I'll be good this time. I promise!

I am back, and I am going to try to start updating daily. We'll see how that goes over time, but for now, I am back.

Here's the news for you.

A little over a month ago, my ex took a job out of town. In so doing, he actually lost me a very good job, because I had no childcare. So I found a friend to babysit for cheap, and I started cleaning houses. It's REALLY hard to make money when you only have a babysitter sixteen hours a week, though.

He was supposed to be gone for six months. He's back. So today, I hunt for full-time employment.



Last week was FUN. Well, it was fun if you like being totally screwed.

Tuesday night, my truck died the bad death. Which bad death? The blown head gasket, dead starter, and cracked water pump bad death. At eleven at night. In 30-degree cold. With a sleeping baby in the back.

Shit.

Got rescued from the side of the road, and started the search for a new car. Okay, not really in that order. Got rescued from the side of the road. Got Jack to bed. Slept. Woke up. Went to meet the tow truck. Got the bill for the needed repairs. Cried. THEN started the hunt for a new car.

I ended up getting a 1995 Subaru Legacy. She's quirky as hell, but she runs great. I have to take her back over to the dealership tomorrow to get the lights and locks fixed. Also, my temp tag is somehow missing, so I need a replacement for that.

Her name is Zoe. She gives me attitude. Jared's boat is Inara, and she was often towed by the late Kaylee (here I pause for a moment of silence in memory of my beloved truck, Kaylee) .......




Fuel economy is NICE. I still miss my truck though.



Since I had no vehicle, I missed Muay Thai, kickboxing, and jiujitsu until yesterday. And I noticed a few things.

1. When I don't work out, I get migraines. I don't get them as badly when I work out regularly.
2. My appetite increases and I crave junk food when I don't work out. When I DO work out, I crave healthy foods, and my appetite is lower. So I eat right. I lose weight. Good things.

And number three is the BIG ONE.

In week two of kickboxing, I stopped physical therapy. It wasn't working at all, and it costs between $80 and $120 a WEEK. Kickboxing is helping my hip tremendously, and it only costs me $65 a MONTH. It opens the hip up, keeps it moving, stretches it out, and keeps in limber. It stopped hurting ENTIRELY for THREE WEEKS.

Then I took three days off, because I had to. And I could barely walk. So, definitely getting back into the swing of training tomorrow. The trainer helped me take it a little bit easier yesterday, because the pain had me in tears. It's better today, but not perfect.



So I am up this morning with new vigor, I suppose. I went to this health fair and organic food festival on Saturday and I had a blast. I also got signed up on this great program for weight management and healthy living. So we're taking the plunge. We're going organic, and we're going green. Okay, we're going as close to green and organic as my budget can handle - and please note that it was VERY limited before I had to get a CAR. And those things aren't cheap. Even my cheap car wasn't cheap!!

So this morning, I am starting with a fabulous breakfast shake. Yeah, okay, so I am doing the liquid diet cleansing thing for a few days. I have many reasons for it. If nothing else, it tends to help me get my brain back on track for eating right, which I tend NOT to do when I am stressed out and depressed.

So my breakfast this morning consists of fresh, organic blueberries with some (omg vegan! glory!) protein powder and "greens and berries" drink mix. And water, of course. It's SO DELICIOUS. And it's very filling too. Wonders never cease!

Watch my blog if you are interested. I am working on writing some things about training when you are significantly overweight. By popular demand. Because I rock.

And everyone have a good week!

Let's Box, Baby.

Do you remember the fun I was planning in November with the weight loss group? Well, I lost my internet connection, and I couldn't go through the challenge without it. That was sad.

But, things have calmed down in my life quite a lot. I am in GA, living with friends, working, and WORKING OUT. Jack's dad is leaving to work out of town for six months, so I've got him back full-time too. His paternal grandparents are helping with babysitting so I can work, and I have childcare at the gym when I am working out.

My ex told me that the working out was "being selfish" because it was time away from our son. But to me, well, it's just not. Yes, it's something I am doing FOR ME, but it isn't selfish. It's healthy. It's something I NEED to do. I NEED to lose weight, I NEED to get into good shape. I need to do it so that I will be around for our son for as many years as possible. I recently lost a dear friend who might still be alive except for the complications that came from obesity. I don't want to put my family through that.

So, I am on a great diet, and I am working out.
But I am not JUST working out.
You see, I am, obviously, a woman, and not a terribly big and imposing one. Walking down the street as a smallish, wussified girl makes me, frankly, an easy target for people who would do harm to, well, girls like me. I don't like that feeling. It's not exactly comforting. So, my workouts: I AM FIGHTING. Yes, you heard me right. I am boxing. I am also kickboxing and studying jiujitsu, and if I play my cards right, there are a couple of events this fall that I might be able to compete in! HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!?!?!

