Reflecting on 2009

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYLu1tU26y-AreCytHEmQaq-Im8uDGOIU7We6wc4jeVWUVcPzfoqoI2krzjyzzbpHtAYH6HbW77fXqbJRlXh1Vdamiz-AEA3NNxFQsN-Y4HhPPn3or4u9Vdx8IbMJavN82iTbjjlOupSu/s1600-h/2009.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420542186174906946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYLu1tU26y-AreCytHEmQaq-Im8uDGOIU7We6wc4jeVWUVcPzfoqoI2krzjyzzbpHtAYH6HbW77fXqbJRlXh1Vdamiz-AEA3NNxFQsN-Y4HhPPn3or4u9Vdx8IbMJavN82iTbjjlOupSu/s400/2009.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />Today I looked at my old blog, the one on the right, titled "My old Diana's Weight Loss Journey". I don't even remember why I started a new blog in March 2009. I vaguely remember it was something to do with this <a href="http://theantijared.blogspot.com/" target="blank">guy</a>. :)<br /><br />I was in search of my 2009 goals, which I found in my January 1, 2009 post. I also found my old blog was black type on a black background which made it unreadable. No idea how that happened.<br /><br />When I read through my 2009 goals I wanted to cry. My first thought was that I'm a big, fat failure. I didn't actually make any of my 2009 goals happen, and I only had four goals. Then I decided to try and look at the glass half full instead of half empty.<br /><br />Some of these goals are still going to be on my 2010 list, but here's how I did for 2009. Fortunately it was a short list.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">1. Get to my goal weight of 135 (28.6 pounds to go!).</span><br /><br />~~~ This was a fail. Any way I look at it I failed. I don't even know how I can put a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">positive</span> spin on this one. I was so close and then something happened. I just stopped and went the other direction. I weighed 163.6 when I posted this goal January 1, 2009. Today I weighed 175.4, a gain of 11.8 pounds in 2009. I suppose the positive is that I didn't go all the way back up to 240 pounds.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">2. Maintain my 75-pound loss.</span><br /><br />~~~See #1. Although I've managed to maintain a 64.6 pound loss, this goal wasn't met.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">3. See a therapist for that nasty little compulsive overeating problem I have.</span><br /><br />~~~I saw a therapist for three sessions. It didn't help. I suppose I didn't give it a chance, but it seemed like a total waste of time and money. I know I have issues, but seeing a therapist didn't seem to really work for me. I'm neutral on this being a failure.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">4. Work on my marriage.<br /></span><br />~~~I did and I didn't. I guess the positive on this one is I'm still married. We have our good days and our bad ones. Sometimes it seems all bad, then a glimmer of the old us shows itself and it all seems worth working on.<br /><br />Well, so much for the positive spin. The only positive is that by being such a failure in 2009 I have an opportunity in 2010 to make these things happen. More to come on that later.<br /><br /><strong>My workout today</strong><br />Oh my gosh! I just about killed myself at the gym. I think I'm a bit of a showoff when it comes to lifting weights and I did a really foolish thing. I did all my concentrated <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbell</span> curls with 20-pound <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbells</span> (some guy was watching me), and then my overhead press with 25-pound <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbells</span>. I also added some new exercises today for upper body and now I can't lift my arms over my head. Ouch!<br /><br />I've added a blog page on the the right, My workouts, where I'll keep track of all my workouts. I always carry a notebook with me to the gym and write them down. Now I'll transfer the information to a blog page. If anyone has any suggestions of new exercises or web sites with exercises, please let me know. I had some bookmarked on my old laptop that crashed last summer and now I can't find them. I really want to ramp up my workout routines in 2010. This is going to be my year!

Reflecting on 2009

Today I looked at my old blog, the one on the right, titled "My old Diana's Weight Loss Journey". I don't even remember why I started a new blog in March 2009. I vaguely remember it was something to do with this guy. :)I was in search of my 2009 goal…

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Just another Monday (on vacation)

