May 27, 2009 - This is What Hyper Looks Like

Hello All!

First off, I saw Dr. Pita today. I am actually up 1.5 pounds. At first this sounds like a bummer, but he said I am actually up some muscle weight. This makes sense for as much as I am working out. I am not bothered by this at all. The overnight weight gain might also have a bit to do with the Boston Market I ate last night (A LOT of sodium in that).

For those that do not read my blog via the site, I have my goals on the side of the blog. One of the goals I am working on is to use my Polar Body Watch to make sure I burn 1550-1750 calories a week by exercising. I am succeeding in this goal so far, it will be a tough one, but I am prepared to make it a priority.

Dr. Pita confused me today. I have to process some of the stuff he said in my brain before I can blog about it. I also was not really in the mood. We are working on some "transformational vocabulary"---a la Tony Robbins, I believe.

This past week was interesting. I was a bit hyper. It all started with the first day I went back to exercising after the flu. I went to the gym and walked for 20 minutes making sure to stay in the correct zone, as determined by the watch. After walking uphill for 20 minutes I decided I need to do some core work. It was then that I decided (without remembering that I was recovering from an ear infection and I have a knee that likes to dislocate) to try the balance board. It was only while wobbling precariously on the board did I remember my ailments. Fortunately, no one else was in the gym when I hurled my body at the equipment shelf to jump off the thing.

Later that evening I decided to make quinoa. Have you ever made quinoa before? Well, it is sorta like making rice except it has a lot more fiber. According to the package directions it needs rinsed before placing it in the water. I got the sieve and poured some quinoa in it. The quinoa went through the sieve into the sink because the grains were much too small for the sieve. I immediately (without thinking) grabbed some paper towel to put in the bottom of the sieve. I poured the quinoa on the paper towel into the sieve. I thought to myself; "much better." That is, until silly me poured water on top of the whole thing. I ended up with a wet-paper-towel-quinoa mess. Ugh.

Ahhhh...my week was only beginning (grin )

All day at work the next day I was a bit hyper. I was able to get a bit done because it gave my mind something to keep occupied. Later that day I had an appointment with Dr. Pins and Needles.

Dr. Pins and Needles was running a tad bit late. This is not unusual so I did not think much about it. However, I found out the reason he was running late was because he thought my appointment was at 4:30 instead of 4:00. Well, this had me a bit concerned because I have piano lessons at 6:30. I was going to be cutting it close to get to lessons on time. Finally, I get called back to the room.

I told him that things were going well that I was in a good mood..no signs of "Sad Disease" or anything like that. I am sure I was also bouncing off the walls just a bit. We get to the room and I have to pull my pants up at the legs so he can put the needles in my legs. Well, my pants were too tight to go up any farther. I said; I have my workout clothes with me. He left the room so I could change. I tug, tug, tug and tug. I CANNOT GET MY PANTS DOWN! THEY WERE STUCK! He comes back. I holler; "not done yet." After 10 more minutes of this I went to the front desk and cut the side hem of my pants so the pants will loosen their grip on my leg. AHHHHH, FREE AT LAST.

When I got back to the room, I quickly changed. Dr. Pins and Needles walked in and said; "All done now?" I said; "YesIhadalittletroublegettinmypantsoff.Theywerestuck.Ihadtogetsomescissorsthatisokaytheyweregoingtobetoobigsoonanyway."

He then said; "We are going to do your acupuncture a little differently today." Do you think he noticed I was a bit hyper? I do not know what he did differently, but I almost fell asleep!

Over the next couple of days these are the additional things that happened.

*I poured water in my purse. I KNEW that bottle was partially opened, but my brain did not stop me.

*I got a new phone because I fried it when I poured water in my purse.

*I locked the keys in the car.

*I ran head first into a wall.

At least it was all fodder for the blog!

Til Next Week,

Kristi

Originally Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

May 20, 2009 - My Beating Heart

Hello All,

I hope you like the new format and look to the blog. I have a few things I am going to add over the next couple of weeks, but this will be the format for the next few months until I get bored with it!

Remember that I wrote about the Polar Body Watch? Well, the Polar Watch is going to be the focus of my next exercise goal. Since the watch tracks how many calories you burn while exercising I will find out exactly how many calories I am burning.

The technology calls for me to wear a heart-rate monitor around my chest and there are several different "programs" on the watch to prompt me to "pick-it-up" a bit when exercising.

The first week of wearing the watch I decided to have the watch beep when I was dropping below the required heart rate. How annoying! It was beeping at me ALL THE TIME!