Also, I am officially in college! My classes start on Monday. So, here I am. Mom, student, housekeeper, volunteer pregnancy counselor, and super hot boxer girl.

Okay, I am working on the super hot thing.

Following is the boring rundown of my workouts this week. I think it's fun. You might. Or, you might just skip over it.

Oh! And Lisa, if you read this, I need some kickass low-fat vegetarian recipes, since I am coming up on Lent, and won't be eating any animals of any sort for six weeks. Major bonus points if any are kiddo-friendly :)

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Day One: Bring the Pain

First boxing class. Fairly straightforward. I was going to start with Muay Thai, but I needed to go back to fighter-kindergarten and get the basic boxing down. Mostly punches. I have a wicked jab, if I say so myself :P

After boxing, I worked a little cardio at the gym. About 15 minutes on the elliptical.

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Day Two: It Really Begins (Tuesday)

Day Two was INTENSE. An hour of regular boxing. And hour of cardio. And weights. Very intense day, especially being a little sore from the day before. My muscles ache a LOT. And I have a cold on top of it, so that doesn't help at all.

I got up and I went to the gym for thirty minutes on the elliptical. I ACTUALLY DID THIRTY FULL MINUTES ON THE ELLIPTICAL!! Then I went to work (cleaning houses). Then I had boxing for an hour in the late afternoon. After boxing, we went back to the gym for another thirty minutes on the elliptical and an insane amount of weight training. I only managed to get about halfway through the weights, but I will get there.

I became very very good friends with the hot tub we have at home after that. I think I sat in that bad boy for two hours....

Nutridiary has become my best friend. Breakfast and snacks are pretty straightforward these days. Interestingly enough, the combination of whey protein powder and slimfast powder in a coordinating flavor is pretty good. And for 58 grams of protein.... Yeah. Lunches and dinners are a little more interesting to try to plan though. I am supposed to get some obscene amounts of protein in a day, lots of fiber too. Easy enough this week, but next week, Lent starts in the Orthodox Church, and we don't eat meat or dairy for forty days. This could prove challenging.

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Day Three (Wednesday): The Funny Joke Called "Taking It Easy"

Day three started with me going over to the gym. I was supposed to start jiujitsu that morning, but I fell yesterday and my leg was pretty sore. So the trainer wrapped it up and told me to take it easy today. "Be back at 5:00."

So, basically day three was a lot like day two. Hit the club at 5:00, run a little, shuffle a little, do some ab work, then hit the heavy bag. My punches are definitely improving. I can feel them getting better. My trainer says he can tell a HUGE difference. I need to work on my footwork in a big way, though. And I started working on the southpaw stance tonight to keep some of the weight off my right leg. That's pretty weak, but it's got to be better to start training to fight both ways early. That way i can do them both equally well in time.

More ab work.

To the speed bags. I am starting to get the rhythm of the speed bags. Lots of fun. I love those things, even if I have a hard time following them.

More ab work.

Then we hit the gym.
30 minutes on the elliptical
circuit training
10 minutes on the elliptical
some heavier upper-body weights
10 minutes on the elliptical

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Day Four (Thursday): The Snafu

No boxing or jiujitsu. Spent the day at the ER getting treated for a staph infection instead. Fun times.

The lamest day ever? I gave up going to the Flogging Molly concert that I *REALLY* wanted to see in favor of boxing, and I skipped boxing to go to the stupid ER.

But now I have drugs and bandages, and the arm will heal. I can return to boxing immediately.

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Day Five (Friday): Tapout!

So, day five WINS.

Got to the gym for boxing. I bought my second pair of gloves tonight. They double as hand/wrist wraps and grappling gloves (they can also be used for weight lifting. Good to know). Costly little buggers, but worth it. I am now officially FLAT BROKE.

Started with cardio. Jogging, shuffling, jumping rope. All the basics. Ab work was fun. We sit UP and then punch the tall bags. It works more of the abdominal muscles, but it doesn't feel as monotonous as just straight situps. Good stuff. I couldn't do any pushups or mountain climbers (EVIL THINGS!!!) because of the staph infection. It causes too much pain when I try to put weight on that arm. But the infection is getting much better, so that's excellent.

Worked standing strikes for half an hour. Jabs, crosses, and hooks. No upper cuts tonight, which is good, because I don't think the infected arm would have tolerated too many uppercuts.

Then we worked the basic kicks. I am way better with kicks than I figured I would be. They come easier to me than the punches. I guess I AM just more of an MMA girl after all. Spiffy.

I actually got in a little bit of sparring tonight. AND I GOT A HIT IN! Of course, I GOT hit more than I made contact, but I did manage to make contact!!!! Very exciting. Go me.

Then I went and worked my southpaw (left-handed) stance for a while. I am getting better at southpaw, which is good, because I really do want to have the versitility to fight from either position.


This is starting to get really fun. Tomorrow, I train from 10-2. Basic boxing, kickboxing, and jiujitsu!