I've been pretty much coasting along and living a nice Kung-Fuey style life. I'm finding the workouts invigorating and the meditation is much better now that I use a cushion. The stretching portion of the workout is a nice precursor to the meditation. Stretching calms my mind and makes me more aware of where my body is. Listening to it's aches and pains, listening to what is feeling really good and what I may need to pay more mind to. It's nice just getting to be fully aware of my body, connecting my mind and my body.
No troubles food wise other than it's too much food! Maybe I'm just over-doing the AMAYW vegetable portions. But I've had to pass on the yogurt evening snack for 2 nights now because I've been too full of veggies!
I'm still a bit stressed in life. Work is spiraling sideways, front-ways and back-ways. Coaching is going to pick up double time in April with the college season starting. I'm in the process of buying my first home, so any free chance I get I'm just trying to really establish a mindful budget, going through old papers and receipts. Spring cleaning of clutter!! Cooking and prepping is just a way of life for me now. Man it used to be so difficult, but 7 months later (including my PCP time) I'm a pro.
Somehow, I need to make time for myself. To just chill. I think I have an open weekend in June for that. We'll see. Now to catch up on my fellow KFB blogs!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Kung Fu - Half-way thoughts
The time seems to be flying by. I can't believe it's halfway thru KFB. I remember halfway thru PCP and I felt like I was in a pit of despair. So miserable, trudging thru workouts and chowing down food in such agony. But with KFB, it's halfway and I find myself looking forward to the workouts. I find myself looking forward to eating the good, medicine everyday. Plus I'm way excited to have more amounts of food in my diet this week! Hunger pangs are gone!
On the otherhand, mindful consumption #2 did not bode well for me. I had the same thing as mindful consumption #1, a chicken and cheese burrito with a side of steamed broccoli and a dollop of guacamole. Just like the first time, I picked around the tortilla to get to the cheesy-chicken goodness. But this time, it didn't taste as good. This time it wasn't as satisfying and I felt ubber full, ubber fast. Disappointment and staying awake for most of the night is what happened next. I felt ubber full for the entire night as the food just sat in my stomach. I felt heart burn, indigestion and mega-bloating.
The next morning, despite my tiredness and overall cruddy feeling, I went for a run. I ran for 40 minutes, hoping to help my system get the food from my mindful consumption out, it did help but the cruddy feeling remained for the rest of the day. Tried to stay active all day long and also drank tons of water. But I knew my Saturday of feeling good was not going to happen due to the food choices I made yesterday.
I was able to sleep on Saturday night and so I woke up feeling pretty refreshed Sunday. Got my workout in, got my breakfast in, went to train volleyball for an hour and then just walked around the city because it was a beautiful day. Sunday was a better day - body feeling wise and I felt thankful to feel good again.
In conclusion, 24 hours of crappy feeling is not worth the consumption of such food. Next mindful consumtion I will need to do better and I will.
On the otherhand, mindful consumption #2 did not bode well for me. I had the same thing as mindful consumption #1, a chicken and cheese burrito with a side of steamed broccoli and a dollop of guacamole. Just like the first time, I picked around the tortilla to get to the cheesy-chicken goodness. But this time, it didn't taste as good. This time it wasn't as satisfying and I felt ubber full, ubber fast. Disappointment and staying awake for most of the night is what happened next. I felt ubber full for the entire night as the food just sat in my stomach. I felt heart burn, indigestion and mega-bloating.
The next morning, despite my tiredness and overall cruddy feeling, I went for a run. I ran for 40 minutes, hoping to help my system get the food from my mindful consumption out, it did help but the cruddy feeling remained for the rest of the day. Tried to stay active all day long and also drank tons of water. But I knew my Saturday of feeling good was not going to happen due to the food choices I made yesterday.
I was able to sleep on Saturday night and so I woke up feeling pretty refreshed Sunday. Got my workout in, got my breakfast in, went to train volleyball for an hour and then just walked around the city because it was a beautiful day. Sunday was a better day - body feeling wise and I felt thankful to feel good again.
In conclusion, 24 hours of crappy feeling is not worth the consumption of such food. Next mindful consumtion I will need to do better and I will.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Challenge Update
Round 1 - February
35 solid straight punches to ping-pong ball in a row
first wake forward bend - fingertips just above ankles
jumping - 1-inch below wrist above volleyball net
Round 2 - March
150 solid straight punches to ping-pong ball in a row
first wake forward bend - fingertips reaching tops of feet
jumping - 2.5 inches below wrist above volleyball net
The stats don't lie, KFB although a test of my patience has taken my volleyball game to another level. I am forever thankful for that as I train up for the 4-day tournament in Dallas, Texas this year over the Memorial Day Weekend.
