Kristen's Blog

No Rolfing for me

2010-02-21T10:24:00.002-07:00

For everyone who thinks Rolfing, Deep Tissue Massage and otherwise painful bodywork is the way to alleviate that pain, please read below. I encourage further research on the subject.
The following is an excerpt from Job’s Body by Deane Juhan.

“The very stress and anxieties which tend to produce muscular tension are the same influences which lower the thresholds and exaggerate the responses to additional pain or discomfort. Thus anything we do to cause local discomfort, or often even the hint of possible discomfort, reflexively tightens the contractions we are seeking to release.

“Patience, sensitivity, and careful timing will reward the bodyworker far more than mere force, no matter what structural or functional end he wished to achieve. The client’s patterns of reflex contractions cannot be bullied into submission. In fact, the very act of bullying can only ignite more stretch and withdrawal reflexes.”

(2003). In D. Juhan, Job's Body (p. 208). Barrytown, NY: Barrytown/Station Hill Press, Inc.

And as always I would love to help you move better and learn how to swing a kettlebell.
http://www.sebastianathletics.com/

Super Bowl Sunday

2010-02-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

Super Bowl Sunday!

The day of chips, dip and beer. I would be the last person to pass judgment on those who care to indulge (trust me, I’ll be doing some indulging myself.) However come Monday morning – big time Kettlebell workout. I plan on spending a lot of time doing Z-Health drills and a VO2 max snatch workout.

I would be happy to teach anyone interested how to do a perfect Kettlebell snatch. Shoot me an e-mail. SebastianRKC@gmail.com

Sweetheart Sessions

2010-02-06T07:51:00.004-07:00

I am working on a new logo for Sebastian Athletics. I am learning how to use Indian Clubs which are a lot of fun. Even though I am fundamentally opposed to Valentine’s Day I am going to do a Sweethearts Deal for Kettlebell and Z-Health personal training and athletic coaching.

Any couples out there want to train together? Call Sebastian Athletics for special introductory rate. (720) 289-7288.

Visit my website: http://www.rockymountainkettlebells.net/

Open

2010-01-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Andre Agassi’s autobiography, Open and I want to share a couple of passages. As a Z-Health coach these make a lot of sense.

“If somebody can write down your routine on a piece of paper, it isn’t worthy the piece of paper it’s written on. You’re asking me to put you through a workout here that leaves no room for where you are, how you’re feeling, what you need to focus on. It doesn’t allow for change.” Page 135.

“To know what your body wants, he says, to understand what it needs and what it doesn’t, you need to be part engineer, part mathematician, part artist, part mystic.” Page 136

“It’s all about angles.” Page 137

Open is very good book and gives a lot insight into the world of professional sports that is not portrayed in the media and on the court. After reading the book I looked at videos of Andre Agassi playing some of the matches he talks about in the book and what one sees on the screen is usually very different from what Agassi writes was going on in his body and mind.

Recommend.

Ugh!

2010-01-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

I have been tinkering around for hours trying to get this blog on my web page. So far it is just not happening. Hopefully I'll get it all figured out before 2011!!

Always be moving...........
http://www.rockymountainkettlebells.net/

Sural Nerve Rehab

2009-10-28T09:34:00.001-06:00

I had a fabulous weekend in Phoenix at the Z-Health T-Phase ™ certification and I cannot wait to attend again in April (job permitting) but there was one negative. I woke up my immobile sural nerve from its perfectly happy coma. I suspect after a number of ankle sprains and general abuse the poor little guy just decided to shut down. Now when my right knee is in extension I can barely move into dorsi-flexion before I get the “nerve zing.” I tried to do Renegade Rows this morning (in perfect form, of course, requiring ankle dosi-flexion) and the nerve was a little too threatening. I did seated rows with my 12k kettlebells instead but that is not the same. On the positive side of having this pesky little nerve wreaking havoc is I get to have an empirical case study on how to rehab the sural nerve. I did some ankle circles this morning and am easing into dorsi-flexion as the threat subsides. I am also doing opposing joint wrist circles and will probably throw in some hip and knee circles as well in different positions. I’m thinking a little mechanostim might be order as well – pedicure maybe? :-)

Sural nerve: The sural nerve (short saphenous nerve) lies with the small saphenous vein. It supplies the branches to the skin on the back of the leg and then continues as the "lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve" along the outside of the foot and little toe.

www.rockymountainkettlebells.net

Al Gore could lose a few stones too...........

