Manic Monday!!

I went to my nutritionist on Friday after work, and I have some great news!!  In the month of April, I have lost 3 inches off of my waist!!

My weight has stayed pretty steady, but she said that it could be from building some muscle.  My arms and legs are starting to look toned, so I am trying not to stress too much about the number on the scale.  And I also have to remind myself that I am NOT a number!

We watched the fights this weekend, UFC 197.  I HAD to cheer for Ovince Saint Preux, he is Haitian.  And anyone who knows me well knows my heart for Haiti.  He didn't beat Jon Jones, but he went 5 rounds!  He event spent rounds 4 & 5 with a broken arm!  He apparently blocked a leg kick...  I can't break bones with my leg kicks, but I am sure trying!

Next Sunday, I am "running" a 5k out at Six Flags!  Once I finish the run portion, I will be riding a 5k!  Meaning, I will be riding coasters to the equivalent of 3.1 miles.  We get medals and t shirts.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  It won't be much fun doing this in the rain...

Have a great Monday!  It's the first day of the work week, but it's not too late to change your life!

Judo Shenanigans!

Don't have much to talk about today...  went to Judo last night, and I learned a new throw!

I won't lie, the art of Judo is extremely interesting. Created in 1882, Judo was created in Japan as a form of grappling.  The objective:  Throw or take down an opponent to subdue with a pin, or force a submission with a choke.  The practitioner is known as a Judoka, and the uniform is a Judogi, or Gi.

I promise, there is plenty more to it than how I just described it.  But it is very cool, when done properly.  I think I look like a crazy person... but my Sensei said I was doing great!

Ronda Rousey is a Judoka that most people know.  Her mother was also a trained Judoka!  I will let the video speak for her...

I don't know how to do any of those yet, but I am also just starting out.  I have to be honest with you, while I may look silly and I may have a hard time keeping up with some of the other students, I know that with time I will get better!  I already feel some core strength (read, aches and pains) in places that I didn't know I was using.  

My Sensei and classmates are incredible people!  They are patient with me (I ask a lot of questions) critique without being harsh (I do things wrong most of the time) and they do not let me quit!  They are all incredibly encouraging!

If you are worried that you will look silly - I STILL can't hardly do a somersault - you will!  But you will improve and look great eventually!  The hardest step is the first step onto the mat, the rest is a piece of cake! You even get to learn some words and phrases in Japanese!

Later this week, Friday perhaps, I will be posting an interview with Rowdy Reagan Johnson, who is in my class and is heading to Texas this year to compete in the Junior Olympics!   

Motivation Monday!!!

It certainly comes down to this:  HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?!

I met with my nutritionist on Friday, like I do, and she asked me a very simple question:  What are your 5 reasons for all of "this"? - "This" being getting my weight down, training MMA, that kind of "this"

My answers were simple, and in this order:

I WANT kids - and being told by my doctor that in order to have them, I must lose weight
I want to be able to care for, raise, and play with my kids properly - can't run and play with them if I am out of breath every few steps.
I want to be around for a long time, watch them grow up, and do grown up things - can't do that if my weight, and the other health problems that come with being heavy, take me out first (morbid, I know...)
I am tired of feeling like I "can't" - Can't what?  Well... can't hardly do anything!
I want to feel comfortable in my own skin - Enough said...

A youtuber that I follow said something like this "It's hard to feel comfortable in your own skin, when you actually feel like you are carrying a wet orangutan wrapped around you"  and I know that feeling to!

But today is a brand new day!  You don't have to feel that way anymore!

Today, rather than take the elevator to the next floor, take the stairs!  Park a little farther away from the store and walk those extra steps in.  I promise, it won't hurt too much.  Order more veggies on your subway sandwich and hold the cheese today.  That certainly doesn't hurt.

I know that my goal of being fight ready in 18 months (now 17) is kind of silly and maybe even out of reach, but it is still a realistic goal if I want it bad enough.  I don't want fame, I don't want fortune, I am not crazy enough to believe I will ever step into the cage with the likes of  Holly Holm or Ronda Rousey.

But I do expect to give my best.  Honest moment - I haven't been lately.  But like I said early, today is a brand new day!

Need more motivation??  Check out this really neat video about the Ironman Triathlon - Swim 2.4 miles, Bike 112 miles, and Run 26.2 miles - Totaling 140.6 miles.  Oh, did I mention there is a time limit?  If this doesn't motivate you, I am not sure what will!

Keep going!!  You got this!

Feelings... Whoa Whoa Feelings!

Yesterday was kind of weird.  Between all the feels of hearing about someone being fat shamed... in her gym of all places, to bringing up my own issues... it made yesterday feel kind of weird.

We had muay thai last night, which I haven't really gotten to explain, I don't think.

Muay Thai is basically Thai kickboxing.  You get to kick and punch, but you also get to use your knees and elbows!

So, we go to class last night, and I am frustrated with the fat shaming... The first drill we do is leg kick drills, and while Brandon told me that it didn't feel like I was kicking as hard as I normally do, I was trying to get my frustration out.  And I did accomplish something last night!  I actually landed body kicks!

My hips are not flexible.  Yes, I need yoga.  No, I am not doing yoga at home (but I want to, any youtube suggestions?)  I don't know if it was my frustration levels, the thought that I needed to prove to the fat shamers that they are liars/jerks/jokes/whatevers, or if I am actually just making progress.

After about 20 minutes of leg kick drills, we started with dutch drills.  A quick explanation of dutch drills is this:  You have gloves, I have gloves, aim for each others gloves - giving only about 10-20% of your throws (we don't wear mouth guards yet, not ready to lose my teeth...)

I didn't mean to, but I gave more than that... I never did miss my partner's gloves, and he didn't say I was hitting too hard or anything (we are all very open with that, so we don't get hurt)  But I was frustrated.  I hit harder than my 10-20%.

This got me to thinking... Why do I take things so personally?  My parents have told me that I have always been that way.  That I have always wanted to be the protector and always stood up for the underdog.  But, that right there is what landed me in therapy and on medication a few years ago.

Without going in to it, because I am just not ready yet, I had a mental break down.  My parents were called to my house, and found me in a state that I don't think they have ever seen me in.  I ended up in therapy.

Once I began to trust the process, I actually started to accept the help that I desperately needed!  Before, I thought that the things I was doing to self medicate were helping, now I know and understand that I needed professional help - now I recommend therapy to EVERYONE!!

I made a comment today on facebook that went something like this:  Isn't it wonderful when you find the version of therapy that works for you?!

Muay thai and MMA training has become my therapy.  I can take all of my overflow of emotions to the gym and leave it all on the mat!  I feel lifted up by my gym mates, my husband and I get to enjoy time together doing something GOOD for us, and I leave feeling like a brand new person!

What do you do to keep your emotions in check??

Motivational Monday!

Who is ready to get back to work?  Today is our first day of vacation, and we are already off to a slow start.  The day should have started at 10... but sleeping sounded like more fun!

We have a few quick errands to run, and then we get to spring clean our yard!  Yeah for adulting!

At 5pm we HAVE to watch the news!  Our inspiration for working on ourselves is being interviewed by Channel 5 News!  Susie "MaMA Beast" Wyatt.  She is 50 years strong and... GOING PRO!!  Her first professional MMA fight is June 3rd!  We are so excited and proud to be her friends.  She trains at The Hit Squad, and her coach is also a Judo Sensei at THS.

Training has sure brought some incredible people into our lives who are turning into more like family!  They encourage us, inspire us, and most of all!!  They don't let us quit!

That's the goal though!  Not quitting!  You can't give up, you can't lose sight of your goals.

You got this!

Happy Monday!!