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!!

Not my normal Saturday routine

This morning I started my workouts earlier than normal for a Saturday. I got up at 5:30 and knocked out two workouts--the 30 day challenge workout and one of my own devising. I'm a bit tired, but feel like it's worth it. I actually got a chance to sit here without anyone else up for an hour and a few after the workouts, so that's a plus. I rather like being able to sit quietly and not have to worry about what time any certain cartoon is on or whatever. Currently Mr. A is watching some weird cartoon on television. It's a huge change from when I was a kid. Then, Bugs Bunny was the thing to catch on Saturday morning.

I have to talk about Mr. A for a minute too. On Thursday, he and Ms. M had a talk about his progress. They reviewed his progress sheet and she set a couple of goals for him to achieve this next week--like not talking out of turn during class. If he makes that goal by Thursday, then he will move up from the Beginner class to the Advanced Beginner class. I have warned him that the instructor of the AB class is not going to take any nonsense off him as she's a teacher outside of the school too. That will make him settle in and concentrate a little bit, I hope!!

He sat through my class on Thursday fairly well. For a while, I know he was playing with my cell phone, then he put it into my bag and just watched as we ran through our One Steps and Ho Sin Sul. Then he watched as we moved into the other room and worked on our Bunkai. That was a refreshing thing! He was complimented and told that people forgot that he was in there because he was so quiet. I was very proud of him. I told him that too.

We have Open Training today at 11:30. I'm taking Mr. A with me because he can work on his form and on techniques. I'm going to work with my friend, K, on forms, One Steps and Ho Sin Sul. She'll be testing at our next test and I want to help her brush up. Plus, it helps me out because I can brush up on the White through Green belt one steps too. I also have to concentrate on learning the Red Belt one steps, so that's on my list to practice too.

Results of the first week.

I know, logically, you don't actually SEE results from working out in a short time, but...it's been officially two weeks since I started adding in weights at the Y to my pre-martial arts class workouts. I swear that I am seeing results in the mirror. I see my shoulders looking more...well, more defined!! I know it's not really something you see right away, but to me, I'm going to continue believing it. Half the battler is belief. If you believe in yourself, you will have a lot of confidence to continue. That's why I'm going to start telling myself I CAN and WILL finish a lap as I'm running around the building on Tuesday.
I have lost two pounds since I started working out daily. I have to admit that I took Friday off, despite saying that I would work out, but that's fine. I've done cardio every day since (yesterday and today) and I've also done my workout during the week. I'm starting to feel much better.

YAY! I'm last!!!

We ran before class last night. I was one of the last ones out the door and DEFINITELY the last one in from the run. We only did two laps around the building, but sheesh! I swear, I'm in class with a bunch of gazelles!! They're all MUCH younger than me and in better shape. I didn't get discouraged by the fact that I was last though...I even made a joke to Master M...I came in and told her later, "Yay! I'm last!!!" We only had to run 2 laps around the building, but man! That was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I walked most of it but did manage to shuffle myself into something resembling a run for a little bit. Master M told me to keep at it...just do my best. Eventually I'll get myself into a better place, running wise. I'll never pass a physical torture, er, test, if I don't start working on it now.

We focused on doing the forms with weights in class this week. It was a bit of a challenge to not just flail out with the weights. On Tuesday, I used 5 pound weights and last night, I went down to 3 pound weights. Before class, I ran on the elliptical for four minutes (with only ONE break!); did triceps presses, some sort of lift for the deltoids and a machine that was called a "fly". I tried to increase my reps and decrease the weight. My chiropractor told me to go for more reps, lower weight, so I listened. (yes, she *can* be trained!)

I know what I need to do to improve my overall health and fitness. It's called KEEP WORKING! I didn't do my Wii workout this morning, but I am NOT beating myself up over it. I figure yesterday was a huge workout, in terms of the weight lifting before, running and weights during, then the kicking workout (15 reps per leg, three different kicks--side, front and roundhouse) was enough to allow me to skip working out this morning. Tonight is another story. I definitely plan on working out when I get home!!

