Fail.

Last week sucked. Immediately after my last post, I began puking violently. Turns out the ketchup I grabbed out of the drawer at work was probably ten years old. I didn't pay attention when I put it on my sandwich, and noticed it tasted funny. When I looked, the ketchup was nearly black*.

I spit out what remained of the bite, and hoped for the best. Within a couple hours, I could keep nothing down. This of course, affected my ability to go to the gym. I made it Friday though, and to SSK Sunday, and back to the gym yesterday. Aside from being extremely tired**, this week seems to be shaping up to be better. I'm not sure if I'll make it to the treadmill and weights today (see footnote below), but I will at least get 20 minutes or so in on my bike at home. Tonight I weigh in and measure, so hopefully I'll have good news to report soon!***

*I feel some technicolor yawning coming on even recounting the story

**While life insurance (type, amount) is a worthy subject, 12am, the night before I have to go to work is not the time.

***No, I don't think having a filet mignon smothered in shrimp, crab, and hollandaise and a luscious creme brulee Saturday is a set back. Really. So what if it contained enough calories to make me gain 5 pounds?

Can I get some painkillers? An asprin?

Really, the pain is quite incredible.
~Wesley, BTVS

Good god I am sore from last night's martial arts adventure. I not only got 7 (SEVEN!) new kicks, a couple new strikes, and time with Si Fu on my new escrima sticks, I got a new, advanced Chin Na* move. My hips and legs are a little tired from the use of new muscles for harder and more dangerous kicks, but what really makes me want to lay in bed on a heating pad all day hurts is my back. I can only assume it is angry at me for picking up three men, average of 200lbs apiece, and throwing them down. In order to do this**, the opponent is behind me, holding me in a bear hug. I rap his hands with my knuckles repeatedly in order to make him let go. I slip to the left, rack him, slip to the right (my left hip now lines up with his right), throw my right arm around the back of his waist, grab his right arm with my left hand, bend over, and do the twist. The opponent lands on the ground on his back. It's quite a lot of fun to do, but it certainly works muscles that don't normally get worked, even when lifting weights.

No movement on the scale to report, but given that I've been under the weather most of the week, I'm okay with that. I have dinner with mother tonight, and I will take my packed gym bag with me, so I can head straight there after. Assuming my back doesn't completely give out by the end of the night, that is.


*Chin Na means to "trap and lock", and is a method of controlling an opponent's ability to move/fight/defend, similar to Jujitsu.

**DO NOT try this at home.

The devil is in the details

I spent last Thursday and Friday evenings on the couch with Buffy, a big coke, and munchies. During my whole two day break from a god awful and brutal strict diet and exercise routine, I gained back two pounds. Not a huge amount, but when I weighed myself Saturday morning, it was devastating.

By Saturday afternoon I was back at the gym, and Sunday, back to martial arts. Of course, I woke up Monday morning with whatever dread sinus/throat/ear crap someone was kind enough to pass on to me. Made it to the doc yesterday, and one day after heavy duty antibiotics and sinus medication, I'm almost back to normal. This has to be the quickest recovery from an upper respiratory infection I have ever had. I'm planning on making it to SSK tonight, and back to the gym tomorrow, and my diet is back on track, now that I can stand up long enough to make something to eat.

This morning I woke up and realized I had no clean clothes for this morning. I'd managed to completely forget to throw in a load in my cough medicine haze. Cringing, I pulled out a pair of pants I hadn't worn in months because they were tight and uncomfortable. I am now sitting at my desk, wearing said pants, and they aren't cutting into my waist at all. Yesterday, I noticed my size 18 dress slacks that I would love if they weren't size 18 are getting big, falling off my hips big. I have not lost that much weight, but it's becoming clear I'm losing size. Even my bras are just a little big in the cups.

These are the accomplishments I need, and need to record, because they keep me going. If I can fit into the pants I wore a year ago, I know I'm making serious progress.

Historic Moment

Yesterday, I completed my belt test and earned the rank of yellow belt. Two years after initially starting the class, and after 3 months of focus and determination, I am the first woman in our class to rank up.

