02.22.07

Fatblogging: no weight listed

Posted in Health at 1:04 am by Paloma Cruz

So, I’ve decided to jump on the fatblogging bandwagon. I started a diet as part of my new year’s resolution, same as millions of others did.

Today’s victories:

  • Even though I slept through my alarm (which means that I didn’t eat breakfast at home) I overcame the desire to stop at Burger King for a croissant breakfast with extra hash brown. Instead, I ate a protein bar at my desk.
  • I drank 4 bottles of water (which is great for someone who used to get along without a single one all day)

Discouraging:

  • I still can’t get properly motivated to increase my activity significantly.
  • After dinner, I had a tremendous urge to eat even though I know I wasn’t hungry. (I hate being a stress eater.)

Wish me luck.

02.14.07

Perry’s fight against cervical cancer

Posted in Health, News at 12:17 am by Paloma Cruz

I won’t pretend to understand the politics behind it, but Texas Governor Rick Perry finally did something I can applaud: he’s ordered that sixth-grade girls be inoculated against a virus linked to cervical cancer. Of course, the virus is sexually-transmitted, which is why it’s such a controversial order.

Some people see inoculating 11 and 12-year-old girls against a sexually-transmitted disease as permission or implied permission for them to have sex. I don’t agree. Apparently, neither does Gov. Perry.

Critics rip Perry’s vaccine mandate
Governor rejects opponents’ calls to reverse order
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

[snip]

Social conservatives from Texas to Washington called on Perry to reverse his order making Texas the first state to require the vaccine, saying the mandate makes sex seem permissible and that parents should be the ones to decide whether to immunize their daughters. And several Texas lawmakers expressed outrage at Perry for circumventing the legislative process.

[snip]

Perry refused to rescind the executive order he issued Friday requiring the vaccine for girls ages 11 and 12 who are entering sixth grade in September 2008. Parents will be able to opt out their daughters, as they can for other required vaccines.

In a statement, Perry addressed criticism that the vaccine could send a message that teenage sex is permissible.

“Providing the HPV vaccine doesn’t promote sexual promiscuity any more than providing the Hepatitis B vaccine promotes drug use,” the governor said. “If the medical community developed a vaccine for lung cancer, would the same critics oppose it claiming it would encourage smoking?”

[snip]

02.12.07

a diet update

Posted in Health at 1:30 am by Paloma Cruz

I’ve started watching what I eat. It’s not a health kick or a desire to lose weight… not really. What it is is my refusal to have to buy new clothes to fit my weight gain. I refuse to spend money because I can’t control my eating.

Anyway, I lost one pound last week and two pounds this week. That may seem like nothing, but it had gotten to where I was gaining one pound or so every week. That’s really not a good thing.

My biggest problems right now are remembering to eat breakfast and not overindulging at night.

So far so good.

02.04.07

tips to help you take charge of your finances

Posted in Finances at 12:49 am by Paloma Cruz

From Get Rich Slowly, 7 Ways to Take Charge of Your Finances in 2007. There’s a lot of usely information in the post, so I recommend that you read the whole thing.

Here’s the shortlist:

  1. Track every penny you spend
  2. Develop a budget
  3. Start an emergency fund
  4. Attack your debt
  5. Open a retirement account
  6. Spend less than you earn
  7. Do what works for you

More posts on this topic:

02.01.07

what I spent in January

Posted in Finances at 8:39 am by Paloma Cruz

The tallies are in:

My eating out budget for this month was $100: I spent $223.47.
My book budget for this month was $50; I spent $131.04.

Of course, the $951.65 for car repairs were unexpected, and I have @ another $600 due for next month.

All in all, I can see where I’m going to have to be more vigilant. I didn’t expect to be on target for this month. It’ll be a few months before I hit it completely. But I’ll be closer next month, will make adjustments to anticipate my challenge areas and I will hit my goals.