Day 3

Well, this morning I wasted a good 15 minutes of my workout time trying to figure out the television controls. I finally had to wake up T and get him to show me how to work it. I'm the only one who doesn't use the remote for the television...if I did, then I'd know how to change things to the video setting.
It all worked out though...I did get in my boxing and felt pretty good, all things considered. I'm planning on doing it again in the morning. I asked my chiropractor about it today and he said it was good. He wants me to continue with my plan to work on my triceps and biceps and recommended that I use the butterfly machine as well. He wants me to use less weight and do more reps and really PUSH through the last set of reps. I'll put that to the test tomorrow. I'll be back over at the Y at 6:30 and can wait out the little boy's class while working out.
Dr. B also told me to start running on the elliptical machine 3 times a week. He said in about a month, I'll have the endurance to run on it for 16 minutes. Hmmmm. I'll work up to that!

Anyway...I'm off to get my rest so that I can attack my workout in the morning again.

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!!

Great week

This has been an interesting week. I went to class on Tuesday and on Thursday. By Thursday, I was counting in Korean. I learned a bit about the Korean flag. I can explain what the bars on the flag mean. I haven't learned the name of the Yin/Yang symbol in the middle of the flag, but I CAN tell you that the blue is Female, the red is male. On Tuesday, I worked with Master M and K on Pyung Ahn Ee Danm. I feel like I'm doing it better. It's definitely coming together. I learned how to transition to the inside/outside block, kick, reverse punch. That looks better now.

Last night we worked on hand techniques, then went on to work on kicks. Master F gave us a drill where we worked on a high x block. Please pardon me...I had the Korean for that but just let it escape. Sang Soo Sang Dan Mahkee...that's it!
We used a blocking tool, but I can just imagine how that would have felt if we'd been using actual swords/bats/whatever. That and one steps are my next things to work on at home. Well, one steps and Ho Sin Sul. I need that. I want to go back to class and be prepared.

I am also working on learning the Funakoshi codes. In our school, every first gup should be able to know these codes and explain them. It stands to reason that if I am walking into the position of Dan in this school, I must learn it as well, so that's what I'm working on. I DID just learn to count to ten in Korean so that's a good thing. I feel like I've crossed a bridge there. I'm getting somewhere.

In talking to my chiropractor about a few things, I mentioned that I didn't turn my hips over when I was doing side kicks.. He's a martial artist, so he had an answer for it. I need to get a "wobble board". My friend, S, said she got one after one of her knee surgeries. She swears by it. I'm going to look into it. Dr. B says that working on my balance will fix my kicking. I'll be less rooted and more balanced. I think it'll make a huge difference in everything--forms, technique, one steps, ho sin sul. I might even get past the fear of falling that I have. It's certainly worth a shot!!

It's all about perspective

This is very strange to say, but hurting after a really good class is actually a good thing! I went to class on Thursday night. It didn't really seem like we did all that much that was strenuous, but after about 75 jumping jacks and then some other interesting stretches (handstand push ups, anyone??), we got right into technique. We did kicks and punches. Man, that was awesome. I am so NOT with the program and have to re-learn things!! I love it!!
We did some partner drills with a blocker...one of you swings at the other. The one not swinging has to literally duck out of the way. That was cool. We did many variations of that, then we did jumps. I am not a jumper, just so you know, but I think I know what to work on now! LOL!! I had an issue jumping OVER the blocker. We can see where I need work for sure!
We also used mouse pads (We called them Aggie mouse pads--they were circular with holes in them. And, I suppose I should explain that--Aggies are people who go to Texas A&M University) for practicing spear hand techniques and punches. She also had us toss it and try to kick it and catch it. That was fun. I enjoyed that immensely. I can see where I need to improve.

We went back to the other room and worked on falling techniques too. I am close to 100 pounds overweight and hate to fall and/or roll, but...I did it on Thursday with no complaints! It was wonderful to be able to do a technique and feel like I accomplished something. I'm paying for it now because my left leg is really sore, but it's a good soreness. I'll take it. I truly enjoyed that class.

Today is the Dan class. I was trying to find an excuse not to go and was going to use the soreness I feel to keep from going but...I will benefit and if I show up, they'll know I'm serious about being there. This is a good thing.