Until...

One day I am strolling through town and see MY FUTURE HUSBAND. (Sidebar: He does not KNOW he is MY FUTURE HUSBAND that is just what I call him. He is MY FUTURE HUSBAND because he can fix things (e.g. plumbing, cars, windows, etc.). What more can a gal want? Unfortunately, he has a girlfriend. My sister and I refer to her as THE OBSTACLE. No worries, they are not getting married. We also consider her, putting it non-politely, "white trash". Yes, we are evil.) MY FUTURE HUSBAND was speaking to another friend of ours so I nonchalantly sashayed over to the two men. My Polar Watch announcing my arrival by beeping as I approached due to the drop in activity (I had to slow down and make an "entrance").

I spoke to the two men for several minutes. I was sure to suck my belly in and pull in my shirt enough to show my reappearing curves (a girl's gotta work it!). Several hair flips later, I proceeded on my walk. As I get about 20 feet away, the Polar Watch starts to beep again. My watch was quiet while I was speaking to the men.

Yes, that is right, the ENTIRE TIME I was speaking to MY FUTURE HUSBAND my heart rate was at moderate exercise intensity (about 130 beats a minute)!!

Now we know who/how I can get my heart rate up!!!!

Til Next Week,

Kristi

Originally published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

May 16, 2009 - Transition

Hello All,

I know, I know....I normally try to post every Wednesday, but I have an excuse!!! I am still sick! After two rounds of antibiotics I am hoping these germs will go away! Want to knw the best part?!?! I actually have been antsy to workout. HA! I am taking it easy through Sunday to see if that will help.

This weekend I am making several changes to the blog to show my new goals. This post is dedicated to archiving the information that was located on the side panels. So, for my avid blog readers I you may want to stop reading here .

I promise to have a new and exciting story posted before Wednesday to make up for the absence of a post this week (maybe tomorrow?).

How it All Began

It began as a challenge with the following message sent to friends and posted on the blog.

I am determined to get in better physical shape over the next couple of years. In order to help me accomplish this goal I have decided to get fit for charity. My goal is to walk in the Indy 500 Mini Marathon in May 2009. I NEED YOUR HELP TO ACCOMPLISH MY GOAL.

In order to motivate myself I decided that if I can get my friends and other interested people to agree to donate to the charity of their choice; I will have a goal to attain.

Here is the challenge. Pick a charity and tell me the name and how much you are going to donate to it. After I complete the Mini Marathon you will make your donation. If due to act of God, or injury, I cannot walk in the Mini Marathon I will walk in a comparable Mini Marathon at a later date. So....if you are going to donate to a charity next year ANYWAY, or will do it when I finish the mini marathon, complete the form by telling me which charity and how much you will donate.

How it All Came Out

I FINISHED!

The following were my Stats up to that point.

Pounds Lost: 67

Stones Lost: Amost 5

BMI: 10 point drop

Fat Lost: 53.0

Body Fat Loss In Percentage Points: 12

Percent of Original Weight Lost: 22%

Sizes: 6

Miles Walked in Preparation: 150.00+

Charities Receiving Donations

Pledge List
Original Goal: 1300

Total: 1938

Arthritis Foundation: 25

Pulmonary Hypertension: 25

Golden Retriever Rescue: 100

Riley Children's Hospital: 50

American Red Cross: 131

Farm Aid: 100

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: 100

LH Susan G. Komen: 25

Safe Haven of Iowa County: 100

Fund for International Service Learning: 100

United Christmas Service: 100

Quinn Indy Homes for Huskies: 50

Paws Chicago: 100

Caring Place of Calvary Temple: 100

JM Undecided: 100

Open Door Health Clinic: 100

Operation Smile: 132 (note he did this to top his wife by 1 dollar)

Leukemia Lymphoma Society: 25

Juvenile Diabetes: 250

Sister's Indy Homes for Huskies: 100

CG Undecided: 100

KC Riley Hospital: 25

Stay tuned until Wednesday when I share my Elite Athlete Award!

Kristi

Originally Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

May 10, 2009 - Marathon Recap Part 3 of 3

Hello All,

I am sick--really sore throat. I am sure it is a throat infection. Therefore, my planned last posting about the Mini Marathon will be much shorter than planned. I may expand on the thoughts during my regular posting on Wednesday. I have a photo to share of the certificate that I got at the Victory Dinner

My plan for this posting was to thank all of the people who supported me and there are MANY. I could not list them all here if I tried. All my friends, families, health care staff, co-workers, and other interested individuals have been very supportive and encouraging. Everyone has provided their own advice and words of encouragement when needed.

