Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

I went to the ER!

by Lucy Zhu / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / Posted in
Recently, I went to the emergency room.

It was the first time in years.

Basically, I injured my elbow and had pretty bad pain for about 10 hours. I figured it was high time to see what was going on.

And stupidly, because I decided to go to the ER too late, I ended up going around midnight.

The ER is an awesome place if you have a dire emergency. Whether it's having a heart attack, feeling the symptoms of an oncoming stroke, getting the severe gnawing feelings associated with appendicitis, etc, this is the place to go to in order to get care that is both high-quality and ASAP.

At the same time, sometimes it's not the best place to go. Minor issues such as a cold or a low fever may be better addressed the next day at a clinic or at urgent care. Sometimes the wait times are long, especially while life-threatening issues such as a possible stroke or myocardial infarction are being addressed first... and thus, it delays care for less urgent issues.

Working for months in the ER has made me realize something very vital: the emergency room is where you go for emergencies. I've seen horrifying cases of physical abuse, tended the wounds of patients bitten by rabid animals, witnessed patients who died after every life-saving measure had been taken, as well as victims of severe burn wounds, shot wounds, and everything in between.

I cry for these patients.

The reason why I went to the emergency room wasn't due to these dire issues. My case wasn't life-threatening. Maybe it was the pain that got to me? Or was it the fact that it lingered for so long? Any case, I should've gone to urgent care or next-day clinic, but none of these were open at the time due to my stupid decision to wait till the pain got worse.

Alas, perhaps a broken bone could've waited. But the husband thought differently, and probably, many, many family members also in his shoes would also be worried.

So I went, at midnight, got an x-ray, an ice pack, and instructions for care.

Even though the ER I went to was empty, I could've used my time more wisely by putting an ice pack on my arm and just going to the next-day clinic. At least the ER was empty, so I wasn't taking up space that patients with more urgent cases needed.

I didn't break any bones. But I had a pretty bad contusion.

There's still a bad bruise, and my elbow still hurts as I write this post. I should just be more careful. 

Let's just hope it gets better. And I don't make the same silly mistake next time.

Let's work out!

by Lucy Zhu / Thursday, November 13, 2014 / Posted in , , ,
Let's work out!

October 2014 Favorites

by Lucy Zhu / Thursday, November 6, 2014 / Posted in , , , , , , , ,
October 2014 Favorites

My diet, exercise, and weight story

by Lucy Zhu / Monday, October 27, 2014 / Posted in , , , , ,






Several people have asked me to write a post about this topic. I had waited for a long time for multiple reasons (not having enough time, being super sick, etc) but here is the long-awaited post.

Throughout most of high school I was overweight. As hard as that may seem to be believed (especially for petite Asians such as myself, or at least so-goes the stereotype) it is true. I wasn't allowed to drink coffee (for all of those parents out there - it does NOT stunt growth!) and so to stay up I would eat lots of chocolate. I ate a ton of my brother's Halloween chocolate and it was delicious, but ultimately not good. I was super stressed in school with 7 AP classes, running extracurricular clubs, and everything that I forgot to take care of myself. My parents didn't have time to go to grocery stores to buy homemade/healthy ingredients for lunches, so I had to resort to very unhealthy, greasy school lunches. Also, I didn't have time to exercise, hence the weight gain.



The summer after college, I somehow started not caring about food anymore. I went on a cucumbers-and-milk diet and lost about 15 pounds. I spent the entire summer (apart from a month of vacation) cleaning out my parents' house, and that took a TON of effort and consumed a lot of calories. Yay!

Afterward I entered college. I started exercising a lot, running several 5Ks and getting into breakdancing. I started taking a lot of dance classes and yoga classes, and my health improved quite a bit. I definitely struggled in terms of weight with the unlimited cafeteria options offered by my college, and did gain freshman 15. However, I lost it, and then some more after that.

Thus entered medical school. By this time, I had undergone several surgeries, and after each one of them, the natural lack of appetite and strenuous physical therapy made me both lose a LOT of weight as well as atrophy my muscles. I had lost, from high school till this point, a net of 30 pounds. And believe me - for a person who is 5' 2'', that's a LOT.



I started medical school afterward. I gained back about 10 pounds, but this time it was mostly healthy muscle. I started working out again (when I had time), but this time, instead of dance and running, it was yoga, pilates, Zumba, and the like. A lot better. Now, I exercise about 3-4 times a week, and try my best to watch my diet. Lots of veggies and fruits. Meat only a few times a month. I still do have my weaknesses - the occasional delicious fruity wine, Cheez-its, fancy cheeses, raspberry jams, etc, but for the most part I've gotten a lot better.