I was talking to a good friend and explained to him that I've never felt excited about doing falls and rolls, but that I'd learned something Thursday. He said that sometimes it takes a different perspective to teach you something you know you can do. It may have been a fear of looking stupid in front of all those men at the old school or just the fear of myself that kept me from doing it. At this school, they told me to visualize an armadillo and roll up as I did the back fall. I was also told to exhale as I fell. You know what? It works!

Plans gone astray?

I'm all talk and no actions these days. I INTEND to work out. I don't. I intend to write things down. I don't. This has got to stop. I need to get off my butt and go do something constructive. I need to change this.

I haven't really done anything this weekend, other than laundry and cleaning out the kitchen. We went out and bought a new television to replace our old, blinkie television. We now have a nice, new television that isn't blinking and driving us nuts! It's good to see true color! Hooray.

It looks like I'll be taking Aidan to Black Tiger on Tuesday and then staying for the adult class afterwards. There are some things I need to do, like filling out the appropriate paperwork to get myself started back on the martial arts path. I need to refresh my memory on the forms. I need to see if my good friend, DB, will be willing to get together when he's not over at school and help me refresh my memory on forms. I want to go into this new school in better shape than I am now. I need to start doing crunches and push ups before work. If I start with ten and work up from there, I'll do fine. Actually, I'll set a different goal. I'm going to start with 15 and work up to 30. My ultimate goal is to do 45 pushups in about a minute. I don't know if it's timed during Dan tests or not, but we'll see. I'm going to treat it like it is, so it'll give me more motivation.

I am going to work on this grand scheme of mine tomorrow. I'm going to start taking clothes to work with me, going out and walking (yes, during the heat of the day!). I SHOULD be able to walk almost a mile in about 15 minutes. Since I haven't walked in quite a while, it's going to be a stretch to get the first walk in in 15 minutes, but once I've been doing it for about a month, I can build up to shortening the time to ten minutes.

Christmas Eve...

I'm in a fairly good mood, all things considered. Saturday was w/i. Not too bad. Not great but not bad. I lost .4, bringing my total loss to 43 pounds. In a year and change, not too bad. I can deal with that! Since then, I've lost another couple of pounds. I weigh daily, which I know you're not supposed to do, but I record it for my own mind. I feel like I'm doing SOMETHING right.

On Thursday, during the black belt class, I managed to do something to my left quadriceps (again!). He had us go to a push up position, then you were to bring your right knee up to your chest, push off and run to the opposite end of the room. I couldn't even get into the push up position--that's when my leg went "PING!" and gave up on me. It HURT! He made me sit out the rest of class. So much for my 2 hours that week!! I couldn't even spar because I'd have put too much strain on it. Of course, Saturday I went walking for 3 hours so that was a world of good for it. NOT! Now I'm working on rehabbing my leg. I have to re-certify for my belt and we start the training, the really intense stuff, on January 5th. I want to get into the most excellent shape ever because we're doing a PT test with it!! I have to pass this PT test. You have to run (or walk) a mile, push ups, crunches, I'm assuming there will be jumping jacks too.
I just want to get to the point where I'm not injured. I don't like it! It happened, fortunately, AFTER the black belt test, but before my re-cert, so I'm freaking out!!

I figured out how to teach the Young Warriors how to do an Inside/Outside block. Since you have to chamber, I told them to make like they were hugging themselves. You put your right hand on your left hip and bring your left hand up to your right ear. Then you make like you're drawing a sword from your left hip and you stop in front of your shoulder. I told Mr. M about it and he said that it was a good way to describe it. I'm going to perfect it on my son. He's not that long past Young Warriors and will benefit from the additional work. I'm going to try it on my daughter too. If I can get them doing that correctly, I won't freak out over their forms at the next Gup test. That test is now about a month away--it's February 1st. I want to make sure both kids are ready to go and that they're significantly improved. My silly boy wants me to teach him Sip Soo, but that's not on the plan. The lesson plan is to teach Pyung An Ee Dan, so that's what they're going to work on. Of course, it never hurts to refresh all of our memories on the older forms, so I'll work with them on the KeeCho forms as well. I have to practice my bong form and intend to have it perfected before the end of this break. I can go outside and work on it. The weather is perfect, we have the room out there and I think everyone will appreciate getting outside in the fresh air. That's going to be a goal of mine for the next few months. Whenever the weather's cooperative, we're going to pack up and go to one of the local parks for a workout.