This year has been life changing for me. It is only the beginning of a healthier life. I have a long way to go, but these are permanent changes I am trying to incorporate so I have a lot to continue to learn to make sure these new habits become part of who I am.

I have new challenges that I will be sharing over the next couple of weeks. I also will be archiving the charity information into postings. You will see some changes to the blog starting this week.

I am also sure that Pita Bruiser, Dr. Pins and Needles, Dr. Pita, Miss Tappity Tap and my own interactions with the world will provide more humorous stories as the new challenges approach!

Til Wednesday,
Kristi
Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

May 9, 2009 - Marathon Recap Part 2 of 3

Hello Again,

I cannot honestly say that I could not have done it without the two that walked with me, but I CAN say that the both of them being with me helped IMMENSELY. They both wanted me to finish; at one point my coat and bottle of water were taken from me so I could walk without obstacle!!! Talk about teamwork! I teased my one walking partner that I was surprised she did not trip me since she had money to lose since she was going to donating when I finished.

As I crossed the finish line I was in pain. I knew crossing the finish line pain free was not going to happen, but my goal was to finish. As the race ended, all I really wanted to do was sit down, but I figured that would not be a good idea, because I would just have to stand back up.
Of course, I made the mistake later of sitting down two blocks from the hotel and regretted it later!

For four hours, I whined about how I would NEVER DO IT AGAIN! After awhile, I started thinking; "If I keep training, by next year I will DEFINITELY improve my time!!"

I am closing Part 2 with a quote I received from a friend. She sent it at the right time and I had it in my pocket on race day.

The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.

-John (The Penguin) Bingham

Til Tomorrow,

Kristi

Originally Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

May 6, 2009 - Marathon Recap Part 1 of 3

Hello All,

Sorry for the delay.

With much anticipation I looked forward to the day of the Mini Marathon. I am not overstating when I write that this event was one of the most important in my life. It was without a doubt. To me, the marathon was a culmination of taking control of my physical, mental, and spiritual well being.

It was about 14 months ago, I told myself; “Hey, you need to do something to feel better physically, etc. Your quality of life is suffering. Your knee hurts all the time. You cry all the time. You are sick all the time. You are just not healthy.” After much thought I decided that there is no reason that I should not be able to walk 13.1 miles. It was that day I sent out an e-mail asking some of my friends to support me by agreeing to donate to a charity of their choice if I complete the Mini Marathon. The response was immediate.

I did not tell anyone at first that my plan to accomplish this goal was to first start to lose weight. I knew I would have to, but I wanted to get my “ducks-in-a-row” first. I decided I needed help. As my faithful blog readers know, I sought the help of professionals, and still do.

As my blog documents, I have come a long way. I have a long way to go, a lifelong journey that seems overwhelming at times, but I am in it for the long haul. No one ever said life was going to be easy. Everything in my blog documents most of my healthy lifestyle trials, errors, and successes leading up to May 2nd.

There was not any point after I did the Bricks to Bricks 10 Miler that I thought I would not complete the Mini Marathon. I was doing it and “that-was-that.”

The day of the Mini Marathon was beautiful. I think that most of the participants believed that the day could not have been more perfect. It was cool and the sun was not beating down on us with mind-numbing heat rays.

I could bore you with all 13.1 miles of the race, but I am not going to, but I do offer some highlights.

*I did not cross the start line until 43 minutes after the gun. There were over 35,000 participants!
*My walking partners caught up to me at about ½ mile because we could not find each other before the start of the race.
*I really don’t remember the miles “going by”. I was shooting for the finish! I was focused!
*I started limping due to a bit of knee trouble on the track at about mile 8.
*I was emotional for a lot of it, because I realized I was completing it (I am getting misty as I type this)! There is nooooooooooooo way I could have completed it a year ago!
*Along the side of the course there are people with cowbells cheering you on as you run/walk.
*In a crowd of 35,000 stories there are 35,000 different reasons why people compete in these events. All stories are compelling.

*It was surreal when I crossed the finish line. I do not know if I was in shock, tired, or just overwhelmed by it all.

Since this story is a long one, I am going to complete it over the next couple of days and I have several pictures to share.

Til Tomorrow or Later Today,
Kristi

Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com

Update on Update

Hi All,

I will update on the Mini after the Victory Dinner this evening. I am SURE I am going to win something, so I would love to tell you all about it .

Published to http://kristiasher.blogspot.com