June 3, 2009 - Cricket Anyone?

Hello All,

I had another appointment with Dr. Pita today. One of the reason I went one week after last seeing him is because Dr. Pins and Needles is out of town. I am still trying to maintain some accountability by making sure I see at least one member of my "get healthy army" every Wednesday.

Lately, my mind is consumed with thoughts like; "How do I insure I maintain my healthy lifestyle habits" and "I do not want to feel like I did before, is this bite of cookie the bite that takes me to the dark side?"

Well, Dr. Pita had several suggestions when I start to get into a "funk" (I am not allowed to call it depression anymore, even though on the new charge form he circles that .) Primarily I need to change my physiology when I can. For example, if I am not smiling...smile. If I am looking down...look up. Okay, I will do that.

He also started yammering on about "getting outside of myself." He means that I need to do something that is helping others a bit (I think) and keep my mind occupied on other things. Well, I do this a lot anyway, but there is a new little project that I got roped into...

Are you ready for this?!?!?

"Unofficial Editor" of the cricket tournament blog for the Indy Friends Club. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CRICKET!!!

For those that do not know, for most of my career I have worked with primarily folks from the former British Empire (people from India and Great Britain primarily). Cricket is BIG there!

Well, yesterday I got an e-mail that said; "Please rewrite for the blog." It contained short descriptions of the previous and future matches (is that what they are called?). Of course, I said; "OK!"

So, for the next 6 weeks or so...I will be donating my time correcting and expanding on my friend's descriptions of the cricket tournaments. I also will be reading Cricket for Dummies.

So...Dr. Pita...I AM doing something outside of myself and keeping my mind occupied. HA!

Til Next Week,

Kristi

P.S. I was down a pound of fat and up 1.5 pounds of muscle.

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

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