<strong>A blog worth checking out</strong><br />I read a lot of weight loss blogs. I don't always comment because I don't always have something worthwhile to say or I'm in a rush, but that doesn't mean I'm not reading your blog. Many of you are really great writers with lots of ideas and suggestions on how to be healthy and fit. Even those of you that struggle, you still give me hope because you keep on trying.<br /><br />Today I came across a blog that's I think is worth mentioning. <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/" target="blank">Oh She Glows</a> written by Angela Liddon, a beautiful young woman that lives in Milton, Ontario.<br /><br />I have to admit when I first read her "about" story I was turned off because her highest weight was 147 (she's 5' 4"). Fortunately, I kept reading and realized the real difference between Angela and myself is that she figured it all out before she gained another 100 pounds.<br /><br />I remember weighing 147 pounds. It was when I graduated college. I remember I felt as big as a cow, and how I thought I was so incredibly obese. I was repulsed by my fatness. It's also when I started my obsessive behavior towards food and exercise. An obsession that has continued throughout my life, resulting in me gaining almost another 100 pounds.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/" target="blank">Oh She Glows</a>website. Especially some of her older posts. She has a lot to say about society's obsession with beauty and being skinny. She's a pretty amazing young woman, and I like her way of thinking.<br /><br /><strong>About my post-Christmas illness</strong><br />I feel 100% better today. Thank you for all your well wishes...they must have worked! I really don't know what happened, or why I got so sick. It was scary and horrible.<br /><br />The more I think about it, the more I think it might be related to having my gallbladder removed about three years ago. I was reading Dawn's <a href="http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/2009/12/lazy-sunday.html" target="blank">post</a> about how she can't eat fatty foods anymore since she had her gallbladder removed.<br /><br />Normally, even when I overeat I don't eat fatty foods. I eat too many apples or too many grapes or too many ounces of broiled chicken breasts or too many roasted Brussels sprouts. Trust me though, I can easily gain weight from too much good stuff so it's not necessarily a good thing that I overeat healthy food.<br /><br />Christmas dinner consisted of a lot of foods laden with butter. Real butter. Not the Smart Balance stuff that I normally use, but real, 100% dairy butter. Even the turkey gravy had, heaven forbid, drippings from the turkey, including a lot of the grease (made mother-in-law style).<br /><br />I suspect that's what caused my "stomach flu" symptoms. Overeating really fattening food. In other words, that was self-inflicted pain. It's something I don't ever want to experience again. Ever!<br /><br /><strong>Plan for the week</strong><br />Today is just a lazy day. It's noon and I'm still in my PJ's. I often wonder if when I retire someday, if I'll even bother to get dressed. I could be like Hugh Hefner and just wear my PJs all day, every day. :)<br /><br />I am going to get out of the house and hit the gym soon. I'm going to really make an effort to limit it to about an hour. Also, because of Fatinah's <a href="http://fatinah.blogspot.com/" target="blank">post</a> about 10 health misconceptions, I'm going to change my workout.<br /><br />I'm going to do a 10-minute warmup on the elliptical, then my strength training for 30 minutes, and then a 30-minute cardio. I've been doing this backwards for months (okay, years). I know it's suppose to be strength first and cardio second, I hate cardio so much I always want to "get it over with" so I do it first. It's time to do it correctly.<br /><br />I'm also really going to try for muscle confusion. I was watching a P90X infomercial last night (at 3am...my sleep is really screwed up), and they kept talking about muscle confusion. I'm a creature of habit but I need to mix up my exercises and not do the same blasted exercises every day. I have exercise books and favorite websites so I'm going to try out some new things today.<br /><br />Wednesday we're going snowshoeing up at Crystal Mountain. We bought snowshoes last spring when they were on sale and haven't used them yet. I'm looking forward to getting outside. I'm starting to feel housebound. A day trip to the mountains is just what I need.<br /><br />Did I mention I love not working? Totally, completely love it. I don't miss one aspect of it. I'm just sorry I only have six and half more days until I have to return to the grindstone. Yes, I really need an attitude adjustment about work. Something to work on for the new year, among many other things.

Just another Monday (on vacation)

A blog worth checking outI read a lot of weight loss blogs. I don't always comment because I don't always have something worthwhile to say or I'm in a rush, but that doesn't mean I'm not reading your blog. Many of you are really great writers with lo…

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55 Jobs with High Growth in 2010

