Day 51 Taking it slow - Part of homework week 8

So to reduce stress I've made schedules for everything I do, or want to do. By this trying to limit the time I spend working and stressing out. Time is up? Too bad, time to let go and relax. Or work out. Or cook.
And it helps. If there's anything I (still) need to learn it is letting go and realising the world will still be there if I decide to take things slower. I guess it is losing part of my self-importance and even more of my control freakishness. Trusting others to be just as good or even better at tasks as I am, and asking for, as well as accepting help.
Consciously enjoying the small achievements a day brings instead of brushing them aside, blinded by that bigger goal helps a lot too.

Again: getting there, not there yet.

And to support this semi-philosophical-tree-hugging-better-yourself-approach to life I give you music I grew up with (again, yes I am THAT old) Because music, to me still speaks louder than words...

And now for part one of week eights homework. I say part one, because the homework also consisted of putting up the dreaded 'After'- pictures. And I want to do that at the exact last day of the challenge, which would be next saturday. Then automatically making those pictures my new 'Before'-pictures. Because on sunday I will start the entire eight weeks again, hoping to have learned from this first experience and even getting more out of it, than I have already done now. Which makes a nice bridge to the only question of this weeks homework;

What have you learned from Roller Derby Workout Challenge?

  Well...where to start? There is a lot I've learned.

• I've learned there is more discipline in me than I knew, and that I can muster the energy to do excercizes EVERY day.

•  I've learned that I can quit smoking without turning into a serial killer or big candy binger except for when I can't. Which is when I feel really stressed out and alone. Which brings us to the next point

• I've learned that I have some personal issues I really need to deal with. I have come so far as to analyze what I should do to take care of this lingering shit, because that's what it is. Now I need to take time and really do it. Face it, live it, then toss it.

• I've learned that even when I feel utterly alone, I am not.But sometimes I prefer to be. And that is ok.

• I've learned that I can be an athlete even at this late age. I've learned that my body is amazing even though the fat on my middle will not budge. At all. Though my tits don't know how fast they should flee from me if given the opportunity. I've learned my body is stubborn (like it's owner) in a very funny and comforting way. I think I'll stick with it for some time, it suits me.

• I've learned that Roller Derby does change your life. And I think I am not even close to grasping the whole effect. And I love it.

:)))

I've watched you change... ;)

Day 48 - What happened? And (belated) homework week 7 *shameonme*

Where it might have seemed I was a daily blogger at first, these days I cannot seem to find the time to keep the blogging up.

 It is not so much that I have been busier than before. It is just...

Yeah what is it exactly?

I have not been well. Not exactly sick in the "bubonic plague, high fevers and exploding boils" kind of way but not my healthy happy self either. I've been having the worst headaches ever at very random moments. No fun. Of course being the secret hypochondriac I am, several possibilities crossed my mind. From alien possesion to the expanding of my cranium and worse.

Fact is, it's stress. Boring stupid self induced stress. 

As stated before my job has been all but heavenly lately, and though I've struggled to find my balance again, I found I mainly suppressed my frustrations. Combine that with a shitload of (self discovered, self kept, non-delegated) derby work and there's you're answer: stressed out me.

Yes, this also puts a strain on my relationship. Adding more stress. Making me more miserable and unhappy. 

I am working on this. Or am I working through this? It is hard. It is harder even not to smoke now. And I admit I fell off the wagon twice these past two weeks, secretly crying and smoking on the balcony. Those two cigarettes made me even more miserable, so on the upside; I think I did kick the physical addiction. Funny thing; when at parties where everyone smokes and offers me smokes, I have not touched a single cigarette. Obviously now I have turned into a secret balcony smoker. I even hesitated to say it here. This is how much I care about my new non-smoking image. Oh well. Conclusion: I am weak. But I have not given up the figth. Yet.

I have been taking pictures of the somewhat happier days of these past few weeks. And together they kinda sum up what I've been up to. And they prove I have not forgotten to smile completely.

