Davidson Woods Family Website

Restaurant Visit and more...
Kara submitted on Invalid Date
So our third week at the DFC started off with a fun activity! We went out to a restaurant as a group tonight. Last Friday we met and went through a lecture on traditional restaurant foods and strategies for not overdoing it (removing the bread, etc.) We then chose a restaurant and looked through the menu, preselecting our dishes. It was fun because we got to plan in dessert and we don't really eat any dessert here. We went out tonight and the food was great. I'm having a really good time with all of my new friends. Hopefully we'll be able to keep in touch after the program. In other news...a true-blue celebrity showed up yesterday. Ask me in person because I feel awkward talking about it online (confidentiality.) One of the lectures I went to today was about eating trigger foods mindfully. We went through a visualization exercise and then were guided through the consumption of an actual Hershey's Kiss or Pringle. We're supposed to become "mindful eaters". Which basically just means savoring your food and not eating past almost fullness. My friends and I have come to the conclusion that if you want to better understand what's going on here, what it's like...it is pretty much rehab for overeaters. Hope everyone is well.
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- What's DFC?
  Therese submitted on Tue Jan 31 2006 19:12:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
  Hi, Kara! How long will you be in this program? Can you sign me up? Ha ha. Are you still in/near Boston? It's great to hear about your activities and things you learn. We can all try to adopt your strategies, too. At first it seemed like you were going through chef training. I'll bet you learn alot about good food and it's preparation, one of Craig's and my interests!
  Reply
  - The DFC is...
    Kara submitted on Wed Feb 01 2006 00:20:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
    The DFC is the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. I am currently residing in Durham, North Carolina in a lovely little apartment style hotel across the street from the program's center. We are learning an incredible amount about nutrition and food choices. There are weekly cooking demos so we can learn about preparation as well. I'm having a good time and am very glad that I chose to come here instead of going abroad. It was definitely the right decision, though six months in Scotland would've been pretty cool, too:)
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    - Kara Just saying Hi.
      Norb submitted on Wed Feb 01 2006 14:17:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
      Kara Just saying Hi. I should come join you. I love to eat and party, and can be pretty compulsive about eating. I get home about 6pm and susan about 8:30 so I would rattle about the house and eat almost anything till I started dinner and then I'd eat again with Susan. I've had some problems with my knees as well. So I just joined the JCC which is right on my way home. If I can exercise for an hour or so then go home and start preparing dinner I think it will help. What are they emphasizing in exercise at DFC?
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      - Hello back.
        Kara submitted on Thu Feb 02 2006 00:51:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
        Hey Uncle Norb, Yeah, I definitely understand the difficulties of becoming accustomed to a certain type of eating and socializing. College is not the best place to be when trying to begin a healthy program of eating and sleeping. That's great that you joined the JCC. I know that a lot of the people here that have knee problems really enjoy doing the water aerobics class. I've taken one and it can definitely be a work out. In addition to the pool, there's a new machine called the NuStep. It's non-weight bearing and is perfect for people with knee or joint problems. It's like an elliptical except that you sit down. Maybe the JCC has one? The DFC recommends walking for people who are busy and without a lot of time to exercise. We're encouraged to get pedometers and to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. More would be beneficial for weight loss, but 10,000 is good for health maintenance. In terms of amount of exercise, they really recommend at least 5 days a week for 60 minutes. That may seem like a lot, but that's if you're trying to lose weight. If you can't do the hour-long sessions, they really encourage walking, because then it's split up throughout the day. They encourage for everyone: flexibility and stretching after every workout and strength training at least once a week. What I've been doing is 60 - 90+ minutes of aerobic or cardio work 6 days a week. Either walking on the treadmill, using the elliptical, or swimming laps...sometimes all three. In addition I do strength training every other day and abs on the non-strength days. Strength training is essential while trying to lose weight because a certain percentage of muscle mass is lost with every pound of fat and they don't want us to deteriorate.:)
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        Kara Just saying Hi.
        Therese submitted on Fri Feb 03 2006 00:56:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
        Wow! I've been walking at the school evenings when James wrestles or Tommy and Mary Margaret have Jazz Band...and I have a pedometer, but not using it. It will be fun to see how many steps I do...almost an hour of walking each time. How exciting, Kara! Good luck with all of your endeavors. We're with you and love you, now and forever...no matter what!
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        Pedometer
        Kara submitted on Fri Feb 03 2006 16:41:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
        That's great...but don't forget to wear the pedometer all day to see how much you might be walking. Don't just count the steps in that hour...you might be surprised how much you walk just in the course of the day. Thanks for the support. :)
        Reply
- reply
  Therese submitted on Wed Feb 01 2006 03:03:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
  How long will you be there? I was a little confused because I thought you were making a trip as you said. What made you change your mind? I'm glad you are happy about your choice. You can go to Scotland another time, maybe. Is it good weather there? We are having several inches of snow right now! We haven't had enough cold temps to keep ice outside for our hockey program, though. Have fun!
