What I did today, and what I won't be doing tomorrow (or anytime soon)

Today I wrote an e-mail to the ADD board.


This is what it said:


Dear ADD board, Fresh meat Committee and all other important ADD people,

Through this mail I would like to thank you for welcoming me in your midst the way you have. For giving me a chance to try and start loving derby once again. I want to thank you for accommodating me, involving me and being the awesome people you are. You've done all you could to help a derby depressed girl out.

And I wished I could say it worked. I wished all your efforts and love had been enough. But I am sad to admit, it didn't and it wasn't. I have tried and perked myself up time and time again, but my love of playing derby has really died. I felt it the most during the preparations for your last bout. Everyone was stoked, as they should be. I couldn't even find a spark within myself that was remotely as firestarting as you were, or as I should have been. I just couldn't be bothered.

Whenever I hear someone talk about derby, my stomach turns, and I cannot fathom why this person is so damn happy about it. I know, that is bad.

So I've given all this a lot of thought, and decided I will not force myself to be involved in something that I don't enjoy anymore. In other words, I write you, to tell you I am quitting ADD. I wished it were different, but this is what feels best to me. I want to thank you for all your kindness and help. I will always be a fierce ADD supporter (I own the legwarmers to prove it) and if ever I fall into good money I will sponsor the shit out of you.

Until then, thank you again for everything, keep winning, stay ADD.

Love,

Asa Spades

I was happy to find out, they completely understood. I got the sweetest reply possible. In keeping with the ADD awesomeness.

So I guess this is the official end of me as a derby girl.

I will finish that damn challenge though, even if it kills me.

;)

Thank you all for bearing with me...

Asa

Roller Derby Workout Challenge Day 34 to 38

Wow! I just saw that the schedule for week 6 was posted in the Roller Derby Workout Group. And I completely missed out on week 5. Shit. I guess I am too busy at work. MEH.
So here goes;

• Day 34 was a no- workout day. And I immediately felt bummed. Luckily I had a theatre-try-out with my ukulele group that night to keep my mind occupied.
• Day 35 I went to the gym for a good 2 hrs. Incorporated a 45 minute run. Felt awesome. Went home had dinner and one glass of wine...and instantly got a headache and a fever. Thought it was dehydration. But noooo I had the FLU!
• Day 36 I spent in bed drinking vitamins, popping ibuprofen and cursing. I had planned to go on a nice roadtrip to see a friend on the other side of Holland, I even rented a car to go there, but had to cancel all. M. still hasn't killed me. Could someone hand that guy a medal? Or two?
• Day 37 I felt a lot better, but still a bit feverish. Slept a lot during the day, ate a bar of chocolate and realised I could go to work the next day. Cursed. Was utterly frustrated that I hadn't been able to exercise the entire weekend, and of course couldn't get to sleep due to the sleeping during the day. Drove M. to almost kill me, but he just went to bed and left me on the couch frustrated and hating myself. Great weekend indeed.
• Day 38 Of course I am well enough to work. Luckily I took of half a day, so at 12.30 I'll be gone! Looking forward to thorough workout tonight. Really need it. BAD!

Aaaaand here's homework week 5!

1. What is your favorite strength training exercise?
I'd have to say planks. I hate them immensely, but am also super proud whenever I beat my own best time. And they give you a great stomach.

2. What is your favorite cardio exersise?
I'd never thought I'd say this, but it is running. Really. I can completely zone out and feel absolutely awesome afterwards.

3. How long did it take you to get your crossover? Did you celebrate :)
I think it took me weeks. To do a crossover right over left. The other way round took me to this day. I still cannot do it to save my life. I know. I suck.

4. Name the skate shop or website that you purchase your gear. Give 'em a shout out.
There are more: 
Suckerpunch in Belgium
Quad Roller Skate Shop in Germany
Triple 3 in Holland

5. Name three derby owned businesses!
Let me repeat:
Suckerpunch in Belgium

Quad Roller Skate Shop in Germany

Triple 3 in Holland

Bám!

Roller Derby Workout Challenges days 22 to 33 rrright.

I don't know where to start. I really don't know.
Let's see what I remember:

• Day 22 I went to the gym for a very thorough session. Yay.
• Day 23 I worked the entire day. No exercise. Not even challenge exercises.
• Day 24 I went to the gym. Awesome
• Day 25 I went to the gym again. Awesomer! 
• Day 26 I missed Roller Derby Practice due to a meeting from hell. I am sad to say I didn't mind as much as I think would be ethical.
• Day 27 I went to the gym for over 2 hrs. Awesomest?
• Day 28 I took off of work to go to the gym. I know. Insane.But Awesome.
• Day 29 I had the honor to announce the first official Roller Derby Bout in Holland. ADD vs RGA (Kaiserslautern). I was dressed as...something in a lucha libre mask. I had contemplated to go as lucha leche and wear a milk-carton cape. But I had no time nor milk cartons. MEH. 
• Day 30 I went to a workshop manufacturing a deer head. Yes you read that right. no exercise. I did start a new diet though.
• Day 31 I went to the gym for 2+ hrs again. Stoked.
• Day 32 I had a really really bad day at work. Went home to lick my wounds and sulk on couch. A miracle M. hasn't kicked me out yet.
• Day 33 I am, as I type,  waiting for my manager to show up and have that, I quote: 'very very important meeting that cannot wait until tomorrow'. And I am thus missing out on Roller Derby Practice AGAIN. Great. I do hope I will  be in time to catch a spinning class at the gym. So I won't feel completely worthless. Also, M. might want me off the couch and smiling. I guess that'd be a welcome change.