I still need to work in the bean count challenge.
Staying kung fuey and looking forward to a mindful consumption - veggie pasta watch out!!
35 solid straight punches to ping-pong ball in a row
first wake forward bend - fingertips just above ankles
jumping - 1-inch below wrist above volleyball net
Round 2 - March
150 solid straight punches to ping-pong ball in a row
first wake forward bend - fingertips reaching tops of feet
jumping - 2.5 inches below wrist above volleyball net
The stats don't lie, KFB although a test of my patience has taken my volleyball game to another level. I am forever thankful for that as I train up for the 4-day tournament in Dallas, Texas this year over the Memorial Day Weekend.
I still need to work in the bean count challenge.
Staying kung fuey and looking forward to a mindful consumption - veggie pasta watch out!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Rejuvenated!
So I'm really liking this week's workouts, I especially enjoy the freestyle agility sections. They are a lot of fun and going for time makes it seem not as mundane.
I'm getting hungry again at nights. I think my body could use some sort of whole wheat pasta dish in the evening as medicine. I'm just saying...I'm HUNGRY!!! at times...
Besides the hunger, I've been reflecting on the events that happened and are continuing to unfold in Japan. Sending some light your way!
I'm getting hungry again at nights. I think my body could use some sort of whole wheat pasta dish in the evening as medicine. I'm just saying...I'm HUNGRY!!! at times...
Besides the hunger, I've been reflecting on the events that happened and are continuing to unfold in Japan. Sending some light your way!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Test of Patience
I'm finding the workouts to be much longer. Especially when it comes to the agility section of punching and kicking to a target. Anyone else experiencing this?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The brown M&M
So I'm back from my trip to cold, cold Michigan. The Saturday volleyball tournament was a great success, we lost in the finals to a more consistent team but it was a very competitive match. I was tired in the semi-finals and finals, but I found a way to pull thru. We started playing at 10:30AM and kept going until 9:00PM. So a very good day, I worked in my wide angle forward bend at the end of the day and that was that.
I find that I am definitely focusing on a straight back during the wide angle forward bend. I know I will get better at it. Just gotta be patient.
The after party of the Michigan tournament was not for me. I did have one glass of wine, but after that I didn't have much to say. I had caught up with most of my old Michigan friends during the tournament. So when I got to the dark dance bar, it was just about as fun as a brown M&M. I said hi to a few of the friends again, but then it was loud and dancey and I just wasn't feeling it. I remember peering over at an old friend and saw her drinking beer straight from the pitcher. All sweaty from dancing, in tight fitting clothes, eyes half glazed over as she chugged from the gigantic plastic pitcher. It was at that moment, a cold wet substance hit my right shoulder and dripped down my sleeve. Yep, you guessed it, beer was spilled on me and that was my cue to say goodnight.
As for the mindful consumption, I went for mexican food. I had a chicken and cheese burrito with a dollop of sour cream. Oh so good. I found myself picking around the tortilla and just getting to the good stuff: the chicken and cheese. I still miss butter, salt and cream, but I know I feel better if I limit my consumption of them.
So I returned home safely Sunday evening and relaxed. Little did I know that Monday was going to hit with a vengeance!
Monday morning started off fine, got up, went to the gym to do my workout and drop my car off for a routine oil change. Multitasking from the get go. Well after my workout, the oil change place said my tires were legally bald and my keys were stuck in the ignition. I kind of had been putting off the new tires, so I decided to just get 'em and be done. As for the key thing, it's happened once before but basically I was able to fix it just by quickly jamming the shifter forward, but even that wouldn't work this time. So after finishing up at the oil change shop, I had a new problem of keys stuck in my car. I was stressing, I hadn't eaten yet and it was going on 11:30AM. Needless to say, I didn't make it into work Monday. When I did finally get a chance to eat something, it was hard to eat because of me worrying about how much this was going to cost me. Luckily, my roommate, hooked me up with a mechanic who although couldn't help me right away, by Tuesday, he had it repaired.
So $1200 unexpected dollars later, everything is normal. And life can get back on track. It's funny how much I depend on my car and how I take it for granted. It definitely has a lot to do with the stability in my life.
I find that I am definitely focusing on a straight back during the wide angle forward bend. I know I will get better at it. Just gotta be patient.