Dagnabbit, I sound like a depressed teen. Pucker up Lady! Get over yourself and get back with the programme! Geesh...

I got new GEAR! STOKED!

Our Ref Blauwe Bill gave me a bottle of vodka to thank me for kitty sitting (this is minutes before sunday practice)

I've spent lots of time sleeping on the couch with my kittie watching over me. See? He's watching you!

I've been to Belgium and learned some new words.

And got engaged...again...to the same girl (and did a great impression of Barbamama)

 

Showered after daily workouts

Looked for my cat... (he is in this picture, trust me)

All in all life ain't so bad. You old nag you! Now get to that homework! (I love how my inner teacher is never asleep)

Homework week 7

What has been more challenging, the meal plans or the workouts?

The meal plans definetly. I've been messing those up immensly. I have been watching my diet. But I've been having shakes for lunch and breakfast. And sometimes I binged. Like that time I went for sushi with my dad. Ouch!

 Who wrote the book Down and Derby? Signed copy included in the prize package!

Do want!

 Have you lost weight or inches or pant size? How much?

I've lost 2 kilos which would make for 4.41 pounds. Which is not enough to my liking. I've measured myself every wednesday. Conclusion?

Middle (belly button height)  was 101 cm = 39,76 inch is now 100 cm = 39,37 inch (I know hilarious)

Waist was 76 cm = 29,92 inch is now 72 cm = 28,35 inch

Upper arm was 32 cm = 12,6 inch is now 28 cm = 11.02 inch

Upper Leg was 62 cm = 24.41 is now 60 cm = 23.62 inch

Breast was 92 cm = 36.22 is now 85 cm = 33,46 (I know I am crying too)

What is your favorite Roller Derby Film?

The only one I've seen is Whip it...so I guess that is my answer. :)

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in this Challenge?

Wow...ehm...I guess being almost completely smoke free (Very much ignoring the earlier mentioned two cigarettes. Yes I am in denial. Yes, I'd like to stay that way for now.)  and doing those darned excercizes every darn day. And guess what? When week eight has passed. I am starting all over again. Just to see if I'll do better the second time around. And because I kinda like this whole thing. I know, that is just insane. But I cannot help myself. Really.

And again I will try to be better with this blog thing. I should. It might help. ;P

I wished I was someone better...

Day 35 Time flies (and Homework week 6)

This past week has flown by. Work has been superhectic and after work I had so many appointments, some days it felt like I forgot to go home after office hours.

So what was it I dreaded most about last weeks challenge? Day three.
But I started off pretty happy, I calculated I had six seconds per burpee and figured that should be more than enough.
So I set the stopwatch for ten minutes and went for it. After five minutes, I felt I was panting.

This is me pushing myself, getting ready for yet another burpee

I counted every burpee out loud, and at the exact same time I panted; ninetheeeee... the stopwatch alarm went off. So I didn't make it! I was 10 burpees short!
Of course I finished the set, but I was bummed.

I can't seem to get my head around the fact that I was 10 burpees short...

So after the 30 seconds of rest it was star jump time! I whispered a sorry to my downstairs neighbors and off I went. Guess what? I finished a 100 starjumps in 5 minutes and 40 seconds! (as stated before, I must be doing something wrong there)
My legs were shaky and my knees called it a day.

Luckily I was close to the couch... ;)

I felt pretty good about myself! So I went and made a healthy dinner of grilled chicken (add seasoning put under grill, add no oil, butter or salt, it fries in its own fat) Brussels sprouts and whole wheat pasta.

I used to laugh at food like this...

My cat was obviously a lot less impressed...

No...not interested...at all

So yeah, I guess I am doing all right. And....it's time for homework! Week six! Looking forward to it! (I sometimes do not recognize myself anymore, ha!)

Homework week six

Speed Skating or Figure Skating?
As for doing I'd have to say speed skating. Because I find that easier (that is, when no one is around and I don't overpolitely take back speed to let EVERYONE pass first...sigh...) to do. And it empties the mind in a very satisfying way.
As for wishing I could....
I dream about being able to move graciously accross the rink (not on my butt for instance) and having a bodythat would not make people whimper at the thought of having to lift it. But realistically...ha! I said: HA!

