College in my 30’s

I was particuarly interested in Rose’s presentation on domestic violence.  My sister was involved in nothing but violent relationships.  The presentation put me in my sister’s shoes for a second as I studied the picture of the woman crouching in the corner…it took my sister literally years to get away from those types of relationships, but unfortunately, the damage has been done to her children, who are struggling through life with depression and other mental illnesses.  I ended up adopting my neice and although she’s struggling with issues from the past, she’s learned not to repeat the same pattern and is involved in a nurturing and fulfilling relationship.  My sister, who is not involved with anyone at this time, is healing from her past and has even helped other women who are involved in domestic violence.

 Swing Into Exercise! Managing Bipolar Disorder with Aerobic Exercise 

Years of depression.  Years of anxiety and irritability.  Damaged family relationships.  Poor decisions.  Nervous breakdowns.  In-patient hospitalizations.  Over dozens of different medications.  Counseling for years.  As I’ve struggled with Bipolar Disorder since I was a child, my main focus in life was just being able to function “like a normal person”.  In recent years, I found a little bit of that “normalcy” as I’ve participated in aerobic exercise.  I felt that it would be interesting to research the positive effects of aerobic exercise as it is used as part of a bipolar treatment plan.  I also wanted to share my experience as someone who struggles daily with this illness and my unending quest to find more relief in addition to medication and counseling.  My thesis for Essay 3 was written for those with Bipolar Disorder who are searching to decrease their symptoms of anxiety and depression.  My thesis states that aerobic exercise is the best type of exercise for the disorder.

My researched essay is based on several academic studies (one being the first study to examine the therapeutic effects of physical activity in Bipolar Disorder), professional recommendations, numerous online articles and my own experience.  Prior to beginning my research, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to write about – but I didn’t feel like I had formed an adequate argument.  It was while I was writing my blog for Week 7 that I began to see what I wanted to share and I knew that I could only benefit from further exploration of how aerobic exercise affects bipolar.  My thesis became much clearer after I had written my proposal and discovered that I wanted to promote aerobic exercise as the best type of exercise to help manage bipolar. 

After I received the feedback of my draft, I realized that my essay needed much more organization.  The most important thing I’ve learned during this essay was that I needed apply the “shish kebob” metaphor of making sure my thesis penetrated every paragraph like a skewer in a shish kebob.  During my revision I realized that I had many unsupported points in my essay so I removed them and restructured the paragraphs.  I had SEVERAL drafts that I worked on, making sure that I got it “just right”.  It was an overall painful, but valuable growth experience - but as it’s said in the world of fitness, “No pain, no gain.”

  As a Group Fitness Instructor, I’ve learned to love exercise.  Now I realize it’s absolutely necessary for me to cope with my symptoms.  I’ve taught several different types of exercise classes – step and floor aerobics, body sculpting, yoga, Stroller-Fit, Aquacize, boot-camp cardio and kickboxing.  But I’ve found in the last year that I love teaching and participating in Zumba.  It’s the latest dance-fitness craze swarming the nation and I am proud to be one of the first instructors to share it in the
Toledo area.  I teach 5 days a week and it’s been extremely fun and life-changing!  I have THE most important source of the positive effects aerobic exercise has in managing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder…myself!  I’m finally, after all these years, feeling the much needed relief from my bipolar symptoms. 

I have included a recently aired video segment from WTOL Channel 11 of myself teaching a Zumba class at the YMCA/JCC in
Sylvania for the contestants of the Weigh-In To Win program sponsored by Weight Watchers.  I’ve also included a recent article (featuring me and my class at Lifestyles for Ladies) printed in the Toledo Free Press.  Hope you enjoy and feel inspired to try Zumba yourself!