2009-04-26T00:30:00.001-06:00

First it’s the impending Ice Age then it’s Global Warming and now it’s the catch all “climate change.” I think it’s all a bunch of b.s. Having said that, however, I find nothing wrong with conserving our natural resources and treating our planet with respect and reverence. I recycle. I try to ride my bike to work every once in a while. I don’t litter. Clear cutting pisses me off. I keep my heat low in the winter the air conditioning low in the summer. I see no need to be wasteful. But I don’t believe the hysteria of global warming. There have been plenty of reputable scientists who have refuted global warming but you never hear about them because the news media and the Hollywood beautiful people know better than the trained and educated scientists. And Al Gore doesn’t fit into any of those categories. Who the hell is that guy anyway?

This article has to take the cake though, on true idiocy. I do think obesity is a big problem and I’m not disputing that there are serious health issues related to obesity that ultimately raises health care costs for everyone. This is not about that. This is finding yet another scapegoat. The beautiful people all have personal trainers and are skinny so they can have their righteous indignation while blaming others (for a problem that, again, I don’t necessarily think exists).

Fatties cause global warming
By BEN JACKSON
Environment Editor
Published: 21 Apr 2009
THE rising number of fat people was yesterday blamed for global warming.

Scientists warned that the increase in big-eaters means more food production — a major cause of CO2gas emissions warming the planet. Overweight people are also more likely to drive, adding to environmental damage.
Lard help us ... overweight must eat less for planet. Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.” Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one. It means an extra BILLION TONNES of CO2 a year is created, according to World Health Organisation estimates of overweight people.
The scientists say providing extra grub for them to guzzle adds to carbon emissions that heat up the world, melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and killing rain forests.
The environmental impact of fat humans is made even worse because they are more likely to travel by car — another major cause of carbon emissions.
And researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine say wealthy nations like the US and Britain are getting fatter by the decade. Dr Phil Edwards said: “Food production accounts for about one fifth of greenhouse gases. “We need to do a lot more to reverse the global trend towards fatness. It is a key factor in the battle to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. “It is time we took account of the amount we are eating. This is about over-consumption by the wealthy countries. And the world demand for meat is increasing to match that of Britain and America. It is also much easier to get in your car and pick up a pint of milk than to take a walk.”
The study by Dr Edwards and colleague Ian Roberts is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Dr Edwards went on: “We are not just pointing the finger at fat people. All populations are getting fatter and it has an impact on the environment.
“UK health surveys estimate fatness has increased from an average body mass index of 26 to 27 in the last ten years. That’s equivalent to about half a stone for every person.”
Anyone with a BMI above 25 is overweight, while more than 30 is obese. A staggering 40 per cent of Americans are obese, among 300 million worldwide. Australian Professor Paul Zimmet predicted a disastrous obesity pandemic back in 2006. And Oxfam warned yesterday that the number of people hit by climate-related disasters will soar by more than half in the next six years to 375million.
The impact of more storms, floods and droughts could overwhelm aid organisations. Sun doctor Carol Cooper said last night: “I’m not sure which came first, people getting fat and driving or the other way around. It is true fat people eat more food than average. “A few obese people have a hormone problem, although most simply don’t use enough calories and eat too many. But making them feel guilty antagonises them and may not help.”

2009-03-30T16:05:00.001-06:00

Finally! I have found something I can rant about that involves politics and weight loss. Please read the article below and see if you are as horrified as I am. Granted this is a family in the United Kingdom but I fear it is not long before our entitlements for everyone President makes this kind of nonsense a norm. the article can be found here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5004431/Family-who-are-too-fat-to-work-say-22000-worth-of-benefits-is-not-enough.html

My comments are in parenthesis. I will disclose that some of my comments were pilfered from others but hey, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Family who are 'too fat to work' say £22,000 worth of benefits is not enough
By Urmee Khan

