Ouchy!

So I had sparring class last night. The kids all decided that they didn't want to come with me. Fine. Whatever. So I went by myself. We didn't spar for too long, but we sparred long enough for me to get a swift kick to the knee from one of my favorite sparring partners. Seriously, this guy could totally compete and beat the pants off most all his opponents. He's just that good. And what kills me is that he's only been doing karate for about a year now.

Today is Kenpo X day for P90X. Shouldn't be too bad. I find it to not be a challenge, and there is some speculation in the P90X community that this workout isn't "tough enough." I do get a good workout in with it, though, because, unlike those who HAVEN'T been trained in the martial arts, I actually do the moves right. But he does in no way shape or form have enough time to actually teach the correct way of doing the moves in an hour. So many people have been dogging it. Oh, well. I'll still do it and have fun with it.

Tomorrow, I am going to a nearby dojo for a sparring party. I'm totally excited about it. For a while now, I've been tossing up the idea of quitting karate, since I feel like I'm the only one in my family who's actually enjoying it. And I am having a hard time justifying the money on just myself. We shall see, though. There are a few things in the works at our dojo that might help us stay motivated to keep going.

It's Just a Number....and X update

...In this world of being obsessed with numbers, I find it to be cruel and unusual punishment that muscle weighs more than fat. A person my size, who starts an exercise program, will likely GAIN weight when exercising, because they're ADDING muscle. So from now on, I will not be stepping on the scale. It's too depressing.

...I just finished day 5 of P90X. And let me just say, that I'm having to make some serious modifications to my schedule to get this all in. And, unfortunately, so has my husband. I suppose I should just do the workouts at night, where I'm not pressed for time, but I'm really trying to do them in the morning. Plus, I am a mom, who, even in the morning, will get interruptions. So I've been making modifications... whether it be to skip Ab Ripper X (which I need to do later in the day if I'm going to keep that up... is a great work-out that shouldn't be skipped), or to cut the main workout a little short so I can fit in Ab Ripper X (which I did this morning).

...My type A personality is going nutso right about now.....

Altering the Schedule....

One of the biggest challenges I face in getting and staying fit it is having a hectic lifestyle. I work full time and have three kids. My oldest is in Scouts and the kids and I do karate as a family (though we're not all at the same level). We have a lot of great friends and family that we love to spend time with. When in all of this can I slot in some time to work out? Do I really have to get up at 5:30 every morning to get it all in?

Last night found me with about 40 oz. of beer and a cigar (I haven't had one in almost a year, so no hounding... it's not a habit) in me while at a concert. Despite leaving the concert before it was over (we'd heard and seen all we needed to), we didn't get home until after 11 and I cralwed into bed around midnight. Get up at 5:30 to do an hour and a half of yoga? Um, I don't really think so.

You see, with the P90X program, you're working out for one to one and a half hours, six days a week. Typically, you do all the days back-to-back, and on the seventh day you rest and marvel in all the great things you've accomplished (this program can, indeed, be a religious experience). For me and my crazy lifestyle, I'm going to try my hardest to get all the workouts in, but if I have to take my day off on Thursday (or whatever day) to do it, that's what I'm going to have to do.

P90X....

I'm in my first week of P90X after a long hiatus. I seriously don't remember it being so hard the first time. I do remember that day 3, Shoulders and Arms, was not as hard as the others. I do remember also, that TIMING is tough for this program. For me, it's really hard to find an hour and a half each day to get a workout in.

Today I got up at 6 to get the workout in. I crawled out of bed at 6:03 and got going. For this day, you're supposed to do 1 hr of weights and then do about 15-20 minutes of abs. I just ran out of time for the abs. And that's frustrating to me. So I suppose I'm going to have to wake up at about 5:40 to get it all in.

Tomorrow's the real challenge, however, because Yoga X is about 90 minutes long!

I jacked up my neck/upper back this morning....think I was doing something wrong. We'll see if I can get my old body to do this right without getting hurt!

I'm feeling really good today, despite the groaning from my muscles.

By the way, here are the goals I hope to accomplish in the next 12 weeks....

1. gain more muscle definition
2. lose the last of my belly
3. be able to do at least one pull up unassisted (need to get a pull-up bar first)

Be The Change....

...As of late, I really and truly believe that if you make a point to take care of yourself, your children will take care of themselves. I didn't ask the twins to work out with me, but as I was waiting for Aaron to get ready to go for our walk, I was working my abs... and the twins had to do everything that I was doing. Just tonight, Griffin told me how excited he was that he was going to get the chance to exercise. They LOVE to ride their bikes now that they can ride them without training wheels. And some of my happiest memories recently have been walking around our neighborhood with my family.

...Be the Change you want to see in the world....

Adventures In Getting Fit....

...ok, so I'm already part way there. But this blog will be about my progress and bitches and moans on my constant journey of self-improvement.

...My lastest adventure is the P90X program. My friend Brett started it several months ago, and finished the 90 days. Back in June, I borrowed the discs from him, and did the first week. Then I got a rotten case of the shingles and gave the discs back as I lay around, high on pain meds. I got my own set of discs and have done the first two days of the program. When I get the chance and grow the balls for it, I shall post day 1 (or 3... will be within the first week) pics so that I can track my progress.

...So far, I'm having more trouble than the first time I tried this program. I'm not sure why, either, unless it's the fact that I've taken it fairly easy over the summer and have lost some of my stamina. But I'm going to go at it, and whoever will want to read will get to hear me moan and gloat all along the way.

...For those of you who don't already know me, I have been doing karate for about 3 years now, so you will get to hear about martial arts along the way, too.