WTOL Channel 11 segment:

http://www.wtol.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipId1=2391901&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Weigh+In+To+Win%3A+Are+you+ready+to+Zumba%3F&d1=182633&redirUrl=www.wtol.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.wtol.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp%3FclipId1%3D2391901%26at1%3DNews%26vt1%3Dv %26h1%3DWeigh+In+To+Win%253A+Are+you+ready+to+Zumba%253F%26d1%3D182633%26redirUrl%3Dwww.wtol.com%26activePane%3Dinfo%26LaunchPageAdTag%3Dhomepage%26clipFormat%3D&rnd=80437453

Toledo Free Press Article:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7521

The most important lesson I learned in this class was “to read as a writer and write as a reader”.  For me, that means to read and re-read until I comprehend the information and to write and re-write until it’s comprehensive to the reader.  I learned that process AFTER Essay 2 and during Essay 3.

Another lesson I learned is to take your time revising, making sure I have a clear thesis, that all my points are supported efficently, that synthesis is strong, and that I’ve made sure there’s enough of my “voice” in my writing to formulate my own viewpoint of the issue.  My whole Essay 2 experience, though painful, was so beneficial for me as I turned all those weaknesses in my writing into strengths.  I’ve learned to take my time before submitting final work until I “feel peaceful” that I’ve done my best.  Also, learning that is an organizational process to writing, the shish kebab metaphor served as a template during my revisions.

Lastly, I found it invaluable to know how to cite sources and use MLA style.  I feel strengthened in my abilities to write other papers in my next classes.  The Simon and Shuster Handbook was an excellent resource for me as I wrote my drafts.  Writing Essay 3 gave me the confidence that I can write thought-provoking material. 

Overall, I’m relieved that I did not drop the class when the going got tough (Essay 2) and that the light “switched on” and I ended up having one of the most positive experiences in my academic career.

Everything I learned in during this course will help me in future courses!  As I thought I would never be a critical thinker (something I kept saying over and over again during the first half of the class) I am going to use the skills of reading and re-reading and annotating as I read other texts and materials.  I’m going to search for the main idea (thesis) and be alert for all the all supporting points.  I will search for the issues and formulate my own viewpoints.  Synthesizing was a new discovery for me and I feel I’m getting better with each assignment, especially Essay 3.  Learning how to develop paragraphs and organizing an essay will also be helpful in future classes.  I feel that starting my college career again with ENG 112 was a challenging but extremely valuable experience and is the foundation I needed in preparation for all the classes ahead of me.  I was initially enrolled in 12 credits, but I ended up dropping 2 courses because they required reading so many contraversial books (I thought) and writing many papers.  I was totally unprepared for it.  I know that sticking with this class established a foundation in understanding to read as a writer and write as reader.  My self-confidence has flourished and now I feel that I’m better prepared for those other classes.  Thank you, Amanda!

My writing has definitely improved during this class.  It had been over 13 years since I’d written anything more detailed than a lengthy email!  The best thing I discovered in the textbook From Inquiry to Academic Writing was the Introduction:  What is Academic Writing?  It explained exactly how to view writing as a process – and it all sort of “clicked” for me after I read that during Spring Break.  When our class started, we only had the four photocopied chapters of the book and it didn’t include any other information.  I highly recommend new students to read this introduction.  I was able to understand what academic writing was truly about…making an argument.  For so long, I’d written in summary-style and really didn’t know of another way to write.  I’ve become a better critical thinker when it comes to reading complex articles – similar to the articles that I’m using for my sources in Essay 3.  I’ve recognized the need to find the thesis and other main points as I read.  I am able to see that my own writing is beginning to have more clarity and I’m starting to communicate my own ideas in a more comprehensive fashion.  I also found the little blue boxes that summarize the “steps” of each topic completely helpful.  That’s when I discovered there really was a difference between editing and revising.  I personally didn’t care for many of the articles that were included in the text – they were just uninteresting, to me.  That could explain why I did SO poorly on my Essay 2!

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a condition that affects more than two million Americans. People who have this illness tend to experience extreme mood swings between depression and anxiety.  There are several other specific symptoms and behaviors accompany this affliction.  There are many who are still searching for ways to cope and find relief with their symptoms.
 
