contract work - not contract law, but to work hourly under contract to provide legal services. It took a few weeks to get everything lined up, but I have officially started doing some contract work. While I am kind of on a trial or test for now, I am hoping that my work is to their satisfaction so that I can continue this work. There are some deadlines, but nothing intense. The best part is the flexibility. I can work whenever, wherever. It's great, I can work late at night after Mr. Dawkter has gone to sleep, or I can work during the day, or I can work at my parents house when I go there to visit. It is absolutely wonderful!

Today for example: The husband was on call last night, so I stayed up late doing things around the house, got up early and again did more things around the house, worked out and when he came home in the afternoon (post-call) I was able to take a nice nap with him. It was fabulous. Its little things like this that make this adjustment to residency, so much easier! Don't get me wrong it hasn't been totally easy, it's hard going from seeing your spouse every day, even all day (we had about a month between medical school and residency) to seeing them perhaps one waking hour a day - but it has been easier because I've been around. Being home (and now being able to work from home - hopefully) allows me to get everything done around the house, and to spend time with Mr. D when he is home. I've really been enjoying all the baking and cooking I've had time to do as well. For example, tonight he had a visiting resident over for dinner and I cooked ribs, corn on the cob, sweet potato fries, zucchini with eggplant and a chocolate sauce cake ala mode for dessert! Yum! None of this I would have had time to do if I was working 40+ hours a week and commuting!

So I am hoping and praying that this contract work will work out, because it would be such a blessing!

Although I have been on the lookout for a money tree - because despite what many people may think, residents don't make a ton of money (especially considering the number of hours they work). But my search has thus been fruitless, I have found no money tree, and so I need to work in order to make sure we can make ends meet. But if any of you happen to know where I can find a money tree, I would really really appreciate it if you could share that information with me.

Seriously, wouldn't it be nice if we had money trees?

Weigh In - Week 2

..... drum roll please.......



I lost 1.4 pounds! (That's like 6 sticks of butter!) I'm happy about this weeks weigh in because it was a bit of gratification for staying (mostly) on track this week.

Of course I wasn't perfect -I did have more than a bite or two of a macadamia nut brownie sundae on Saturday night - but I tracked (counted my points) all week!

And thank you for all of you encouraging words, it really helped me stay on track, it reminded me to make smart food choices! So thank you!

A New Favorite

As I mentioned, I've been on weight watchers before and I tend to find that three foods that are key to my success: vegetables, oatmeal and popcorn. All three of these things are low (or zero) points and tend to fill me up when I'm hungry.

I've been scouring the grocery store shelves for new healthy options and recently I came upon this wonderful gem:

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Dark Chocolate Oatmeal - I love chocolate (and anything sweet for that matter) and the oatmeal is "filling food," so it is what I consider a smart indulgence. It's three weight watchers points for 1 packet which allows for a very filling and satisfying sweet treat. I think it's a new favorite!

I'm also loving Trader Joe's light kettle corn - individual portioned bags are just two points -

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as well as the Vitamuffin chocolate muffin tops - which are only 1 sweet point!

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I'd love to hear some of your favorite "healthy" or light snacks!

Weigh In - Week 1

Down .6 pound. Not much, but its something. And considering I wasn't exactly on plan on Friday and Saturday I'm still happy about it. I had my cousin's fabulous wedding on Friday (and brunch on Sunday) and splurged to enjoy the fabulous food and drinks.

I know most of you don't really care about my weight-loss but this is more for me. Its a way to hold myself accountable. I think I am more likely to stay on track if I report my progress.

And .6 of a pound is the equivalent of 2 sticks of butter.

1 Month Down, 83 More to Go

So we've survived our first month of residency. And I say "only 83 more to go" somewhat jokingly. It will be a long road, but so far it hasn't been too bad so it's not like I am counting down because I am miserable. (Not that I don't expect to be miserable at times during this journey).

Month one of PGY-1 (Post Graduate Year -1/also known as Intern year) was Cardio Thoracic Surgery for the husband. CT is part of general surgery so it meant a larger call pool, so that Mr. Dawkter was only on call 5 nights the whole month of July. He also got 3 days off which wasn't too bad.

The first week was full of adjustments for the husband, but after that he seemed to do very well. There were however, a few administrative glitches or hiccups that were somewhat aggravating. For example for the first two weeks he didn't have access to one of the surgical hallways/floors. Seriously, how does a surgical resident not have access to one of the surgical floors? Luckily that only took about two weeks to clear up. None of the interns also had any money on the meal cards for the first few weeks (they get a small allowance to eat for the nights they are on call). We also struggled to get insurance figured out, but hopefully now, we have health, dental and eye insurance for both of us. And last but not least, Mr. Dawkter was not given a locker. And he still doesn't have one. Again, seriously, every intern needs a locker when they start, its been a month, how does he not have a locker yet? Which means that Dr. D doesn't have a place to put his stuff during the day, and he cannot bring any lunch or any snacks. The worst part is that the husband works from the early morning until well after 5:00 p.m. (or regular office hours) so he cannot even go and complain in person about any of these things or his lack of a locker. Every week we hope he gets a locker, but we're still waiting.

But I guess if not having a locker is the worst thing about month one of intern year, we really are pretty lucky.