The after party of the Michigan tournament was not for me. I did have one glass of wine, but after that I didn't have much to say. I had caught up with most of my old Michigan friends during the tournament. So when I got to the dark dance bar, it was just about as fun as a brown M&M. I said hi to a few of the friends again, but then it was loud and dancey and I just wasn't feeling it. I remember peering over at an old friend and saw her drinking beer straight from the pitcher. All sweaty from dancing, in tight fitting clothes, eyes half glazed over as she chugged from the gigantic plastic pitcher. It was at that moment, a cold wet substance hit my right shoulder and dripped down my sleeve. Yep, you guessed it, beer was spilled on me and that was my cue to say goodnight.
As for the mindful consumption, I went for mexican food. I had a chicken and cheese burrito with a dollop of sour cream. Oh so good. I found myself picking around the tortilla and just getting to the good stuff: the chicken and cheese. I still miss butter, salt and cream, but I know I feel better if I limit my consumption of them.
So I returned home safely Sunday evening and relaxed. Little did I know that Monday was going to hit with a vengeance!
Monday morning started off fine, got up, went to the gym to do my workout and drop my car off for a routine oil change. Multitasking from the get go. Well after my workout, the oil change place said my tires were legally bald and my keys were stuck in the ignition. I kind of had been putting off the new tires, so I decided to just get 'em and be done. As for the key thing, it's happened once before but basically I was able to fix it just by quickly jamming the shifter forward, but even that wouldn't work this time. So after finishing up at the oil change shop, I had a new problem of keys stuck in my car. I was stressing, I hadn't eaten yet and it was going on 11:30AM. Needless to say, I didn't make it into work Monday. When I did finally get a chance to eat something, it was hard to eat because of me worrying about how much this was going to cost me. Luckily, my roommate, hooked me up with a mechanic who although couldn't help me right away, by Tuesday, he had it repaired.
So $1200 unexpected dollars later, everything is normal. And life can get back on track. It's funny how much I depend on my car and how I take it for granted. It definitely has a lot to do with the stability in my life.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Good Few Days
The past few days have gone really well. I'm enjoying the workouts and the added strap enhanced stretches. The kung fu sit-ups are still way tough, but at least this time around (first time was through PCP) I can actually do a couple in a row at a time with minimal swinging. Neat! Although it feels like I've gotten a tetanus shot in both arms, cause they are both oddly sore. Maybe it's from the weighted blocks or the double punches. I don't know, either way, I've had a few days in a row of feeling good and it is pretty awesome to acknowledge that.
The diet is going pretty well. I decided against going to a birthday lunch because I was really worried about sticking to the nutrition plan. They were going for Pho and well, I just knew I would have trouble ordering anything but Pho, so I didn't go.
This weekend will be a test diet wise as well. My women's volleyball team is traveling back to Michigan (my home state) to compete in an annual volleyball tournament. I am excited for the exclusive all women's trip and for the volleyball. I am excited to see old friends and have them see the"new" me. I am not too excited about the hanging out after-party that this tournament always hosts. And gives free pitchers of beer to all tournament participants. I know I can make good choices, they will be available, but the question is will I?
Tara mentioned in one of her recent blogs about how we are eating as medicine, to help repair and refresh our body. A different mind-set of eating, rather than eating for pleasure or a way of coping. I am very thankful to be doing KFB now as it is renewing my focus on eating. Reiterating the fact that when I eat well, I feel better physically and mentally. I hope I make good choices in Michigan. I know I can, I just worry I won't because I'll be living in the moment. Suppose I shouldn't worry about it, but it's hard not too. Yeah, that has been the chatter in my head during meditation.
And with that I leave you with an iconic vision of my home town in Michigan. Have a Kung Fu Weekend!
The diet is going pretty well. I decided against going to a birthday lunch because I was really worried about sticking to the nutrition plan. They were going for Pho and well, I just knew I would have trouble ordering anything but Pho, so I didn't go.
This weekend will be a test diet wise as well. My women's volleyball team is traveling back to Michigan (my home state) to compete in an annual volleyball tournament. I am excited for the exclusive all women's trip and for the volleyball. I am excited to see old friends and have them see the"new" me. I am not too excited about the hanging out after-party that this tournament always hosts. And gives free pitchers of beer to all tournament participants. I know I can make good choices, they will be available, but the question is will I?
Tara mentioned in one of her recent blogs about how we are eating as medicine, to help repair and refresh our body. A different mind-set of eating, rather than eating for pleasure or a way of coping. I am very thankful to be doing KFB now as it is renewing my focus on eating. Reiterating the fact that when I eat well, I feel better physically and mentally. I hope I make good choices in Michigan. I know I can, I just worry I won't because I'll be living in the moment. Suppose I shouldn't worry about it, but it's hard not too. Yeah, that has been the chatter in my head during meditation.
And with that I leave you with an iconic vision of my home town in Michigan. Have a Kung Fu Weekend!
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