Although taking medications and receiving counseling can be very helpful tools to manage the variety of symptoms, participating in a regular aerobic exercise program is the most effective solution for the treatment of Bipolar disorder.  A recent study revealed that exercise alone has immediate and long-lasting benefits compared to using medication and exercising combined.   James Blumenthal, PhD from Duke University speculated that “The concurrent use of medication may undermine the psychological benefits of exercise.”  In Dr. Blumenthal’s study, a simple program of walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle at 70 to 85 percent of their maximum heart rate for 30 minutes, three times a week was performed.

If you or any of your friends, family or loved ones suffer from Bipolar disorder, consider starting an aerobic exercise regimen as part of your maintenance treatment by consulting with your primary care physician as to what programs would be appropriate for you.  You will feel immediate improvements in your symptoms and you will be able progress forward to lead a productive and fulfilling life as you are able to stay in control your mood swings and not be controlled by them.

*Writing this editorial really helped to identify how I wanted to conclude my essay and to how write specifically for my audience.

Since writing my proposal, I feel it has set a starting point and gave needed direction for Essay 3.   I now have a specific working thesis and a “plan of attack” of how to support it.  I was able to give a who, what, when, where, why and how of my topic.  If I wrote an effective proposal, it should serve as a guide to what I want to accomplish as a writer, through my paper.  It will keep me focused or on track so I won’t stray from my thesis, which for me,  is SO easy to do.

I believe it would be good practice to write a proposal prior to writing future reseach papers because it will save more time in the long run, identifying what the working thesis will be.

I would see myself writing proposals in a business setting, specifically if I were writing for grant-funding or if I were in marketing and I was trying to sell a certain idea to colleagues or the owners of a product.

 Overall, I found proposal writing very useful to my thought processes as I contemplated what my Essay would be about.  I feel the proposal helps me concentrate on the way I will present/organize my paper and decrease the frustrations that I encounter when gathering inital information on a topic.  I will definitely be writing more proposals in the future.

Well, at this point, I know that I’m getting closer to deciding what my exact topic will be but I know it’ll have to do with exercise and/or bipolar disorder.  After completing Essay 2 this week, I feel like I’m getting a better understanding of how to present an argument in writing form.  It’s like a light a clicked – and all the sudden I have more confidence in my writing style.  Whatever it was, it was an answer to a prayer, for sure.

Anyhow, with pen and paper, I jotted some of my thoughts for a possible argument:

- Exercise is an extremely beneficial tool to use in managing bipolar disorder symptoms
- Regular exercise is absolutely necessary for someone desiring to control their biopolar disorder symptoms

- Using a balance between exercise and medication, you can manage your bipolar disorder symptoms
- The best exercise for those who have bipolar disorder is aerobic fitness

- The best way to manage bipolar disorder symptoms is through a combination of exercise, medications, and managing stress

Exercise (specifically aerobic/cardiovascular) and bipolar disorder are two subjects of personal interest to me – I’ve been a group fitness instructor for 13 years and I was diagnosed with bipolar in 2005.  I have found that regular exercise (cardio interval training) has been extremely helpful in managing my stress levels and provides relief to my symptoms of mania and depression.  I know of others who also suffer from bipolar who do not exercise and I’ve observed them needlessly suffer.  It’s a fact that people who exercise at least 2 to 3 times a week feel less depression, anger, distrust and stress than those who exercise less often or not at all.  I also have a testimony that exercise provides an outlet from the stress and pressure that we encounter daily.  As exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, it has a positive effect on the mind and improves attitude and both are needed to develop effective coping mechanisms.  As exercise is developed into a habit, it will leave a sense of well-being that can increase self-esteem – that is necessary for someone with depressive bipolar symptoms.  Better quality of sleep is a key element for someone with bipolar to be a functioning and resilient individual.

Anyhow, through completing this blog, I feel more confident in my abilities to write an effective proposal, source analysis, rough and then FINAL draft of Essay 3.  This really is turning out to be a “happy writing” experience – as we are frequently wished from Amanda in her podcast lectures!

