Senior Project Update

Content:
1. I am currently still losing weight to reach my independent goal of 160
2. I found an article of research done that did a study on women's weight and found that their weight has a tie to their nationality in most cases. This helped me to decide on what my science project was going to be on and how to conduct the study.
3. I can finally fit into my extra large Taylor Swift shirt! It is actually getting really loose!

3.

Science Fair Proposal

1. Weight Loss
2. Weight loss participants' environment, whether it be nationality or age, affects their weight.
3. If weight loss subjects are older than 30 years old, then their average weekly weight loss will be lower than that of a younger subject.
4. I plan on getting all of my numerical data from the weight loss program weight watchers. I will track the participants' weight loss weekly for 6 weeks and calculate the data. I plan to collect the data with the help of a scale to tell how much weight they have lost that week. I plan on also giving out a survey asking for their exact age.
PS. I was thinking for an extra science project just because I am curious, that I will also ask for their nationality just to see if there is a link between weight loss and nationality as well.
5. Social science

Blog:9 Working EQ and Possible Answers

1. What is the most important factor in the effort to lose weight?
2. I am not changing my EQ at this time.
3. My answers are:

• A healthy diet
• Exercise
• A support system

Rough Draft of Presentation 1

My Lesson Plan

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

I plan on setting a goal weight for myself, which will definitely require me to complete 30 hours of work. I figured this was equivalent of Ms. Ortega's example of a sewing project which was to make a dress.

Well to lose weight it is no secret that you have to work out and study nutrition and other key facts, so I think that by making a goal weight for myself and reaching it, I will have no trouble completing 30 hours.

By working out I am utilizing a key factor in losing weight: being active. By being active for at least 30 minutes 5 days out of the week, I am proving that one of the key factors in losing weight is working out.

Second Interview Questions

1. What exactly is the process of becoming a personal trainer?
2. What got you interested in health and fitness?
3. What is the most amazing weight loss success that you have witnessed?
4. How did you come to the conclusion to become a personal trainer?
5. What makes an effective personal trainer?
6. What is the hardest part of becoming a certified personal trainer?

Blog 4: Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon

• Positive Statement: What positive things have happened as a result of what you have completed so far?

One positive thing that has come out of having a mentor is that I have lost 29 pounds in total and I am still going strong. Working out and eating right under the eye of my personal trainer has helped me keep going. I am healthier and happier now that I have lost weight and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

• EQ Content: Pick a piece of your research or interview. How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

I think the part of my interview that really helped me understand my topic further, is when Erin told me that she thinks it is important to count and learn your calories. Joining a weight loss plan such as weight watcher is good but can also be  pricey and may not always be the most financially fit way to lose weight on a budget. She told me that it is just simple math and that you could lose the same amount of weight for free instead of paying a monthly fee.

• What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

Finding a mentor was probably the easiest thing for me so far. She is my sister's room mate so she agreed to train and advise me for free which was pretty nice of her. Another thing that has worked out nicely is my interview. It was just like Mrs. Ortega said, if you look interested the interviewee will be excited and willing to share their knowledge with you. Our interview was very casual and she gave a very informative answer to every question.

• What hasn't worked so far?

Nothing so far has gone awry. I enjoy my topic and have fun while researching. I have no complaints about senior topic so far.

• Finding value

-Some minor questions such as:

How long do weight plateaus (sudden stalls in weight loss) last?

How do I get over the weight plateaus?

How many days should I go to the gym when I get my membership?

-My end goal is to be at around 160-170 pounds or even just happy with the way I look. I also want to reach a goal to get my family healthier by following my lifestyle changes.

-I plan on meeting with a nutritionist so they can properly give me healthy food choices and tips. I hope to also learn a healthy weight for my height and ways to reach that weight.

Blog 5A

1. Weight loss
2. People starve themselves or turn to fad diets in an effort to lose weight fast. After I solve the problem I could create a cook book with healthy recipes that can help you cut back on your calorie intake therefore loosing weight the healthy way.
3. People don't know the most efficient cardio workout to raise your heartbeat, therefore burning fat. When I solve this problem, I could make a cardio exercise DVD.

Blog 3: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

I plan on interviewing my mentor, Erin Apregan. She is my personal trainer and I think she can answer my questions with a satisfactory level of depth. She is certified to teach her fitness ways and I think she is a reliable source of information.

2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask?

I plan on asking Erin what got her into physical fitness and why she chose it as a career path. I also plan on asking her how she keeps her clients motivated, I want to know what she says to them that makes them follow through with their weight loss plans. Another question that I have is, what is the most important thing to do in an effort to lose weight.

Topic Choice

Content

a. My senior topic is weight loss. I chose this topic because I have always been overweight which eventually caused me to develop sleep apnea, a condition where I stop breathing in my sleep. I decided that it was time to improve my health and thought it would be a fun and beneficial senior topic.

b. I plan to have a successful weight loss journey over the course of senior year. This will make me a better iPoly citizen because with every pound I lose, I gain space for my lungs to expand therefore making me sleep better, and if I sleep better I will have more energy to help out around the school. By losing weight I will be gaining confidence which will help me feel more comfortable during a presentation or even when I am just talking to my friends, therefore making me an effective communicator. To lose weight, I have to learn what is right and what isn't right for my body. I also have to learn more about the human body and how it works. I have to learn what exercises work out which muscles best. By studying the body intensely I will learn the most effective ways to lose weight and hopefully I will become an effective learner but maybe somewhere in the future I can learn how to be an effective teacher as well. To lose weight I must also become an effective user of technology not only with workout machines and food scales, but with technology like my body. I have to learn how to use my body effectively to achieve one thing, happiness. I don't have an ultimate weight loss goal I have an ultimate confidence goal. I want to be happy with my body. Being happy with what I see is more important than the numbers.

Blog 1: Mentorship assignment

Literal (Know)
My mentor log
Mentor: Erin Apregan
phone: (805) 807-3319
email: eapregan@clunet.edu

Literal (Need to Know)

• Is a low calorie diet better than a low carb diet?
• How do I get over a sudden halt in weight loss?
• How do I conquer my food cravings?
• What type of exercise is best? (cardio or weight training)

Interpretive

I think the most important thing I learned from Erin was that it is never too late to lose weight. She showed me how to take care of my body again when I wasn't even sure that it was possible. She gave me hope that someday I won't have to shop at the plus size stores. She gave me my life back and I am so thankful.She taught me to look past the sudden halts in weight loss and told me to keep trying.

Applied

My time with Erin really set weight loss as my senior project. I know that there is no time like the present to lose weight and I think that I can do a lot with weight loss as my senior topic. I already have science projects in my head on weight loss, and I have never been more excited to get started on a project! I have already lost 25+ pounds in less than a month and I have no plans to slow down now.