ten-fold

I like results.  They motivate me to keep up the consistency, as well as provide inspiration to change up my routine.  Tonight included TKD, independent practice (with Ab Ripper X), and KB.  I was worn out when I got home, but it's a good feeling.  I've finally wound down after my shower and am about to pass out.  I feel so much stronger lately, and it's a great feeling.  I like being proud of myself for this accomplishment.

It took a long time to get the habit established, but now that it's set in, I will fight tooth and nail to keep it up.

My next test for Bo Cho Dahn is next Friday night.  I'm not nervous about forms or self-defense, or even my kicking break.  What worries me is sparring and the power break.  The focus of my attendance next week will be the power break because I can't seem to get the rhythm of it.  Conceptually I know what I should be doing, but coordinating all the body parts and the mind to focus strength and power into one point is more challenging than I realized.  I've watched many people do this break, and some of them make it look easy.  I've also seen several people beat their hands against a concrete slab to no avail, and I desperately do not want to be one of those people.

During tonight's practice, I put my hand through the practice boards 2-3 times, but I also attempted several thuds.  They're discouraging because all that force you use to unsuccessfully break through has to go somewhere when the boards don't split.  Usually, it rebounds back into your hand, arm, and shoulder and is quite painful, especially after repeated attempts.  On the occasions where I broke through, I remember a rush of power and no fear.  I knew I was going to break it before I did so it was a piece of cake.  The problem was recreating that surety and summoning the courage--more accurately, displacing the fear of failure.  This is only practice...Imagine a room full of people watching, when the pressure is ten-fold.

Commit

My attendance at Body Pump has been fairly consistent.  I went to class this morning and even increased the weight on Squats, Chest, and Back.  I was exhausted by the time I arrived at Christy's house to help her move the futon.  I could how fatigued my muscles were when I shifted my weight to get out of the car.  That doesn't usually make my legs burn!  It was a bit embarrassing trying to move furniture because I know that under different circumstances, I wouldn't have felt so weak.  I know I had a legitimate excuse, but still...

I am re-determined to get toner for the summer.  Bathing suit time is coming up quick, and I need to focus on staying committed to working out regularly.

monkey see, monkey do

I learned something about myself last week.  If I stand in front of the mirror at Body Pump class, I am more inclined to stop when all my muscles burn and scream at me to stop.

Last Wednesday, I arrived a bit late to Body Pump, so the only available space was front and center directly in front of the instructor's raised platform.  No mirror there, and my only view is of the instructor.

Well, during the squat track, when I usually stop b/c my legs are burning, I looked up and saw that the instructor was NOT quitting.  So I kept going.  My mind wandered from "ow. ow.  ow.  need to stop." to "ow, ow, ow, but she's still moving, has way more weight on her bar" but all the while, I kept moving.  And I'm pretty pleased with the result.  I've done this 2 classes in a row now, and I've been sore after both classes.  I haven't been sore after class in a long time.

I saw myself stopping in the mirror, so I did.  I saw her not stopping, so I did that too.
Monkey See, Monkey Do.