Until now, I didn’t know my writing process (drafting and revising)was very similar to the process suggested in From Inquiry to Academic Writing.  As I went through the steps creating my rough draft for Essay 2, it was much easier than Essay 1, but of course I still struggled.   

I just “rediscovered” the references to drafting and revising in Chapter 1 of our text.  I guess that having a xeroxed copy of our first few chapters didn’t appeal to my desire to study it too carefully!  I know I can’t help the “should-of, could-of, would of’s” of thinking, but I had discovered these tables on pages 23 and 24, I could of saved myself A LOT of tears!

In my drafting strategy of Essay 2, I spent the greatest amount of time reading, reading and re-reading the 4 articles in Chapter 16 and concentrated (something that is difficult for me to accomplish) on finding the common themes.  I carefully identifed the issues, formulated questions (my book looks like someone vandalised it), selected what passages had a strong connection to my argument, and considered the audience.  I must say that filling out the Values Exploration Sheet BEFORE I started my draft, helped immensely (for Essay 1, I didn’t get that…).  I found it most helpful when I read Chapter 5 (From Forumlating to Developing a Thesis) and also that Amanda provided the thesis lecture.  I overcame a lot of my paralyzing perfertionist inclinations when I read and listened to the idea of having a “working” thesis.  I realized it didn’t have to be “the ONE” on the first try!  Suddenly, I didn’t feel like such a ditz…turns out I could be normal in having all these frustrations about developing a clear, strong thesis.

I know I’ve also grown in my writing as I’ve learned to clearly express my argument and then consider the possible counterarguments and rebuttals of my position.  You could say my thinking writing style was considered very “meek” until I started this class.  I can feel myself thinking and writing more critically and I’m sure it was a direct result of what I’ve learned so far.

I’m also very excited that I can use the table on Steps to Revising (p 24) when I start my revision process this week.  I already know it will be a valuable guide for keeping my sanity!

So overall, it was an answer to a prayer to find out that what I’ve implemented in my writing process was practically identical to what I found in the text.  I’m hopeful that I will make an effective revision to my essay and that this will all prepare me to have more confidence in my writing as we start on Essay 3.

Thanks again, Amanda, for all your help and patience!  

This is my beautiful, very colorful Prima flower “garden”.  I am obsessed with paper flowers, specifically the brand Prima - made for scrapbooking.  “Planting” my garden took quite a bit of synthesis in that I needed to figure out where I wanted to buy my flowers, how much I wanted to pay each box/bottle and what variety I wanted to add to my collection.

First, I found about something about myself:  I am a “hands-on” shopper!  If I can’t touch it - feel the texture or see the true color of the flower, I won’t buy it.  Knowing this fact narrowed my choices of where I wanted to go to buy my flowers - online or in a scrapbooking/hobby store.  I asked others who were avid Prima collectors where they bought their flowers.  I also did a search on the internet to find scrapbooking stores within a 2 hour radius and then called them to see if they carried the flowers. 

I referred to the internet again to compare prices from the stores I found against the flowers found in nearby stores.  I also considered the price of shipping  and the amount of money in gas that I would spend buying certain flowers.  I also subscribed to email lists online to receive special notices or coupons to save even more money.  In my obsessive quest, I found a friend who shared this same addiction and she invited me in a “Prima-buying group”, where a store owner offered discounts to others in a scrapbooking group online (which my friend Rhonnie was a member) and I was able to pay wholesale for new releases of flowers (a great blessing indeed).
As far as what types of flowers to plant - I wanted colors that would liven up my scrapbooking area and make me smile everytime I looked at them!  Everytime I bought a box, I did a mental inventory in mind to remember what colors I am lacking - or sometimes I called whoever was home and asked them if I had that certain kind of flower already!
It’s so wonderful to see these gorgeous blooms right in my family room, giving me a instant pick-me-up if I need to brighten a dreary day.  Oh and yes, I do use them for my scrapbooking, once and awhile!