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KT-NICHOLS-13's Recent Blog Entries
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My Monday night workout recap:
A 30 min. walk + 60 min. Zumba class + 9 min. on Elliptical + 15 min. bike ride + 12 min. jumping rope + 15 pushup + 60 min. Kickboxing/boxing + 30 sit-ups = a very sweaty, tired and hungry KT! Wednesday night I'll do it all over again.
Total calorie burn per SP calculator = 3,478 (My weekly goal for a calorie burn is 4,000 - think I’ll make it? HA!)
Below is the description of the Boxing class.* What they leave out is that you’ll sweat like a maniac, want to cry like the little girl you are and become so determine to keep up / finish that you’ll loose track of time until your muscles completely fatigue and you start to shake. Then you’ll go home to eat like you’ve starved for a 100 years. SERIOUSLY!
*Learn how to defend yourself and learn MMA skills. In this class you will build strength, stamina, and endurance. You will learn the techniques of punching, kicking, and striking.
In this class you will also build core strength, abdominal strength, and you will become more flexible through stretching. With an amazing series of drills and routines you will achieve an intense, calorie-blasting, cardio vascular workout. Get an amazing workout and release stress!!!
My friend Yvonne met me at my office first thing yesterday morning. She wanted to show me a few of the techniques prior to class so I’d have a few basics in my mind. I showed her the gear I had bought over the weekend, all was good but for one item which I’ll return. She showed me how to determine the correct length for my jump rope so I could cut mine down to size before class.
Late in the day I pulled out my jump rope and after much fussing figured out how to cut the length. I left it a tad long at first because I didn’t want to cut it short and then have to buy another one. (I took my tools with me to the gym and finished the snip job before class.) Full of all kinds of anticipation and anxiety I left work for the gym. First, Zumba class - easy-peasy. After that I had an hour to kill and initially thought I’d *hangout* at the gym, have a snack and wait for boxing to start. Have you ever tried to hang out at a gym and do nothing? That didn’t work for me. I did rest for a bit, drank water and had a protein bar but then I got all itchy to *do something* so I off I went for a light workout before boxing. Also, I didn’t want my leg muscles to start to stiffen up prior to class starting.
Then it happens. Class begins! Alfredo, the instructor, comes from a different gym so is generally a few minutes late so a seasoned class member starts the class. Class begins with jump roping and pushup. REALLY!?! After 15 minutes later we are “warm” - I’m hot and sucking wind. Alfredo came in while we were getting some water and taking a breather. I have to admit, he was a lot younger than I expect - maybe in his later 30's. He had a huge smile on his face and noted the “newbies” in class. Yvonne was gracious enough to introduce me to him right off - as well as the other students in class.
Side note: I’ve attended A LOT of classes at my gym over the last six-ish years and I found this boxing class to be the most welcoming and warm. Most of the other classes, whether at my gym or at other facilities, can make you feel like an outsider. I don’t like it one bit and try to be friendly to newer students so they keep coming back. Anyway, this group of people was very welcoming and kept checking in with me as the class progressed. Very sweet!
Back to class. After the warmup we spent sometime stretching and I can say that it felt sooooo good! I noted it was already close to 8:30 by this point and wondered if class would really be over at 9:05? We split into two groups - one group went to do heavy bag work and the other group did sparing. I was in the sparing group with Yvonne. Have you ever held boxing pads for someone so they can punch and kick? If not, I’m here to tell you that they are not lightweight pads. If you think you’ll get a break because you’re holding the pads that would be the wrong line of thinking. I was sweaty and fatigued keeping those bad boys up and ready for punches and kicks. And, the brain work - oh, the brain work! Keeping up with the sequence so neither you nor your partner gets hurt is mentally exhausting. Heavy bag work was equally tough and mentally challenging. The whole class was an attempt to master the physical and mental aspects of boxing.
Near the *end* (at this point I thought I was being help captive as I felt I’d been there for 1,000 years) the entire class did foot work and punching. Much fun! My legs were on fire at this point though - did I mention it’s now 9:30! Yup, we’ve been at this for 90 minutes. After that we were told to grab our mats. What? More mat work? SERIOUSLY?! I looked at Yvonne and asked in desperation, “is it almost over?” Yup, 10 minutes of sit-ups and we’d be finished. OH, OKAY, well if we are only going to do 10 minutes of sit-ups! *face/palm* I took a moment and sent a text to the Mr to let him know I had 10 minutes to go - he was seriously wondering what was going on at this point. Alfredo was so cute telling us what types of sit ups to do and saying, do 30, now 50, and so on. I just giggled and did what I could.