I've discovered a lot of tricks along the way. Some of them include:

  • Swapping out peanut butter filled with saturated fat with unsaturated almond butter
  • Putting frozen fruit in my water (yay fruit and water!)
  • No sodas of any sort
  • Black coffee
  • Tea w/ light brown sugar and goji berries
  • Kefir (lots of bacterial cultures) instead of reduced fat milk
  • Avoiding mochas and pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks (I go for the skim milk normal latte instead)
  • Quiches with lots of veggies
  • Making my own kale chips instead of french fries or potato chips
  • Making my own spaghetti sauce, filled with chunky vegetables instead of store-bought ones
  • Fruit smoothies blended with real fruit, kefir, and frozen non-fat Greek yogurt
  • Swapping out ice cream for frozen yogurt
  • Etc. 


I still have a long way to go in terms of diet and health (e.g. sleeping more normal hours, not stressing as much) but it's way better than before!

Swimsuits for the competitive swimmer

by Lucy Zhu / Saturday, August 16, 2014 / Posted in , , , ,
One of my favorite hobbies is swimming, and lately, with my new gym subscription (LA Fitness rocks!) I've been getting back into the life of my old swim team life (many many years ago).

Today I'm going to give some advice for people who want to purchase clothing/equipment for competitive swimwear (not going to the beach). This is for people who want to swim on a swim team, swim in a pool several times a week, those who want their body parts covered while swimming (not a two-piece or something).

Here ya go!

In general:
  • The best swimsuits to buy are those that are made with 100% polyester. This is because swimming pools are usually disinfected with tons of chlorine or bromine. The swimming suits sold in most stores are made of lycra, spandex, nylon and polyester. Lycra and spandex suits get eaten up pretty quickly by the chlorine and bromine (trust me, I've ruined several swimsuits this way). The ones that are sold in most stores (e.g. Walmart, Target, even Academy and Sports Authority) are made of lycra/spandex. This is because those made with these fabrics usually feel nicer/softer to the touch, and give a great fit as well.
  • The ones that last the longest are usually made of polyester. As this website details, polyester suits are super resistant to chlorine and will last longer. Nylon-Lycra suits are also super popular, but the lycra in those suits will break down/fade more quickly than a polyester suit, and the nylon will break down with sun exposure.
  • Cotton swimsuits - these are rare to find nowadays, and they are not form fitting and will weigh a person down. (Think about it - when you're running/exercising, cotton socks and clothing become weighted down with sweat. What about all of that water that the swimsuit becomes drowned in when it is submerged full-on in water?)
  • Polyester is a super durable material that will last a long time. Even with prolonged exposure to chlorine or bromine, it will retain its shape and color. It is a good material for everyday training.
  • For a very comprehensive comparison of swimwear materials, go to this link.
I'm currently in training to get myself back into my old fit self, and I wanted to invest in a good swimsuit for everyday/multiple day training. For those who wish to purchase a swimsuit for lots of swimming practice, I'd recommend:

Women's:
  1. Speedo Women's Race Endurance+ Polyester Flyback Training Swimsuit - this is an excellent swimsuit that is made of 50% polyester/50% PBT  (polybutylene terephthalate). As seen on the Amazon link, it's super awesome for resisting chlorine damage and fading. From personal experience, it also dries super quickly. The only caveat is if you want to order a Speedo suit, you need to order a size up - for some reason, all Speedo suits are known to size smaller than most other brands.
  2. Speedo Women's Solid Logo Flyback Swimsuit - This is also a good option for those who occasionally swim. It is made of 85% polyester/15% spandex, so keep in mind that the spandex will break down faster than the polyester. Of course, keep in the mind of the sizing up caveat.
  3. Speedo Women's Geo Diamond Actionback Pro LT Swimsuit - similar to #2 in fabric, this swimsuit offers more patterns for those who may want more of an aesthetic appeal.
  4. Speedo Women's Quark Splice Pulseback Endurance Lite Swimsuit - similar to #1 with more patterned colors and color blocking.
  5. Dolfin Aquatard Womens - for those who want more coverage (swimsuit with a "shorts"-like bottom), this suit is made of 100% polyester and is great for competitive swimming.
  6. TYR Sport Women's Solid Durafast Maxback Swim Suit - made of 53% polyester/47% polyester PBT, this is a great suit with wide straps that fits well and provides lots of support for the chest (high-cut).
  7. TYR Women's Fusion 2 Aeroback Swim Suit - similar to #6, but with 79% polyester/21% lycra.
  8. TYR Sport Women's Alliance Durafast Splice Diamondback Swim Suit - lots of different color block options, made with 53% polyester/47% polyester PBT.