What is the temperature in your city? How does skating on the boardwalk at the beach in LA sound?
At the moment the temperature varies between 7 and 10 degrees Celcius (44,6 - 50 degrees) Fahrenheit. How does boardwalk skating in LA sound? AWESOME! I miss Californian weather EVERY DAY. Someday baby, someday...

Did you play sports in high school or college? How does derby differ from your other experiences?
In high school I was a lazy f***. In fact I was 'lucky' enough to have a knee injury that got me out of the last three years of P.E. Seriously, I even had a classmate bike accross the entire city to pick me up and bike me to school. Yes, I would sit on the back of his bike like the spoiled princess I was. Not moving a finger. Ever.
It was only in my late teens, early twenties that I rediscovered sports. Mainly through martial arts (I guess I had a lot of unresolved anger to deal with) like Jiu jitsu, Kyo Ku Shin Kai and Escrima. But also through dance. (which I managed to make part of my profession, who'd have known?) In my mid-twenties (yes, I am old enough to actually talk about that period in life as "long passed") I coached and trained the cheerleaders for the Rotterdam AF-team. That last experience was amazingly enough a lot like derby (try falling out of a human pyramid for edgy sports) I guess it also has a lot to do with the American approach of sports. Trust me, there is a big fat culture gap there. But nothing we cannot overcome. ;)

What is your worst derby related injury?
I am such a newbie that I'd have to say my WORST derby injury so far is a little shafed skin off of my knee. Of maybe that tiny bruise on my shin? I know, I am lucky. And still I am longing for the first big fat derby bruise. There's idiot for ya... :) 

Post your favorite derby pic! 
There are so many pics I like! And all of them with other girls on them, being awesome. Mainly because I have no pics of me in a scrimmage, training or bout that I find appealing. But if I'd have to choose one of me, it would be this next one. This was my very first derby practice EVER. I had no clue of what I was doing, and it shows... It makes me laugh and it also amazes me how much more I've learned in such a short time. And there is still soooo much more to learn! And I love every minute of this whole learning process.

I even missed the memo of what excercizes we were doing, obviously

 And now it is time to go pick up some sponsored gear! Hell yeah! 

I'll try to be a better blogger next week. Really I'll try.

;)

Day 30 - I wished it was a Derby Bruise

So yesterday morning I stepped into the shower and slipped. I got the wind knocked out of me. Dang that hurt!

So the rest of the day I felt my ass muscles protesting every move. And practice was hard with a blue bum.
I just wondered what it looked like...

Well... it looks like this:

I find I have quite a big behind... ;)

And there is a big bruise just next to my ass crack, which M. photographed, but I promised not to post. So I leave that to your imagination.
It still hurts. But what really bugs me is that it was caused by such an old ladies thing; slipping in the shower. Seriously, I wished it was a derby bruise. I would wear that with pride. This...I guess I'll have to hide.

Tonight day three of the challenge excercises...those damned burpees...I already feel sorry for my downstair neighbours...and my legs for that matter. ;P

This used to be me...I miss her sometimes  ;)

Day 29 - I LOST WEIGHT!

Though some people might state it is because of the cutting of my hair, or the loss of my sanity (that used to weigh at least a gazillion pounds) I think it is the workout programme.
I weighed myself yesterday (thank you Charlien for keeping a scale in your bathroom) and I lost 2 kilos!  (4.41 pounds) I am STOKED!

So yeah...tomorrow will be hellish day three excercise, but somehow now I actually think I can do that with ease. Maybe I have really lost my sanity...

Homework Week Five

Week Five? Really?

Wow, time does fly! I have no clue what happened to week four, but it was gone as soon as it started.
If anything I aim to be more in the 'now' in week 5 and really feel what I am doing instead of rushing through the days wondering why I keep forgetting about things.

So here goes:

We are over half way there. What is the biggest thing that you have learned from the Challenge so far that you think will stick with you?
There is a couple actually.

