Tranquilized Giraffes and Rates

Well.... I'm just not seeing the weight come off and I have a couple of theories:

One is that this is my second week back from Indiana where I sort of pigged at least through the latter part of the week that I was there. I KNOW I had to have put on some weight then. So now I'm taking off again maybe?

The second is, I'm stranded at home this week because my car is in the shop until next Tuesday so I'm even more sedentary than usual. I'm still running 2.5 mi every other day, but I can't get to the Y for strength training/aerobics classes on the days in between. I'm really considering running just a bit on the days in between. Once my car is back I could even go to the Y in the afternoons when I know Ellen is on or something. You know they have those treadmills and elipticals with the TVs on them? By the way I have to ask...does anyone else feel completely retarded on an eliptical? The movement just feels so weird to me like I'm trying to run in some campy slow-motion. I feel like I look like a giraffe that's trying to get away after being tranquilized. Or maybe its just me..

So I'm wondering if its okay to run two days in a row. I've always been told that you should rotate muscle groups every other day because the muscle fibers actually break down when you're using them and then build up (and then some) while you rest them. I was told that if you didn't rest them you wouldn't build up muscle.

Swimming used to be an option, but right now I'm signing up for swim lessons. Yes I can swim, but I feel like my forward crawl is really awkward and I've never know how to use proper breathing techniques. So when I swim I do the backstroke (quite well actually). But I need to know how to swim forward properly. So until I take the lessons I'm kind of holding off on that.

Another option is that I could go biking. Bicycling is something I really love to do. But is that letting the muscles rest? I mean its still using my legs, but to me it feels totally different than running. I could really use some advice here from...well...anyone who knows what they're talking about haha.
Okay so Rates..

So here is what I'm interested in folks. And of course its all going to depend on A) If I get in (PLLLLEASE let me in, Uncle Sam!) B) What my ASVAB scores are, and C) what's available.

If I really feel good about a rate I would consider holding off until it became available. So..My choices right now are as follows with the perks and the downsides as I understand them..

Master At Arms-

• Perks- MA's (I read) do more than just police work these days. They're also involved in anti-terrorism and things of that nature. I'm interested in patrol duty. When my husband and I went to Norfolk we saw some MAs on a small craft guarding a large ship. That looked interesting. Also you get to work with weapons more, learn self-defense, and be in a position of leadership. Please don't read that as a power trip. I'm a teacher so I naturally want to lead situations.
• Downsides- Pepperspray. Yay! You get sprayed in the face at A-School and then have to go through this gauntlet of obstacles while blind and crying for Mommy. That looks pretty awesome. But seriously..downside..it sounds likely that I would be overseas a LOT. Like stationed. That will work for my husband to be at most bases, but I have to consider how to get my pets over. Thats kind of traumatic for them and then you have to deal with quarantines in foreign countries and whatnot. Also a lot of ppl have complained that being an MA means you professionally stand watch. I'm not sure what that entails but ppl say its incredibly boring.
  

Gunners Mate-

• Perks-I get to play with guns. Maybe big guns or small guns. Very cool.
• Downsides- I'm reading that its some times some SERIOUSLY heavy weight lifting involved on a daily basis. It can also be dirty. Whether thats gun grease or what I don't know. Gun grease I can handle.
  

Operations Specialist

• Perks- My understanding is that you can work with radar. That looks awesome
• Downsides- I've read that its another rate where you're mostly deployed and stationed overseas.
  

Sonar Technician

• Perks- this is actually the rate that I've wanted to have since I was a kid. Ever since I saw The Hunt For Red October. I was like..that job is cool.
• Downsides- I've read you have to be really intelligent to get in. I'm not saying I'm stupid but it sounded like you had to have extremely high test scores. Also I think it requires Top Secret security clearance. I could be wrong. But I have a couple of student loans in collections (they came due without my knowledge while I was still in school..LONG story!...and defaulted). Also you have to have fantastic hearing I'm sure and I'm just not sure how mine is.

So those are the choices I'm considering and the pros and cons as I see them. If I've said something that you know to be incorrect or you can give me advice I'd LOVE to hear from you.

I'll write again soon..

-Gina