I'm feeling fat and sassy

Hi Running people-

 Since I'm new here I guess I should introduce myself.  I'm 27 years old and a PhD student at the University of Buffalo Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences  My thesis work involved understanding the Pharmacokinetics, dynamics, and Pharmacology of organic nitrates (think nitroglycerin) and other cardiovascular drugs.  I also graduated from UB with a PharmD in 2007 and I work as a community pharmacist per diem.  I live in Buffalo with my wife, Ashley, our 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bunny. We enjoy really anything outdoors during all seasons, including hiking, camping, snowboarding, water skiing, etc. 

I started this blog because I'm out of shape.  During my high school and early college years I ran and road biked a lot and was fast.  I did track and cross-county in high school (Galway, NY) and ran independent in college.  I cross-trained on my road bike and frequently road on fast group rides and Cat 5 races.  The load of Pharmacy School caught up with my in a bad way and my fitness suffered a lot.  I put on about 40 pounds in the last 6 years and my fitness is now blech.

My goal is now to get svelte again.  I want to get back to around 160# and have my running speed near what it previously  was.  I've started eating a lot healthier and commuting to work by bike.  Small steps  My commute is a nice 6.5 miles one way which puts me at the University in about 24 minutes.  I shower at the gym and get to my lab in about 450 minutes after leaving my door.  It's about twice the time if driving but I enjoy it.  I've also started running again after a long break.  It's tough to be as slow as I am now (5k in 30min) knowing where I've been, but I know it's slow going. 

So I'll be using this blog to publicize my progress knowing I'll be much more apt to follow a plan with the anonymous eyes of the public on me.  I'll probably complain about my jobs a little too and just talk about whatever.  Feel free to ask medial/drug questions to make use of my schooling, I'll try to help the best I can. 

Thanks

Nate

Thanks for all the welcomes

 Did the bike commute thing today.  I was a little worried about the weather as it stormed quite a bit last night but it was a dry ride, just a little windy.  Mondays are always tough becasue I need to lug my laptop, shoes and clothes to school for the week which adds up.  I have a gym locker on campus and shower there after my morning leg which is a nice way to start the day.  But the morning seem to be naked old men time.  What is it with this?  They don't even try to cover up while strutting allover the place.  One elderly gentleman was actually hold his towel out at arms length while walking around.  Plus our showers are the old style, were it's just a huge tiled room with numerous shower heads

I'm flipping buried in work at school for the next several weeks.  I have a department seminar mid-Sept and I'm also working on an NIH training grant application (k99 for the science people) which is due Oct 1st.  It's a huge application which would seriously set me up for the next 5 years into junior faculty.  But it's super competitive and the science we do is not that sexy in the eyes of reviewers/public so...   I'm also teaching a couple of classes (intro to drug development) at the beginning of the semester for my boss in addition to my regular experiments and lab work.  Blech...

Maybe I'll try to run with Sadie (our lab) tonight, she really like it and now that she's old enough (16 months) I don't have to worry about her quite so much.  We really should walk/exercise them more but it's tough after a long day.  We can get away with it becasue we have a large backyard that they can run around in.

Bike commute deal, nothing special.  It's been very windy lately, especially on the trip home.  Like sustained 25mph headwinds, it's brutal.  Typically my average speed is around 18mph but this takes it down to 16mph and it's a struggle.  I think it's suppose to calm itself later this week.  I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home and it was like old lady obstacle course.  It took me forever to get to the things I need and make my way to the check out, 

I haven't been sleeping as much as I should be.  It's a combination of all my stress plus Ralphie.  He's our 9 month old Eskie mix.  We got him at 8 weeks old to be a companion to our 6 month older lab.  He's got a great personality and only has one bad habit.  He wakes up between 6 and 6:15am everyday regardless of anything.  You could run him for hours the day before and he'd be barking at the door to go out the next morning.  The only time I've slept past 7am since we got him was the day he was at the kennel, it's brutal some days but maybe he'll grow out of it. 

Bike commute, luckily no headwind on the way home.

Ran with Sadie before work.  I could not do the bike commute today becasue one of my friends just defended her PhD thesis and we are going to dins after work.  I didn't wear a watch but I imagine it was around a 9min pace.  It took Sadie about a 1/2 mile to calm down but after that she was a perfect running partner.

Also, yesterday was the first day I am below 200# since I started weighing myself in mid May (209#).  I'm guessing some of it is water weight because I saw a little spike in BF% on my Tanita scale.  It's a pretty good way to monitor your hydration status in addition to BF%.  Long-term trends are BF while daily fluctuations are water balance changes.  I should probably try to drink more water after dinner

Ran 3 miles with Sadie after work.  Nothing exciting.  Lots of other dogs were out which makes her a little jazzed.

Bike Commute, it's getting chilling in the morning.  I'm glad the oppressive heat of summer is winding down.  

