Karate last night

[pegkerr]

Still dancing on the line. I weighed in at 149.5 yesterday (hurray!) and then 150.5 today (argh).

I had a REALLY TOUGH karate class last night. I was also stupid enough to go without having dinner first. I honestly thought I didn't need to, though--I'd overeaten a bit at lunch and thought I'd had enough calories for the day. Since the double black stripes are doing the second prescreening for black belt tonight (including Delia), pazlazuli made the class a real endurance test. My legs were so shaky when I left that it was difficult to operate the clutch in my car on the drive home.

While I was in the middle of it, I remember looking around at all those sweaty exhausted people, and thinking of the people I work with during the day and reflecting, boy, you people (at work) have NO IDEA what I do at night, just to keep in shape. But it also made me painfully aware of how far I really have to go before I'll be in shape good enough to test for black belt myself. I need to start working out more aggressively, I know--I should start attending the kickboxing classes on Saturdays (I've just been reluctant to do so since it's after the sparring class, and two and a half hours of hard exercise just seems like too much. I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet and start doing it, though.)

Comments

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

I have been doing karate & kobudo-- a 2.5 to 3 hour workout-- 3 times a week, and just collapsed with what is probably the season's last case of flu type B this week.

I suspect overexertion to be part of the problem.

So just be careful not to push yourself too terribly hard.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Why is that number so important? R does this, too, and I would really like to understand. I tell her, her therapist tells her, her trainer tells her, "The scale is not your friend." But she, too, frets over getting below a certain number.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Why is that number so important?

Probably because I'm being totally silly, which I cheerfully and willingly admit.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Well, heck, I was hoping there was an explanation I could work with. I suspect that R would not accept "you're being totally silly."

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Sorry! I always look to you for parenting advice; it's strange to have you looking to me!

[aome.livejournal.com]

Would judging your weight by your clothes (not a number on the scale) help you to relax a bit more about it? (There have been times when I've wanted to bake for you, but don't want to undermine your health goals.)

I'm with porphyrin on cautioning about overexertion, especially given the amount of work and stress you carry with you outside karate. Of course you want to work towards your black-belt goal but a) it doesn't have to be all at once, right now, since you still have a few years and b) if you wear yourself into total exhaustion, illness or injury, that's not helpful. :P My BIL Rob pushed too hard with his running this winter, then suffered a one-two punch of bronchitis and a Lyme's Disease relapse this spring - now he's unable to run a planned half-marathon with Will next weekend because he missed too much training and is having a tough time re-gaining his endurance.

Anyway - perhaps your instructors could tell you the best way to help you achieve your goal and improve your fitness, without over-doing it? Also, as a final note - I just want to say again HOW IMPRESSED and in awe I am of you pursuing your black-belt. I confess I've often considered trying a martial art, but I've been too afraid. So - go you, for having the courage to do something so amazing. :)

[stinaleigh.livejournal.com]

Peg,

I think you should stop looking at the actual number of your weight everyday. It fluctuates so much, that you probably haven't really gained any true weight today, even though your head is telling you that you gained a pound.

There are some good tracking tools at The Hacker's Diet. (just Google it) He has the exel spread sheets all set up to do a running 10 day average so it evens out the daily fluctuations.

Knowing that I'm really are holding my own, or moving in the right direction helps me to overcome that daily look at the scale.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

"...boy, you people (at work) have NO IDEA what I do at night..."

Heh-heh-heh.

Just curious, but do you ever talk about it was work?

But it also made me painfully aware of how far I really have to go before I'll be in shape good enough to test for black belt myself.

I once was involved with a guy who was also a belly dancer (for those who don't know, I belly danced for about 10 years, usually with performances at science fiction conventions), and in fact he was much better than I was probably ever going to be.

He was also a bit of a technical perfectionist, and (this is one of my favorite bits) had his loafers dyed to match his polo shirts.

Now, he didn't seem to be having as much fun as I was, so I decided I was happier imperfect.

Besides, if I ever started dancing better than Val, she'd kill me...