Conclusion:
Exercise is going awesome. I start to feel a slight addiction. That might need monitoring before I turn into something nastier than I already am. Diet is going great. Even my critical eyes see I am losing weight and firming up.
As for my mood ...I need to tend to that. It is all work related, but as work will not slow down in the near future I really need to find a way in dealing with it without spewing my poison towards M. Or anybody else for that matter. 

So as my manager still hasn't shown; Homework week 4!


1. What is your favorite healthy snack?
Red pepper slices, cucumber slices or humus.

2. Tell us the story of the first time you went roller skating.
I had gotten skates for my 7th birthday. And I took them out on the pavement in front of our apartment building and kept rolling in front of the big window next to the entrance. So I could see myself in its reflection. I did this the entire afternoon. I don't remember falling or being scared, so I guess I did allright. When I was eleven I would go to the kiddies roller disco with my friends. And then when I reached thirteen; BAM! I quit skating altogether. So when I retried for derby in september 2009 I sucked. And to be really honest, I still kind of do. I am afraid I will never skate like that careless and fearless seven year old again. Oh well.

3. Make sure to thank your refs and nso's this week at practice. Name your ref staff here as a shout out!
It is a crying shame, but I only know of our head ref, Belle Anger. And our head NSO, Red Peril. Who are both awesome. As I am still fresh meat with my new league, I haven't been to team practices or scrimmages yet. :/

4. What is your most committed penalty? How are you working on staying out of the box?
I have never played or scrimmaged. So I couldn't tell you for the world. I guess my whole; taking it reaaaaally slow before becoming a  WFTDA-tested team-member is a way of staying out of the box. ;D

5. In light of the Oscars airing this Sunday post a pic of your fav derby movie!

Raquel Welch in Kansas City Bomber

I guess that's it for now. I am finally off to my meeting. Keep safe and keep rolling!

Roller Derby Workout Challenge Day 19, 20 and 21 and Homework Week 3

Wednesday was Roller Derby Practice day. Which is always awesome, but there were a couple of things that stuck by me:

• If I focus on skating really fast, and not so much on my form (and mostly my fears) my cross-overs are effing awesome!
• I can do a reverse cross-over. Be it really chunky and  with an unhealthy heart rate, but I can.
• I was so focussed on the exercises that the trickling of sweat from my brow rather surprised me. So I worked hard without really noticing. Good stuff!

The only thing I really dislike about the whole derby practice thing is that I get home so awfully late. If I'm lucky. If not, I will not  arrive home 'till the next morning. I really need to sort out a place in Amsterdam to sleep over those wednesday nights. ;)

Thursday I left work a couple of hours early to go to the gym. I had a great workout in which I put a lot of the RDWC exercises and left  the building very content.

Today I am feeling a bit under the weather, but I am planning to go to the gym for a bit after work to try and sweat it out.

Diet wise I've been doing ok. Not picture perfect (if you count the syrup waffle and three pieces of licorice) but well enough to actually notice the difference.

This weekend I've got a big run planned on Saturday and a day of work (on my feet) on Sunday, so I guess I am covered, exercise wise.
Diet wise...not so much...Saturday I will not just be falling off the wagon, but also gnawing on the wheels. Well, it is a conscious decision, so I am happy with it. :)

I guess it's homework time. Here goes:

What has been the hardest thing about the challenge so far?
Hmmmm...I guess the diet, as I've not been sticking to it. Though I am not mad at myself or disappointed that I didn't. Which is a change from last year. I guess I've allowed myself more this year, as long as I make up for it with more exercise. Which I have been doing, like darned mad. Yay for the gym!

Are you seeing any improvements on the track?
Not so much seeing  as feeling. I don't get tired that fast anymore. I can get up faster when I fall down. I feel faster, but am not sure I really am.

Who is the founder of your league?
Limpin' Lily, who is currently our Fresh Meat Momma. She's Awesome. YES. SHE. IS.

What kind of wheels to you skate on?
For practice I use  the standard crappy Fugitives that came with my skates. For outdoors or any surface I am not used to or scared of I use my Atom Pulse blue ones. They make me feel safe on any surface.

Post a pic of your skates or your dream skates.
I just realised that I never took a picture of  my current (and already worn and slowly disintegrating) skates. And as I am not near my skates right now, that's not going to happen. What I'd like to have though...wellll...