 I gave blood while at work.  I try to do it every 8 weeks or so because it's the right thing to do.  I've been doing it since I was 17.  I used to use the red cross becasue they were the only game in town but a couple of years ago the Upstate NY Transplant Services (UNYTS) started collecting blood so I switched to them exclusively.  I like them more for a couple of reasons.  Mainly, they sell their blood cheaper than the Red Cross and they only sell locally so my contribution is helping in my area.  I rode my bike home afterwards!  Honestly, I never have had any ill effects aside from some mild exercise intolerance for a week or so after.

 Also, there are theories suggesting that regular blood donation can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing iron stores which may contribute to excessive oxidative stress.  It's unproven but sounds plausible and if I get a health benefit, it's a win/win

Bike Commute

Had a dentist appointment so I rode my bike around afterwards.  Still not completely recovered from the blood donation, but I figured I'll be 100% by Monday.  There was a pretty brutal quartering headwind for a good chunk. 

 At the University, all the students are moving back in.  It was a mad house with huge lines waiting to get into the parking lots.  Classes start Monday, it'll take the better part of a month before everyone calms and things flow smoothly.  Getting around campus (by foot, bike, or car) will be a headache.  If you want a parking spot w/o a 10 min walk you will need to get to campus before 8:30am.  Luckily, I'll be biking to school for at least the next 2 months (until it gets to dark in the evening to get home safely) so I get to avoid the driving issues for the most part. 

Bike Commute as typical.  It's getting cold in the morning, I almost needed a jacket but the sun popped out so I got rid of it.

I'm glad it's Friday, it's been a rough couple weeks.  I have to work at the Pharmacy on Sunday 9-9 but Sundays are typically ok.  Our Flu shots came in so I wonder how many I will need to give.  

I also need the weekend to prepare to teach my bosses class.  It's introducing some key historical concepts of Drug Development.  It's a small class (20 students) and they are all grad students so I shouldn't have too much trouble.  I do need to re-read the material and jot down talking points. 

Did a run before work with Sadie.  She always makes me fun faster than I normally work so that good.  The run was nothing special, just need to squeeze it in before work.

After my run I went to work at the Pharmacy from 9-9.  As always, it was very short staffed with only 1 tech from 9-6 and then nothing till close.  I work as a floater so I work where needed and stores tend to take this a opportunity to short the floater tech hours and use them on the regular pharmacists.  It's compete BS which makes me stabby.  What is worse is that this is the store I did all my training at and I like the store.  I've spoken to the Pharmacy manager before about it and he always promises to not let it happen again, but surprise it's always the same.  The store is getting such a reputation that floaters are refusing to work there anymore.  I don't stress or rush anymore to get all the stuff filled (I used to when I was less experienced).  I fill what needs to be done and tell people they will need to come back the next.  Sure they are usually pissed, but it's not my fault and I'm not stressing over it.  They can yell at the people responsible for the staffing issues on Monday.  Also, if you have a life saving medicine, don't wait until 5 minutes before I close in a panic that you are all out of it and need it.  Furthermore, don't tell me you will be there in 4 minutes and never show up.  I'm not holding the pharmacy open for you past 9:05.  I worked 12 hours w/o a real break and my sympathy has ran out a while ago.  If it is really a life or death situation the ER across the street is open.

 I'll leave you with 2 quotes that you need to remember when dealing with a service person.

1. A lack of planning you on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part

2. An employee is told that the customer's always right and, in fact, the customer is usually a moron and asshole -Larry David

Happier blogging to commence Monday

Bike commute in abnormally hot weather.  School is back in session and the campus is mobbed with new students aimlessly wandering around looking for classrooms and stuff.  It'll be a couple weeks until it returns to normal and traffic (people/cars) flow smoothly.  On a plus note, I saw 5 bike commuters.  When school is not in, I see maybe 2 a week (it's always the same guy to boot) so it's nice to see others for a change.  

I got to teach my boss' first class today while he is out of town.  It went ok, I covered what I needed to and I think I was fairly clear.  A lot of the students looked bored but I hope it's a Monday 8:30am thing and me being a lame teacher.  Doing these extra high level tasks always bumps up my low level Impostor Syndrome in to overdrive.  I'm just waiting for the day I'm found out and kick out, it's a crazy feeling.  Trying convince yourself you are worthy really does not help.  We'll see if I ever get over it

Bike commute, it's 90 out, I can't take it.  I want fall and cold and jackets.  

I had to tell some wingnut in the gym this morning that it was a bad idea to wring out his towel and swimwear onto the locker room floor when the showers are 15 feet away.  He must have emptied 20+ ounces onto the floor.  He did half-heartily apologize, but looked shocked that I had the gall to tell him to stop it.  I never seen him in the locker room before so I'm assuming he's new.  A little etiquette is a good thing.