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pz/ar5d3z76fx0trhg2jcpz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pz/ar5d3z76fx0trhg2jcpz.gif" /></a><br /></div>Although 2009 saw some of the most desolate unemployment numbers in history, there is reason to believe that things are starting to look up.<br /><br />Both the unemployment rate and the number of jobless persons decreased in November to 10 percent and 15.4 million, respectively, according to the most recent date from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was down from October, when the unemployment was at an all-time-high of 10.2 percent and there were 15.7 million unemployed persons. <br /><br />In addition, although employment fell in several industries, several groups saw little change or added jobs in November. Employment in professional and business services rose by 86,000, with temporary help services adding 52,000 jobs, the majority of the increase. Since July, temporary help services employment has risen by 117,000. Health-care employment rose to 21,000 in November, with gains in home health-care services (7,000) and hospitals (7,000). The health-care industry has added 613,000 jobs since the recession began in December 2007. While there was little change in wholesale and retail trade, department stores added 8,000 jobs over the month. Finally, the number of jobs in transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality showed little change over the month.<br /><br />As these numbers continue to trend upward, there should be hope for the millions of people still looking for a job in 2010. The labor force is projected to increase by 12.6 million people during the 2008-18 period, according to the BLS. Total employment is expected to increase by 10.1 percent, adding about 15.3 million workers over the decade -- including in 2010.<br /><br />It should be noted, however, that the jobs that will be added won't be evenly distributed across industries and occupational groups. It goes without saying that changes in consumer demand, technology and the like will continue to affect the economic structure. <br /><br />If you're looking for a job this year, here are 55 (of many) jobs to look for in 2010, defined as jobs that saw growth in the second half of 2009 in every industry.* <br /><br />Industry: Management, business and financial operations<br />Jobs that saw growth in management:<br /><br />1. Marketing and sales managers<br /><br />2. Purchasing managers<br /><br />3. Property, real estate and community association managers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in business and financial operations:<br />4. Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products<br /><br />5. Cost estimators<br /><br />6. Meeting and convention planners<br /><br />Industry: Professional and related occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in computer and mathematics: <br /><br />7. Computer programmers<br /><br />8. Network systems and data communications analysts<br /><br />9. Statisticians<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in architecture and engineering:<br />10. Electrical and electronics engineers<br /><br />11. Materials engineers<br /><br />12. Engineering technicians, except drafters<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in life, physical and social sciences: <br />13. Market and survey researchers<br /><br />14. Psychologists<br /><br />15. Urban and regional planners<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in community and social services:<br />16. Counselors<br /><br />17. Social workers<br /><br />18. Religious activities and education director<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in legal: <br />19. Judges, magistrates and other judicial workers<br /><br />20. Paralegals and legal assistants<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in education, training and library:<br />21. Archivists, curators and museum technicians<br /><br />22. Librarians<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media:<br />23. Designers<br /><br />24. Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers<br /><br />25. Editors<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in health-care practitioner and technical: <br />26. Chiropractors<br /><br />27. Occupational therapists<br /><br />28. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians<br /><br />Industry: Service occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in health-care support: <br /><br />29. Nursing, psychiatric and home-health aides<br /><br />30. Massage therapists<br /><br />31. Dental assistants<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in protective services: <br />32. Firefighters<br /><br />33. Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in food preparation and serving related occupations: <br />34. Chefs and head cooks<br /><br />35. Bartenders<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in building and grounds cleaning and maintenance:<br />36. Pest control workers<br /><br />37. Grounds maintenance workers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in personal care and service: <br />38. Tour and travel guides<br /><br />39. Child-care workers<br /><br />40. Recreation and fitness workers<br /><br />Industry: Sales and office occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in sales and related:<br /><br />41. Cashiers<br /><br />42. Advertising sales agents<br /><br />43. Travel agents<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in office and administrative support: <br />44. Customer service representatives<br /><br />45. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping<br /><br />46. Office machine operators, except computer<br /><br />Industry: Natural resources, construction and maintenance<br />Jobs that saw growth in construction and extraction:<br /><br />47. Carpenters<br /><br />48. Cement masons, concrete finishers and terrazzo workers<br /><br />49. Electricians<br /><br />Industry: Installation, maintenance and repair <br />Jobs that saw growth: <br /><br />50. Automotive body and related repairers<br /><br />51. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation<br /><br />Industry: Production, transportation and material moving <br />Jobs that saw growth in production: <br /><br />52. Bakers<br /><br />53. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in transportation and material moving: <br />54. Refuse and recyclable material collectors<br /><br />55. Industrial truck and tractor operators<br /><br />*Data reflects figures based on the second- and third-quarter employment numbers according to the Current Population Survey released by the BLS.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

55 Jobs with High Growth in 2010

Although 2009 saw some of the most desolate unemployment numbers in history, there is reason to believe that things are starting to look up.Both the unemployment rate and the number of jobless persons decreased in November to 10 percent and 15.4 mill…

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