Philip Chawner, 53, and his 57-year-old wife Audrey weigh 24 stones (336 pounds). Their daughter Emma, 19, weighs 17 stones (238 pounds), while her older sister Samantha, 21, weighs 18 stones (252 pounds). The family from Blackburn claim £22,508 ($32,228.30 US) a year in benefits, equivalent to the take-home pay from a £30,000 ($42,955.80 US) salary. The Chawners, haven't worked in 11 years, claim their weight is a hereditary condition and the money they receive is insufficient to live on. Mr. Chawner said: "What we get barely covers the bills and puts food on the table. It's not our fault we can't work. (Oh how I would love to blame my fat on heredity. Even if there is some truth to being “predisposed” to be heavy or have a slower metabolism I still have to take responsibility for my actions.) We deserve more." (They “DESERVE” more?!?! What on Earth did they do to DESERVE more? If the condition were truly hereditary then Mr. and Mrs. Would have to be brother and sister – or do they both have that convenient diagnosis?) The family claim to spend £50 ($71.60) a week on food and consume 3,000 calories each a day. The recommended maximum intake is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men. "We have cereal for breakfast, bacon butties for lunch and microwave pies with mashed potato or chips for dinner," Mrs. Chawner told Closer magazine. "All that healthy food, like fruit and veg, is too expensive. We're fat because it's in our genes. (Is there no one who takes personal responsibility anymore?) Our whole family is overweight," she added. Each week, Mr. and Mrs. Chawner, who have been married for 23 years, receive £177 in income support and incapacity benefit. Mrs. Chawner is paid an extra £330-a-month disability allowance for epilepsy and asthma, both a result of being overweight. Mr. Chawner gets £71 a month after developing Type 2 diabetes because of his size. He was on a waiting list for a gastric band last year, but a heart condition made the operation unsuitable. (This article is frightening on so many levels. This is exactly where we are headed with our health care.) Their daughter Samantha receives £84 in Jobseekers' Allowance each fortnight while Emma, who is training to be a hairdresser, gets £58 every two weeks under a hardship fund for low-income students. Emma, said: "I'm a student and don't have time to exercise" she said "We all want to lose weight to stop the abuse we get in the street, but we don't know how." (Ok, I call total B.S. on this load of hooey. It ain’t rocket science. I will be the first one to admit that it is hard to lose weight but the process is simple. EAT LESS. MOVE MORE. I feel disdain and disgust toward the parents and I feel pity towards the two daughters. They have obviously been brought up with the entitlement mentality and they are taking after their parents – refuse to make positive changes and blame everyone else for your problems. Pathetic. Truly pathetic.)

I've changed...

2009-03-23T16:10:00.003-06:00

I've decided to move my blogs on my dieting woes to another url (http://stmochta.blogspot.com). I've done that because this blog is meant to be outward looking not inward looking. I'm going back to basics here and will post my rants on whatever blows my skirt up.

Leaving Politics Behind

2008-12-21T23:36:00.001-07:00

I am being a slacker new blogger. I guess I have nothing to get really fired up about at the moment. I can comment on President Elect Obama’s Cabinet or his call for more stimulus, but until he actually takes the oath of office there really is only speculation and I’m quite simply not in the mood to speculate. Three things will happen. Things will get worse; things will stay the same; or things will get better. And until one of those three things happens I see no need to comment.

I will comment, however, on my current trip to the Land Down Under. I am currently in Australia and I love it here. It is very much like the United States so there is very little culture shock but the days are long and the weather is warm. What a perfect world. I have managed to get into some political discussions. In keeping with my belief that partisanship ends at the water’s edge, I have not said one negative word about Mr. Obama (I did have a few choice words about Mrs. Obama but that was to another American).

I did have a chance to meet Mick Veivers who was involved in Queensland politics. I think was pretty high up in the government but you would never know it from meeting him. He is such a nice man and I had a wonderful time talking with him. I told him I was a Republican and he affirmed that he was too. I met Mr. Veivers at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic golf tournament. No, I am not a good golfer – I just enjoy losing ten or twelve balls while having some fun in the sun and getting a little exercise. Another politician at the event was Bob Hawke. Mr. Hawke is a former Prime Minister of the country of Australia. He led the Labor Party to victory in the general election in March 1983 and, in winning three successive elections, became Australia’s longest serving Labor Party Minister. I asked my golf partner if he liked Mr. Hawke as Prime Minister and his answer was he was ok but a bit of a George Bush. I said he must have been a great Prime Minister then.