Fitness obsession...

I haven't worked out this week, other than a martial arts class on Tuesday. I missed last night because I wasn't feeling well. I'm actually a bit bummed that I didn't make it. I feel better when I work out!
I can tell I haven't done anything because I don't feel as "sharp". I'm a bit more tired and am dragging. It's amazing how well your body responds to physical activity!

I'm taking my son to the track tomorrow morning. We're going to start working on running together. Both of us have to run a mile. It's great about being "old"...I have the same requirement as him!! While I'm not looking forward to the run, I AM looking forward to the activity first thing. I have missed it this week!

I let a friend borrow my Wii Fit, balance board and EA Sports Active, so I haven't been doing them this week. I'll get them tonight and will start back in on them tomorrow or Sunday. Probably tomorrow, AFTER I run. I have no excuses. One of my co-workers told me that for weight loss, running was probably the best thing I could do for myself. He recommended that I start running first and *then* start doing pushups. I don't quite agree with that...but I know I have to work on my core and get it strong enough to support my weight. Part of that will happen from doing crunches, the other part will come from improving my overall fitness.

I guess I need to restart my fitness goals. It's the beginning of a new month, a new 30 day Challenge to address. It's going to be a fun month!!

Say goodbye to the Couch Potato

I'm a self avowed couch potato. I have spent the better part of my adult life being a couch potato. No exercise to very little at best. Then I discovered martial arts and that changed my life a bit. At first, I worked out only in class, but as I improved my skills, I realized that I was losing weight and having fun with it. At one point, I had the grandiose plan to run a 5k, so I trained for it with friends. That happened in 2005. I was out *every* Saturday morning, running or walking with friends. It was hard work, but a lot of fun and definitely something I enjoyed for a bit. After that race, we kind of let our walking/running fall by the wayside and never picked it back up again. I was back to being a couch potato.

During the end of 2006 to 2007, I was in some pretty heavy training for my Cho Dan. I was in full training from July to September of 2007 to get in shape for my test. After that, my training went downhill a bit. It picked up a little in January of 2008 and lasted until March. After that, I wasn't really working as hard as I had been for the past year, so I started gaining weight again. It was just a little here and a litte there, but it got me worried about it. I didn't do that much for it--I assumed that I could just keep up my intermittent workouts and that I'd be fine. After all, I had lost weight by doing a lot of intense working out in 6 months. That wasn't the best thing for me, but I truly wasn't motivated.

I think something finally "clicked" for me. I have to take 100% responsibility for my own health. I can't afford to sit back and let the pounds creep back on.
I've joined that "Biggest Loser" thing at the complex and haven't really done that much exercise. Saturday, I went swimming with the kids. Sunday, hubby and I walked for at least 4 miles. We don't know the exact distance because we don't own a pedometer. I feel really good about what I'm doing. I have made two days of playing on my Wii Fit. I put in 30 minutes yesterday and 45 minutes today. If I plan to make that time to play, I think it'll be a good thing.

In addition to the Wii today, I plan on getting onto the eliptical machine at the Y and trying to build up my time on it. I went 2 minutes on Tuesday and 4 (with many rests both days!!) on Thursday. It's a start. I am starting to find that I LIKE exercise. Why it has taken me 44 years to learn to like it, I don't know, but I'm just pleased as punch for it.

We have Wii Sports too, so I'm going to play with the son in a few minutes.
My goal is simple--I need to lose thirty pounds again by the time I visit my doctor next year. Thirty pounds in a year is a good goal. It's roughly 3 pounds a month, which I'm sure is doable. I will feel better and I KNOW I'll look better.
My martial arts will also improve as I improve myself.

So, who is this suddenly new person? Was I taken over by "pod people"? I am finding that I LIKE working out. Couch potato? Bye!!

Balance

In talking to my chiropractor this week, I mentioned to him that I needed to learn to turn my hips over better when I'm doing side kicks. He mentioned to me that I needed to get a wobble board to work on improving my balance. My chiropractor is a martial artist and knows that you have to have balance in order to be able to get the movement down for the turn. When you perform a side kick, you need to be able to 1. Turn your hips over and 2. Allow your supporting foot to pivot. If you don't, you will not perform the kick correctly. He said that the wobble board would improve my balance and would allow me to be able to execute the kicks properly.

I missed a good class on side kicks a few weeks ago. K said that Master G had everyone lay on the floor and practice kicking. It helped improve the positioning. I have to make a point of practicing that at home. It will definitely help with the ability to learn how the kick should feel.

Tony told me that the Wii Fit board we have should do the same as a wobble board, but I'm not 100% convinced. Yes, it will work on balance, but is it enough to improve the balance properly? I'm going to keep that in mind.
I have the Wii Fit, but I don't use it. I haven't used it in nearly 6 months. It is time to dig it out and start using it.

Driving (me crazy)

I snuck out of the house today and drove!!!! I took my car to the grocery store because I had to get a birthday cake and card for my son. I got the cake, forgot the card! I was being horrible and didn't want to walk. The wind was blowing and I didn't feel like walking around in my "bug eyes" (my goggles). It was bad enough walking in from the parking lot to the store with my goggles on! I'm very self conscious and feel like everyone is staring at me. (That's a side effect of my childhood.)

So, after braving the sunlight (why do I feel like a vampire??) and driving, I came back home and got comfy with the cat. I was relaxing on the couch, sleeping through CSI: Miami when my manager called!!! He asked how I was feeling, what I was doing, then cut to the chase and asked was I going to be out the rest of the week. I said, "Yes." I have a note for him, so I've got that covered. I'm a little concerned about his reaction to that though. I will make sure I get my doctor's notes scanned and sent to the HR lady this evening. That way my butt is covered. I suddenly feel like I'm on the chopping block.

After talking to the manager, I snuck out again and picked my son up from school. I'm really not cleared to drive yet. I can see my monitor right now, but I am seeing blurred. I am blinking a lot, trying to keep the tears in my eys. I'm sorry I've inconvenienced the department, but...I DID try to make it convenient for them by scheduling surgery on Saturday. I had no idea that I'd be one of the few slow people!! I guess next time I need to figure out how to expedite the healing process or something.

We took the little boy out tonight to Toys R Us to get his birthday present. He now has one of the games he wanted. He has "Sonic: Unleashed". I'm glad he has it, but I've got to really watch how much time he spends on the Wii, playing it. I'm going to be super grumpy about it and make sure that he's out moving around too.

Speaking of moving around, I might try my hand at Wii Fit tomorrow. Haven't used it since December, so it'll be a good time to break it out. I don't think I have to see too well to follow the feet marks on the tv or see the blue and red flags for the downhill skiing.

Friday

I've been feeling better about myself since I went to class on Tuesday. I realize that punishing myself because I am "not as good as everyone else" just is NOT going to make me a better martial artist. Neither is sitting here, moping about how I'm not as good as NB and how his only life is karate 7 days a week. I obviously cannot do that, but what I CAN do is work on my fitness 7 days a week. I can get my butt off the couch and go walking on the days when I'm home and not out at Scouts. I just ordered a Yoga DVD from Prevention and I'm going to use it too. I can do this.

I've been reading on Martial Talk how some people have used the Wii Fit to develop their balance. I'm not sure which board it was on, but I know I saw it. It's worth thinking about. So far, I've just been thinking. I don't usually play with the Wii. If I get the Wii Fit, I may use it more than the kids do. Of course, they may lose the ability to lock themselves in my room to play.

On the Black Tiger web page, I found this quote:

“The light is reached not by turning back from the darkness, but by going through it.”

Unknown

I like it.