Despite nearly debilitating cramps, I made it through 25 push ups and Chinese sit ups, 35 jumping jacks, 20 minutes or so of drills, and exhibiting my ability to perform 6 combinations, 8 point blocking system, and first pinion. By the time I was halfway through drills, I no longer noticed the pain in my pelvis, just the burning in my legs from kicking from horse stance. Si Fu was pleased with my progress and happily gave me my new belt. Afterward, he served traditional chinese green tea to all in attendance, to mark the occasion.

Si Fu's vision is to see this little class of misfits grow into a true dojo. If that happens, I am honored to hold the distinction of being the first woman to move beyond white belt. My, and his, next goal is for me to become the dojo's first female fighter. That means making it through yellow, orange, and purple, to my blue belt, and begin sparring.

Of course, today, I feel the pain of that small, first acheivement, as well as the pain of being a woman. In celebration, I'll spend the day on the heating pad with plenty of water, and the occasional bit of something awful for me.

Senile Agitation

Yes.
Can we use this on my Grandma?
Why is Thorazine not widely available?

208 lbs as of yesterday. I like it when the scale actually moves! My Shape plan has all these nifty graphs that I cannot pull off the website without the formatting getting all screwy.

I have my first SKK belt test tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'll pass, but I'm still a bit nervous.


p.s. The Crummy Church Sign has been fixed. I'm glad I went back with my camera right away.

Um...wow.

I've submitted this to Crummy Church Signs. Thank you ultra conservative local church! You made my day :)

BTW- 209 lbs as of this morning. As it is Saturday, it's my day to enjoy a slightly less stringent diet. That means I had two Cokes, and a little bit of Half Moon's rolls and ribs, and will enjoy a beer or two tonight. I was too full to finish, and only made it through two ribs. J will have my leftovers lunch for tomorrow, and I'm back to my Shape diet.

Quick update

I stepped on the scale this morning and.....

210 lbs!

Two pounds down, 75 to go.

I am still a little hungry when I go to bed, but I think my stomach is adjusting to digesting less food. I've been following my shape diet plan pretty well, although I modify every meal to suit my taste and economic needs.

If anyone has any suggestions for low fat/lo cal meals that don't include peppers of any kind, peaches, tomatoes, or steak, please pass them on.

i'm back!

I crashed and burned. Hard.

I've been busy, unmotivated, broke, a million excuses. I've maintained at 214 lbs for the past 2 1/2 months. At least I didn't really backtrack :)

About a month ago, my doctor wrote a letter of medical and financial need to the YMCA, and I was given a scholarship membership at a discounted rate. My father payed the balance of my dues, and I now have access to the Y for the next year. I've made use of the weight machines, treadmills, and exercise bikes.

Also, I've been taking Shaolin Kempo Karate for a couple months, which I credit for my lack of weight gain. This particular martial art is a hybrid form, developed by Fred Villari around the same time Bruce Lee was developing Jeet Kune Do. More information can be found here. It's a great workout, and I'm gaining strength, focus, and most importantly, motivation.

My desire to be good at martial arts is a driving force behind my recent return to a healthy diet and exercise. Shape has an interesting diet and exercise plan, with daily emails and meal suggestions. It has an online diary which tracks calories, fat, carbs, and protein, as well as how many calories (approximately) you burn per workout. The exercise plan only includes cardio, but I am also weight training at least 4 times a week (two days lower body, two days upper body, abs all the time).

I have new goals now. I want to lose the excess weight I'm carrying, but more than that, I want to be strong, flexible, and a damn good fighter. Since I was introduced to the UFC a few years ago, I've had a secret desire to participate in MMA. There are more and more women's leagues popping up, and I want to fight. I need to achieve several more belts in my current class, as well as have some training in boxing and jujitsu. That means increasing my endurance, strength, and overall ability. I hope to be ready for amateur fights in two years.

I'll be outlining my diet and exercise routines on at least a weekly basis. At least, that's the plan!