Awww yeahhhh ;P

Right. It's back to work. See you on the other side of the weekend!

Roller Derby Workout Challenge Days 15 to 18

Friday I left work early and went to the gym for a 2,5 hr session of good, thorough workout. It was AWESOME! I am really looking forward to doing the same this coming Friday . Is there such a thing as a workout addiction? If so, I might have caught the bug...

Saturday morning at ten I was at the gym again for an hour run and some stretching exercises. That really was an awesome way to start the day. :)

As predicted I fell from the diet wagon pretty damn hard on Sunday. I had an awesome high tea with my friend Uzi. And something occured that never happened before; I could not finish all my cake! Seriously, the amounts of cake were overwhelming -and tasted awesome- and though my brain was making my mouth water thinking of all those lovely cakes, my body told me; NO! It actually made me slightly nauseous thinking about having to finish my cake. So there. That must mean something too, right?
We said our goodbyes promising to do it again soon, but then while just sharing the one sandwich between us. :)

Monday I was supposed to go to an extra derby practice, but  things got in the way. To compensate I did take an hour walk. Because I can. ;)

This morning I started with the Roller Derby Workout Challenge exercises for day 2. Wow, I need to keep working peeps!

Tomorrow is Fresh Meat Practice, and this time without the luxury of a borrowed car, so I'll be dragging my gear all over the place the entire day. Extra exercise Id say. :)

I hopefully get to go to the gym on Thursday morning, Friday night and Saturday morning again. And that will be the end of week three! Only 5 more weeks to go!

And a lifetime after that...

Roller Derby Workout Challenge - day 12, 13 an 14

I was late for Fresh Meat training on Wednesday due to traffic, so I came in just after my group had been doing a jumping, falling, getting up drill. The rest of practice was not as intense, we also spoke a lot about gear and stuff, so I didn't really  break a sweat. Our trainer ended the session with a squatting drill that did make my legs burn, but I felt I really needed  more exercise. Sadly I only got home at 11.30 , so I really didn't have any time to do  more.

Thursday was my exercise free day, as it was ukulele class day. Somehow when not exercising my body screams for sugar, so I ate 5 chocolate syrup waffles in five minutes, which resulted in an entire evening of guilt. Awesome.

Today I get off early as I have to see my physical therapist. So that leaves me with more than enough time  to go to the gym and  make up for the past two days. YES!

As for this weekend; Tomorrow morning I scheduled a nice run, and on Sunday I am going to see my friend Furrrocious and help her run her 'recovery run' as she has had surgery on her legs and is on a tight walk and running schedule.
So yeah, I guess I am set. Though diet wise, I will not be doing so awesome. I have a high-tea planned  and am getting breakfast made by M.'s sister. Ah well, I'll work it off. :)

For real? Yup, for real!

Roller Derby Workout Challenge, Day 10 and 11; Gym

So as stated, Monday night M. and me went to the gym across the  street, to claim our free trial week of exercise. I figured it would take awhile, enrolling and such, but it turned out to be scarily easy.
"Hey, we've come for the free trial week?"
"Welcome, have you been to a gym before?"
"Errr...yessss..."
"Ok, well, let me walk you to the dressingrooms. This here is men...and that there is women."
"Oh, ehm..thanks...I...we"
"Yeah, have fun! Bye!"

Right. Well... We got dressed and both went our ways. I had a very satisfactory run and a gazillion  crunch varieties, thanks to the trainer on the floor who was very helpful but also knew when to leave me the heck alone. M. was juggling all sort of weights and  outrunning basically everyone on the treadmill. We decided to come back Tuesday night. I even enrolled for the circuit-class. Just because it sounded interesting.

Tuesday we came in half an hour before my circuit training started. It gave me some time to run and warm up. Then circuit training began. It basically  came down to this; the trainer put  plastic cards with  numbers 1 to 16  next to different exercise machines, walked us  through them, giving us a minimum of repetitions per minute. Then we chose a number. Got working on that machine for one minute. Then rested for 15 seconds. Worked one more minute (all the while trying to keep at least that minimum of repetitions) Then used 30 seconds for changing machines and rest. And started again. Meanwhile the trainer helped us out, working on our posture etc. I had a blast. And the fact that the trainer complimented me on my  neat and controlled way of exercising did help! Then to top it off we got twenty minutes of abdominal exercise. Which almost made me cry, but I hung in there.

After training M. and I stayed a little to  talk to the trainer. Which was fun, and made me want to come back and work even harder! So I will be back on Thursday. :)

So yeah, we're back on track with this awesome gym (How have we ignored it for so long?)

Tonight is Fresh Meat practice, and although I am not looking forward to driving in this wintery weather, I am looking forward to practice itself. FUN!
But first; back to work! Weeeeeeeehoooooo! (this is me trying to convince myself work is the funnest thing EVER)

I love my job...   ;)