Kickboxing and weight

So I noted in my last post that I'm not kickboxing any more.  While that is true it doesn't entirely explain the situation.  Last November, I switched from the kickboxing class to the Wing Chun martial arts class at the dojo and have beeen taking that for almost a year now.  This past may I successfully tested for my yellow sash and I'm working towards my orange sash. 

I've really enjoyed the classes and the process of learning the various forms and techniques within Wing Chun.  I feel since I've been taking it, I'm strong, more balanced and more confident. 

The only downside is that it is nowhere near as aerobic as kickboxing was (at least not at such a beginner level; we don't do sparring at this point) so a major workout that I had 2-3 times a week is gone and replaced with something I love, but not as much of a workout.

Add to this the fact that in the spring I broke my foot and have been trying to stay off of it enough to let it heal, which takes running out of the equation for the moment.  I'm awaiting results from my doctor to know that it's fully healed.

Really the hardest part with the weight loss is motivation and I just have not had it lately.  Life is good, but I am in a bit of a rut I think when it comes to motiviation.  I'm hoping to work on that over the fall/winter.  We'll see how it goes.

Read More

I'm a bad blogger...

So yeah... I'm a bad blogger.  I'm also bad at my resolutions this year.

Let's review:

• [Fail] - I resolve to (schedule permitting) run a 5k this spring with my friend Di.
• [Fail] - I resolve to get to 185 lbs and maintain it.
• [Completed] - I resolve to finally upgrade my entertainment center with a 55” HD TV [Hey aren’t all resolutions self-serving to some degree :) ]
• [Not Done] - I resolve to take the GMAT and apply for my MBA.
• [Ongoing] - I resolve to take time to visit friends I don’t see often enough.
• [Fail] - I resolve to post more often to my blog.

So I think the one completed item may have contributed to some of the failures. :)  The TV is gorgeous though.  I'm very happy with the purchase.

The running I've tried to get back into but I've had some foot injuries and I found out that as of a week ago I still have a stress fracture of my left foot (third metatarsal for those curious).  Once I get clearance from the doctor I am going to try to make time to run again.

For the weight, I have officially gained every pound I lost last summer.  It's been a combination of not being able to run, not doing kickboxing anymore (I'll explain that in a bit), and just not making time to work out.  I'm trying to figure out a routine that allows me to use the winter, with it's multiple layers of bulky clothing, to try for a sort of caterpillar-like transformation, so when spring comes and the layers are pealed back, I'll be in good shape.

While I haven't yet taken the GMAT, it's still on the plan.  I've just been a bit overstressed with some changes at the office (I'll explain that in another post) that have ramped up the use of my time and stress at the office.  It's made me much less motivated to do anything but relax once I do get home.  Yes, it's a bit of a cop-out, but I'm gonna go with it. :)

I have made an attempt to visit friends.  The hard part is coordinating both sides of that equation.  I was able to find some time to spend with Max before he moved to San Diego and now I need to find a time to visit him, now that he's found a job and is out there for real now.  I tried to make time to hang out with Ron before he moved to South Korea to teach English for a year.  With everything he had to do to prep, it didn't end up happening.  I was able to spend two weeks in London with Delory and several WPI students.  I was able to make time with Dani after she moved about 20 minutes away, but then she moved to Nashua and I haven't been able to visit yet.  I'll be going up a week from Sunday to see her, Anthony and little Zoe.  I am also working on plans to go to LA to visit Colin and Kristin.  Also I saw Judd for the first time in over a year the other day.  Overall I'd say this item is both ongoing and relatively successful.  It could be better, but the effort is there.

As for the blog, I'm going to try to make this be the start of more posts.


PS - I updated my template for the season.

Read More

Ugh–what a day

The original message for this post (which was going to be posted yesterday) was “What a difference a day makes”.

 

Here’s the post as I wrote it.

 

Well, even though it’s colder and everything that melted has frozen over, I’m having SUCH a better day today!

 

The good day partly started last night after a successful run through of Laramie Project.  Even though I was in a funky mood yesterday, it never ceases to amaze me how much a show and it’s rehearsals actually end up energizing me, instead of exhausting me.  I got a reasonably good night’s sleep as well.  So that’s gotta count for something. :)

 

Today I got a call from my accountant that my tax return was ready to submit, and I just needed to sign.  It turns out I’m getting back a good bit more than I had planned on.  Added to that I forgot I’m getting a stipend for a conference session I organized.