Men's:
  1. TYR Sport Men's Solid Durafast Jammer Swim Suit -  Made of 53% polyester/47% PBT, this swimsuit is a pair of fitted shorts that will be very durable in chlorinated/"brominated" water.
  2. Speedo Men's Quark Splice Endurance Lite Jammer Swimsuit - made of 51% PBT textured polyester/49% polyester, this swimsuit will also be very durable and also comes in several colors.
  3. Nike Team Techno Camo Brief - Competitive Swim - I don't know too much about the stereotypical "Speedo thong" (so-goes the slang) but this brief is made of 81% nylon/19% spandex and comes in lots of patterns.
  4. Speedo Men's Kinetic Zag Endurance Lite Brief Swimsuit - also a brief but made of 51% PBT/49% polyester, so more resistant against chlorine and bromine.
  5. Speedo Men's Male Solid Lycra Bathing Suit - again, similar to the two above, made with 78% nylon/22% lycra
  6. TYR Sport Men's Poly Mesh Trainer Swim Suit - this swim short is made of 100% polyester and is considered to be a drag suit (swimsuit that adds more drag, aka more friction/fluid resistance in the water).
  7. TYR Sport Men's Square Leg Short Swim Suit - similar to the other swim shorts but made of 80% nylon/20% lycra.
  8. TYR Sport Men's Alliance Splice Jammer - lots of color blocking options, made of recycled fabric(80% recycled nylon/20% Xtra life Lycra®). Lots of color-blocked options available. This is the eco-friendly choice?
Bottom line - pick whichever swimsuit best fits your needs. I personally really like one-piece swimsuits of this sort (yes, even to the beach, yes, I'm boring) so see what you like!
P.S. In general - remember to size up for swimsuits!

My HG Products + Approximate prices

by Lucy Zhu / Monday, December 9, 2013 / Posted in , , , , , , , ,
Skincare:

  • Facial Scrub: DIY Aspirin facial mask w/ witch hazel [$1 for 100 Aspirin tablets and $4 of 16 oz of witch hazel]
  • Facial Cleanser: Neutrogena Acne Wash w/ 2% Salicylic Acid [$6 for 6 oz]
  • Toner: Witch hazel [$4 for 16 oz]
  • Face mask: Queen Helene Mint Julep ($4 for 6 oz)
  • Retinol Product: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream (Night) [$15 for 1.4 oz]
  • Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sunscreen for Face, SPF 30+ [$15 for 5 oz]

Make-up:

  • Foundation: None (don't use)
  • BB Cream: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++, No 23 [$30 for 50 ml, approx 1.7 fl oz]
  • Tinted Moisturizer: Shiseido Urban Environment in Light, SPF 43 [$30 for 1 oz]
  • Concealer: Maybelline Dream Mousse in Cream, 4-5 (discontinued) [$6 for a small jar, which lasts me ~2 years, bought on Amazon]
  • Face Primer: None (don't use)
  • Blush: None (don't use) 
  • Bronzer: None (don't use)
  • Highlight: None (don't use)
  • Eye primer: DIY 1:1 of Body butter : Concealer [$7.50 for 8 oz body butter, concealer ranges for about $6 for 1 oz]
  • Eyeliner (pencil): Urban Decay 24/7 Liners (any color, preferrably Dark Brown or Black - Perversion) [$18 per pencil]
  • Eyeliner (liquid): Be a Bombshell (felt-tip pen) + MakeUp Forever Aqua Liners [$18 and $24, respectively]
  • Eyeliner (for waterline): Urban Decay 24/7 Liners in Dime and Baked [$18 each]
  • Mascara: Still searching for that HG mascara 
  • Eyebrow Product: Wet N' Wild ColorIcon Eyeliner + Brow Liner in Dark Brown [$1 for 7'' liner]
  • Eyeshadow: None (still searching)
  • Lip Balm: ChapStick Lip Shield 365, SPF 50+ [$1.50 for 0.15 oz]
  • Lip gloss: Clinique Pure Pops [$18-20 per tube]

 Tools:

  • Brush Cleaner: Tresemme Shampoo (Moisture Rich) [$4 for 32 oz]
  • Nail File: None (I don't use them?)
  • Eyelash curler: ELF Mechanical Eyelash curler [$1, lasts about 1 year worth of use]
  • Tweezers: ELF Stainless steel tweezers [$1 each]
Miscellaneous:

  • Makeup Towelettes: None (don't use them)
  • Makeup Remover: DIY 1:1 Olive oil : Witch hazel [Olive oil is $10 for 1 gallon at Costco, and Witch hazel is $4 for 16 oz at any drugstore]
  • Nail Polish Remover: Target Nail Polish Remover [$4 for 16 oz]
  • Base Coat and Top Coat:  L'oreal Base + Top Coat (Clear) [$6 per bottle]
  • At-Home Hair Color: None (don't use)