At 9:44 p.m. I poured myself into the car, the Mr was kind enough to pick me up so I didn’t have to walk that long mile home. When I got home, I went straight to the kitchen. I drank 32 oz. of water, took a breath and then snatched the food I had prepared the night before and ate like I’d been starved for 100 years. Cold chicken never tasted so good!
The hot shower that followed was a welcome end to that workout!
Will I go back? Hell to the yes! The class was beyond tough. It was brutal and I loved every minute of it. I’m gonna nail those kicks and my jump roping skills will improve without fail.
Here’s a snippet of an email that my friend Yvonne sent me after class ...
“Bravo! Good work today! You kept up with the class - you are the only one I've invited, that could keep up with the class!!”
I was a little achy when I went to bed last night but so far today I'm feeling good. My forearms are tender which is a direct result from holding the kicking pads. Some of my mid-back muscles are awake but nothing severe. There's lots of twisting and turning in boxing. All in all, I'm feeling fantastic!
Today is a rest day for me! My workout schedule has just changed again.
Zumba 4 days a week - 60 minutes / class
Boxing 2 days a week - 90 minutes / class
Tuesday and Friday's are rest days until I get used to this new routine.
I'll also keep bike riding, walking, running, swimming and elliptical when I can.
I'll add jump roping to one other day a week too.
Boxing is probably the hardest workout I've experienced to date. I loved it! The power and the passion.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My latest urine tests results are in. I’m clean. HA! Just joking. Doc has had me take tests after starting me on a new supplement program and today I got back results from the 3rd test. My serotonin and dopamine levels have regulated and stabilized. The lab suggested more severe tweaks with the supplements and then to test again in a week. Doc was not impressed with that recommendation and advised against further urine tests. YES! The tests and supplements aren’t cheap so I was happy to be done with the tests.
We are going to tweak the supplement intake ever so slightly though. I’m in tune with my body enough that I can tell when things work and don’t work within a matter of days so we are going to rely on my body vs. science.
Things to watch for:
Energy levels
I used to sleep 10 - 12 hours a day and then cry in the afternoons due to the fatigue being so bad. I now sleep 8 hours a day and can fully function throughout the day without the aid of a nap, caffeine or other wake me ups.
Sleep Quality
Even though I was sleeping up to 10 - 12 hours a day I would wake up at the drop of hat or if I heard an ant walk across the carpet. Interrupted sleeps sucks. I now sleep soundly and rarely wake up unless the little fur ball needs something or I have to pee.
Appetite
Although I could stay within my calorie range daily, it proved difficult. My body was always craving something. Sure part of that was a sugar, soda and carb addiction but mostly it was my inner bits and brain chemistry being messed up. I’ve cut soda out, sugars are less and less daily and I try not to carb load - my body loves its protein. Between a diet adjustment and the supplements my appetite has diminished. Often I have to remind myself to eat or if I’m having a “craving,” I sit all quietly within myself to ask, “are you mentally hungry or physically hungry?” A lot of times it’s mental and I’m training myself to leave it alone when mental hunger comes along.
Weight loss
Doc recommends a 2 to 4 pound loss a month. Yes, you read that right - 2 to 4 pound loss a month. Any faster than that and the body can turn on ya. I’d like to be at the 4-pound weight loss for the month. My weight stalled out in 2007 and I’ve been in hovering in the 230/240's since then. It sucks! That being said - I’ve seen the dark side of 325 too.
If any of these things change, I’ll know that our tweaks took me in the wrong direction and we adjust again.
My boss knows most of what’s going on and has been around long enough to see me at 325 and now at 234. He’s witnessed the tears of desperation when my fatigue was so bad I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. He’s witnessed the tears of desperation when my weight loss stalled and I had no idea why. He’s witnessed the good. The bad. The ugly. When I need support, he’s there and when I need tough love he’s there. Today I told him I was finish with testing. He asked what that meant so I explained. He then asked what was my goal weight. I smiled and said I have about 68.5 pounds to go. At which point a perplexing look came over his face because he couldn’t imagine me going down that much more. I smiled. As he tilted his head ever so slightly he asked, “what do you weigh today?” *INTERNAL GASP* I smiled and proudly said, 234. Yeah, I’m all about full disclosure when I’m with people who support me. He stood silently for a moment and then told me he never would have guessed I weighed that amount, he would have thought much less.