 

I also managed to resolve a server problem that has been causing me issues since early January.

 

So overall, it’s been a good day.  Let’s hope things continue moving up!

Almost as I finished typing this, I was eating my meatball sandwich and I ended up biting off more than I could chew, as it were.  I have had some times in my life when eating things that I have difficulty swallowing it.  It’s typically when eating meat (steak, chicken, scallops, hot dog), but I’ve had the issue with soft foods too (like pancakes).  At the risk of too much information, the issue is that I will swallow something and it’ll go part way down my esophagus, but won’t drop into my stomach.  It’ll sit there halfway down.  One thing to note is that this doesn’t affect my ability to breath, so I wasn’t in any immediate danger, just in pain.  Sometimes a glass of water will push it down, other times it’s just too painful to do that.  This was one of those times.  I then tried to move it “up” and out (you can figure out what I mean) and that wasn’t working either.   I managed to expel some of it, but was still having issues and I noticed I now had blood mixed in with the bile that I was throwing up.  I ended up having some of the WPI EMTs in the production I’m in drive me up to the ER down the street.  By the time I got there, the last bit of food passed, but I wanted to make sure there wasn’t an issue with the blood.  Five hours later, I got an x-ray and shortly thereafter spoke with the doctor.  Good news is that I had no damage and I was fine. 

 

At this point I need to follow up with my PCP to get a referral to a GI specialist for more testing.   I have had testing for this very issue before (endoscopy, barium swallow) but it didn’t show any issues.  Since it’s happening again, it’s time for more tests. 

 

Until I know what’s happening, I’m going to be chewing like you teach little children (chew it 40 times!) and sticking to liquid or softer foods when possible.

 

So I guess I was just a bit premature in declaring yesterday such a great day.

Read More

Need a recharge

So currently at WPI we’re in the midst of the dreaded “C Term”.  It’s the 7 week term from mid January to the end of February, and it’s also the dead of winter.  The phrase “C Term Sucks” is often stated by students.  It was true in my undergrad days and really hasn’t changed in the intervening years, even as a staff member.

 

Since the new year started, it feels like I’ve been running just to stay in place.  I’ve had several systems that just fell apart at work.  While some have been worked out, others still are partially broken.  I feel like every step forward is another step back.

 

The constant barrage of snow is also getting to me.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a new Englander, born and bred, and I love all four seasons and the snow, but I need green right now.  I need things growing.  I need warmer weather.  I need to be able to open my windows and let the breeze in.

 

I have always counted on the fact that I’m generally a positive, upbeat person, but these days it’s feeling like I’m going through the motions a bit, that it’s just a bit harder to put the smile on.

 

I’m sure all of this will work itself out in the coming weeks, but I can honestly say I won’t be sorry to see February go.

 

:-/

Read More

Look who’s come to visit!

Since Tuesday night I’ve had a guest staying at my condo.  As you can see, Oscar has made himself quite at home (and yes, he was invited up on the couch).

 

I’ve been sitting for Oscar while Dani’s been off visiting her parents for a week.  She comes back on Sunday and will reclaim her fur kid then.

 

Oscar has been a very well behaved house guest.  He’s so good.  I can just leave him in the house without worrying about him getting into things.  I do keep all door shut, just in case though.

 

He’s tends to entertain himself or just roam over to his crate to relax.  Sometimes he likes to pop up on the couch when I’m watching TV.  He also enjoys sleeping on my bed at night (again, only if invited).

Read More

Resolutions

So with the new year, come new resolutions.  These lovely things that everyone says they will do that they don’t.  The question then becomes, why do we do it?  Are we lying? Are we merely masochists who are trying to force behavior changes only to fail?  Who knows, but I’m going to try to set some realistic goals.

 

• I resolve to (schedule permitting) run a 5k this spring with my friend Di.
• I resolve to get to 185 lbs and maintain it.
• I resolve to finally upgrade my entertainment center with a 55” HD TV [Hey aren’t all resolutions self-serving to some degree :) ]
• I resolve to take the GMAT and apply for my MBA.
• I resolve to take time to visit friends I don’t see often enough.
• I resolve to post more often to my blog.

 

What do you think?  Anything else I’m forgetting?

Read More