Body:

  • Hand Cream: Curel Anti-Itch Lotion [$8 for 8 oz]
  • Cuticle Balm: Coconut oil [$6 for 16 oz]
  • Shaving product: (Don't use them) 
  • Body wash: (Don't have a HG)
  • Shampoo & Conditioner: L'oreal Sulfate-Free Shampoo + Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner [$6 for 8 oz and $4 for 32 oz, respectively] 
  • Body lotion: Olay Quenching Thirst Body Lotion [$8 for 16 oz]

Winter Skincare Suggestions

by Lucy Zhu / Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / Posted in , , , ,
Some people have been wondering what I use during the winter to maintain healthy skin. Thus, here are some things that I use in general for winter care - not just on my skin but my hair and lips too!


Winter skincare!

Products I've used up (pictures only)

by Lucy Zhu / Saturday, July 20, 2013 / Posted in , ,

Brighter By Nature™ SPF 35 Skin tone correcting moisturizer
Lemon Pomegranate Lemon & Pomegranate Lip Cream - C.O. Bigelow - Bath & Body Works

 BioInfusion Critical Care Hair Serum


Photo sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 

Skin type changes

by Lucy Zhu / Sunday, June 9, 2013 / Posted in , , , ,
Ever since I started med school, changes have been the norm, and skin is no exception. During the progression of this school year (2012-2013) my skin type has gone from acne-prone, oily-combination to more of (less) acne-prone, dry-normal combination. 

Reasons for this?
  1. I'm indoors a lot more. I have to be - I can't study outside in the Houston heat. It's crazy. Air conditioned rooms = dry rooms. The dichotomy between outside humid Houston weather and inside (relatively) dry weather really makes a difference.
  2. My diet has changed. During college, the food I ate was often greasy and buffet-style. Now that I'm in med school, I cook for myself, and the way I naturally eat (basically when I'm hungry) has changed my life. I eat less greasy food, don't ever eat lard/butter, cook with canola and/or olive oil, don't eat bad stuff (usually), etc.
  3. Weight changes. From high school to college, I lost about 10 pounds. The transition dramatically decreased my oil/sebum production (perhaps because I was becoming less sedentary, or eating less, or something?). Then, from college to med school, I lost another 5 pounds (net). This transition further decreased my oil/sebum production. Nevertheless, this has to do with diet and lifestyle changes.
  4. My hair has changed. I know this may sound silly, but the hair's oils can cause a lot of acne as well, as hair in your face may help trap oil on your forehead and cause acne there. My hair is a lot less oily and (perhaps) weaker, due to changes in diet and not eating as rich stuff. Nevertheless, it has made a comeback with my use of hair serum and leave-in conditioner. Whenever I don't put it in now, it feels slightly straw-like, stiff, less rich or soft. During my younger, teenage years, it was just naturally soft and rich. Is it diet? Is it aging? Yes, I am past my early twenties now (sort-of? 23 y/o) and definitely my teenage years, but I am not that old.
  5. All of the coffee I drink. Coffee is a diuretic - it causes you to, for lack of a better word, pee a lot more. Micturition happens a lot more frequently. Since water hydrates the skin and renews the body, one must replenish the body with lots of water to prevent dehydration. I must say that I am not very good at keeping up with this. I drink coffee almost like water (at least in the morning) to stay awake. Of course this is terrible - it's a terrible habit to have and maintain. I've never drunk this much coffee in my life.
Results of these changes?
  • Whenever I look at sunscreens, I have to look for ones with many more emollient ingredients. This applies to facial moisturizers as well. The light, gel ones don't really hydrate my skin anymore - I just wake up with dry patches on my skin. Even the retinol I use has to be super moisturizing.
  • Stuff doesn't break me out as much. Only about 1x/month I get a few acne spots. They are very light and then just go away.
  • Less need for acne-driven products. I now use less products to "get rid of acne" and more products that are targeted toward hydrating the skin. Nevertheless acne still does pop up from time to time, so I have to look at that.
Bottom line, my shifts on views of products may change so people who have skin types similar to my old skin type may have different views of certain products I use/review/etc. On the other hand, people who have the skin type I currently have may find similar viewpoints. We'll see what happens!

It's Melanoma Monday!

by Lucy Zhu / Monday, May 6, 2013 / Posted in , ,

Get your skin checked at the dermatologist's 1x/year in order to prevent skin cancer!!!

Christian Science Monitor Article
Melanoma Monday Official Website - American Academy of Dermatology
Wear Orange for Melanoma Monday
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