In other news . . .
I have decided I will attend the kick boxing / boxing class at the gym. The Mr and I talked about it. I emailed my friend Yvonne who responded to answer all my open-ended questions. I already know class is going to be tough. Tougher than running. Tougher than Step and Zumba. I do love a challenge.
Here’s my reply to Yvonne today - “Yup, class looks overwhelming and scary. Yet, I like a challenge and I hate being strangled by fear. That being said … I’m in!”
Yeah, that’s right I’m in - all in!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Last night I spoke to a guy named Joe at my gym. I initially thought he was the boxing instructor, he is not. I learned he is a boxer and is willing to meet with me on Saturday morning 30 minutes prior to Zumba class to go over the basics. I agreed.
When I came to work today I received an email from a woman I'm friendly with at the gym about boxing. She had overheard my conversation with Joe and asked if she could persuade me to attend the gyms boxing class with her on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 8:05 till 9:30.
The universe was clearly eavesdropping last night. *GIGGLES*
It has taken me 7 hours to reply to Yvonne's e-mail. The fear of the unknown really took hold of me and was suffocating. I was full of questions. Anxiety. Fear. Excitement. I even came up with many excuses to say, thank you but no to Yvonne. In the end, I reply with a reserved yes. Yes, I'll give it a try. *DEEP BREATH*
Sure, I'll be the new kid on the block tomorrow night and I can handle that. I can handle the challenge of the workout too. My challenge will be to not let the fear win. The fear of the unknown. The fear of being in a class that is dominated by men. The fear of being in a class with women who are rock hard. The fear of doing it wrong. The fear of sucking wind or falling down. Ya, it's all there and I'm carrying it around with me today. It's heavy baggage, that exhausts me so I'm putting it down now and moving forward. YES, I will attend the class!
IF I can concur this fear my whole workout schedule will change again. I'm okay with that.
WHEN I can concur this fear I will dominate!
UPDATE SINCE POSTING: The boxing/kick boxing class has been cancelled for tomorrow night. Looks like I'll be starting on Monday, if all goes well.
Monday, July 11, 2011
I am officially passed the sore butt stage of riding my bike.
I giggle A LOT when I workout and I like it!
My legs are much stronger than last year.
Right now, running does not bring me joy. I took it up because someone I love told me I was too fat to do it.
I love Zumba and have unleashed my dancing diva.
I miss soda but not what it does to my inner bits.
I crave and seek out outdoor adventures ...
First, The Water Park
Next, Kayaking
Then, a return to the rapids - Whitewater rafting!
My calorie bank was overdrawn this weekend - I choose that. Today, I get a new start and a new balance.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!
Friday, July 08, 2011
Today, July 8th, marks two years that the Mr has lived in the states. We decided to celebrate this occasion by going to a water park for an entire day and just play like kids.
I decided a few days ago that I just couldn't go to a water park in my "going to the pool" bathing suit. I HAD to have board shorts. Okay, not really but we toured Sears and Target to take a look see. At Sears I found the board shorts, as did the Mr, and they were on sale. We had a gift card so they cost us nothing! Then we headed to Target where I found the tankini top that match perfectly. I was a happy woman at the water park in my put together water wear.
I also stopped and bought new sunscreen because I did NOT want another burn, thank you very much. The Mr sprayed me down so well throughout the day that the sun did not stand a chance this time around.
The day begins ...
Armed with new sunblock and the Mr applying it often I was all shinning but never burnt.
Lunch wasn't an issue for my healthy eating lifestyle either. Amongst the junk food options I found a fresh green salad with chicken and as always ate it without the dressing. My biggest concern was caving in and having a soda but I opted for a lemonade and then water for the balance of the day. It was all good!
We giggled as we took turns on this one.
 
This was right before I went down a slight water fall backwards. *GIGGLES*
The Mr was all smiles on this one too.
I love these photos!
The wave pool ... one of my favorite locations of the day.
We took a short break to relax in the shade and cool off with some water and ice cream. Delicious!
Look Ma, 5.5 hours in the sun at a water park, no burn!
It's fun acting like a kid and having no worries for a few hours. Live Life!
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You're doing so well! I admire how varied your fitness routine is and how you are constantly doing new stuff.
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
That looks like so much fun! I'm glad you got out and did it!