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  - More details.
    Kara submitted on Thu Feb 02 2006 00:39:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
    I am going to be here until the 26th of February, so another 3 and a half weeks. Sorry for the confusion, but I kind of expected it. I did not want to tell everybody the long story of my decision at Christmas or Thanksgiving because I had already made a public decision to go to Scotland. I allowed the confusion because I didn't really want to get into it in that kind of a setting. I changed my mind because I knew it was the right thing to do. I wasn't aware of the program before I applied abroad. And once I did learn about the program I knew it was something that could completely change me for the better. The DFC works off a lifestyle approach to improved health and weight loss. I've never really felt comfortable in my own skin and could slowly see myself taking less and less care of myself, getting more and more used to being bigger and I knew that I needed to do something serious before it was all I knew of my life. While I'm here, it is easy to see myself as I can be and hopefully I'll be able to get there before too much of my Senior year has gone by and I can have some of that relaxed college environment that I see my friends in, but have always felt myself on the margins of. The weather isn't California, and it's not New York. Most days I do well with a light jacket. The winter's just begun...maybe you'll get out to the rink soon enough.
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- UNC question?
  NancyHenninger submitted on Wed Feb 01 2006 14:47:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
  Hi Kara, Just wondered if you would check out the UNC apparel for me? Samuel wants some blue basketball shorts for his birthday with the UNC (tarheel) logo on them. If you see anything like that I wonder if I could send some money to you and you would get them for me. Let me know. Sounds like you are doing really well. I am sure you will have some good information to share. Take care! Love, Nancy
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  - UNC apparel
    Kara submitted on Thu Feb 02 2006 00:31:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
    Aunt Nancy, I will try to get to UNC-Chapel Hill maybe this weekend or the next? It would be no problem for me to pick something up for you. Would Samuel just be a small men's? I hope you are doing great and that I will see you soon. Love, Kara
    Reply
- DFC
  Patty submitted on Wed Feb 01 2006 22:56:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
  Dear Kara, I had no idea what this was all about but now I have figured out your blog and the replies to it. It sounds like a great place --I have plateaued lately and have a million excuses and just today at lunch I went to the gym to get back with it and my work colleagues who exercise there. Sometimes Tom and I meet there when he gets out of work at 6 but last week we didn't make it. The gym is Best Fitness on the Crosstown here in Schenectady. Maybe we can get Norb and Therese and others to join us sometimes. You can be our guest when you are in town and tell us all about how to get motivated and stay motivated and who that vip is. Love you always, Patty
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  - Hey
    Kara submitted on Thu Feb 02 2006 00:56:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
    Hey Aunt Patty, I think maybe you plateaued because you look great and don't need to lose anymore weight? If you want to keep exercising just to maintain your health or lose any last pounds, that's great. I can't wait till I'm next in town and can hang out and chat with y'all. It definitely helps me to get motivated here, knowing that my friends are all doing the same thing...going through similar emotional challenges and spending time in the gym and in classes every day. Love, Kara
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    - I'm in now!!
      Patty submitted on Thu Feb 02 2006 01:41:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
      Now I've realized that the comments are longer than what appears on the home page--fascinating! Your program is very interesting and healthy for all of us to hear about. No, I definitely had gotten detoured and have been leaning back towards being good and you've given me a big push! We've got to get others on board with this blogging. Robert has a star from Phantom renting his place for a month so he has moved across the street to temporarily camp in his house he's rehabing. He says the Phantom guy has interesting stories from his constant travel. Thanks for keeping in touch with us. Love, Patty ps I am going to look for that sitting eliptical machine.
      Reply
- Now I know why Patty has
  Tom Johnson submitted on Sat Feb 04 2006 20:17:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
  Now I know why Patty has been giving me a harder time than usual about my deplorable eating habits--your blog! and just before the Superbowl no less. I am insisting on pizza at least--I guess wings are out of the question. Are you really going without caffeine? I would have to be hospitalized in a detox to break that habit. Good luck and congratulations. Keep us posted--just don't let Patty read the posts.
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  - Don't blame me!
    Kara submitted on Sun Feb 05 2006 00:49:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
    The way to a healthy diet is definitely not deprivation! Eat your wings if you want to...just don't eat the whole platter. You should be able to eat what you want...just watch what is in it and don't over do it. It's the Superbowl! Go ahead and have the munchies! ...you can tell that to Aunt Patty.
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    - Got what I wanted
      Tom submitted on Tue Feb 07 2006 15:25:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
      I told her and she let me have wings. We both acknowledged indigestion the next morning on our "run" (if you can call 4 mph a run). In other contexts I have heard that one should "think things through" and remember the next day--preferably before over indulging. I think I will see if ice cream causes indigestion.
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