Progress Is Motivation!

I'm sad to report that my P90X workout has completely vanished.  That doesn't mean that I have not been working out, but that I have not stuck to the P90X schedule.  I think the only routines from that plan that I am interested in continuing are Chest & Back, Plyometrics, and Legs & Back--oh, and how could I have forgotten AB RIPPER??  Combine those with Body Pump 1-2 times a week and Tae Kwon Do 2-3 times a week and I've run out of days of the week!  I usually try and do Ab Ripper after TKD class, and I can already see a difference in my posture and ab definition.  Nothing to show off yet, but I see improvement.  :)

On the food front, I've been eating really well lately.  Well, what I consider acceptable and guilt-free.  I allow myself a slice of pizza here and a bit of fast food there, but overall, my meals consist of spinach salad and some sort of lean meat.  I'd like to incorporate more fish into my diet, but that requires me to cook, and with my workout schedule (see above), cooking isn't really in my future.

I've noticed that I haven't been craving much carbs.  I have been trying to limit my carb-intake to early in the day so I have time to burn it off before going to bed.  Dinner this week has been spinach salad with chopped deli meat and hard-boiled egg as toppings.  I could probably cut out the cheese to save the calories and fat, but honestly, I like the flavor and texture that it adds.  I need to at least enjoy my rabbit food!

Inner Peace

I struggled to wake before 6 a.m. this morning, but I did it!  I did 2 Yoga videos (sculpting lower body and strengthen/tone upper body), as well as 10 min of Meditation.

As difficult as it is to wake that early, I am going to try and do this each morning this week.  I feel so grounded and balanced right now.  The inner peace that comes with sweat and meditation are worth the 60 minutes of sleep I am giving up.

Consistently Not P90X

My effort to do P90X has morphed into something else.  I haven't been sticking to the P90X regimen, but I have been trying to stay consistent with weight training and cardio.  I noticed the biggest improvement from when I did Plyometrics two weeks in a row.  My cardiovascular endurance seemed to increase, so I should probably do that one more often than not.  Unfortunately, it's probably the most unpleasant one for me.  I'm also trying to fit in 30-min runs and/or walks around the lake.  I've moved up to Week 3 of C25K, since the Week 2 run became to easy for me.

This week is Sparring Week at TKD.  It's good that I can fit in my sparring classes before testing, but oh, how I loathe sparring.

got bruises?

Tonight was my first night back to sparring.  It didn't go well.  I'm slow, uncoordinated, and off-balance.  Oh, and my timing sucks (not that it was ever that great).  To top it all off, I took a side kick to my inner thigh on the right leg.  I was going to post a picture, but the bruise hasn't actually formed yet.  The place of impact is extremely tender, and I fully expect to have a black-and-blue spot that's about 2 inches in diameter in the next couple days.

I'm a little excited about showing off the soon-to-be bruise.

On the other hand, it hurt something fierce!  I tried so hard not to cry, but my efforts were in vain.  Luckily, I was so sweaty that you couldn't really tell the sweat from the tears.  After a few minutes, I was able to walk on the leg, but it might take a few days to get the muscle back to feeling like normal.

I keep asking myself why I continue to do this, but the answer is the same.  I want my black belt.  I set out to get it, and I'm so close that I don't want to quit.  Sparring isn't my favorite thing about TKD, but it's a part of it.  Got to do one to get the other, so here's to hoping my leg heals quickly.  I have to go back in 2 weeks.