• I can live without smoking and not turn into a serial killer. I do have a lot of emotional grub to still deal with though.
• I have no patience when it comes to wanting to see instant body results (only now it is slowly showing and I am still not satisfied)
• I thrive well by regularity (work out, sleep enough, take time to cook, you know, things I should've picked up on some ten years ago)
• I am actually a very disciplined woman, I can make myself do horrid things when I think they are good for me.

What is your favorite new healthy snack?
I have a hard time choosing between red pepper slices and cashews...they both serve a mood, I guess.

What was your last bout and what was the score?
As my team is very very young and still training for Minimum Skills there is no bouting in the near future. However my teammate Whippin' Red Siren participated in the EROC beginners scrimmage and her team won 150 to 79! I think that is very promising...I hope that is very promising.

Do you believe in Valentine's day? Plans?
Believe in Valentines day? I don't 'believe' in any day. I think we have an assessment on Valentines day so I guess my mind will be full of derby. But I do like getting the occasional card (actually, I like that the year 'round, so maybe that is more of a mail addiction than a festive thing) and I love any excuse to buy my loved one gifts, so I guess I'll be shopping for something nice that weekend. 

Does your team have a coach? How did you find him or her?
Not officially, but as my team mate Whippin' Red Siren train our little group we have kind of adopted the coaching along with the job. We divide tasks based on how our players tend to react to us. We do some good cop, bad copping every once in awhile. She is more of the straightforward whippin' kind and I tend to go for the motivational speak. I think we make a good team, but I would love to see what an external coach could do for us once we're further into our development as a team.


That was it? Wow. Ok. Well, I'm off to go see a friend. I hope the stormy wind don't blow me off my bike.


Derby Love

Day 25 - Self medication and some mind adaptation

So yesterday we had our first level assessment. Step one on our road to the minimun skills test. It went well overall, I am very proud of my teammates, who worked hard and were very concentrated. YAY!

I however, found that near the end of the assesment my right ankle was hurting like hell. Even some wax layering from our Ref George didn't help. It was annoying as hell. I didn't remember falling or spraining my ankle. So what brought this discomfort about?
I didn't make it through endurance, when I was really looking forward to that. I finished the assesment with a limp. No fun.

When I came home i took another look at my ankle.

Nothing much to see here...

It bugged me the whole day today (and I've made a point of not putting on shoes when not completely necessary) and half way through the day my left foot started hurting as well. From walking like an idiot trying to give my right ankle some rest.

At 14.36 exactly I had an epiphany. I was struck with: poseuritis!
It is what you get when you whine over nothing and cannot push yourself to just swallow and live with it. A very common condition in my family.
The good thing is; There is a cure!

So like a good girl I took my well deserved shot of: 'stopwhiningorI'llslugyou' with half a pill of 'selfpitydoesn'tbecomeyouatall' and got over it. Quickly. I am going for a long skate in the park tomorrow. Wether my ankle decides to sing, scream, whine or not.

Oh andddd yesterday was measuring day. I lost 2 cm (0.79 inch) on my arms, legs, middle and waist, 4 cm (1.57 inch) on my breasts (that is not as good...) and not a kilogramme of weight. Almost an inch! That is a lot to me! Really! (Yes, I am sad about the departing of my bosom, do not remind me)

And I still haven't smoked. NOT ONCE!

So there. Miss Whinypants is signing off for today.

Derby Love!

Homework Week Four

Week four already! I really cannot believe how time flies!

So here is the homework for week 4.

Are you cheating??!!

Yes I am. As for the diet, I have been cheating from te beginning, replacing breakfast and lunch by my health shakes. and last weekend at EROCII I have tried but have fallen off the wagon at least twice (cocktail #1 and 2 in the EROC post are my accusing witnesses) in the drinking area, and perhaps some more with the offered lunches and dinners. (Pizza? Potato soup? Not really on the list huh?) I find it hard to stick to the diet as I do not like cooking for just me. I am very aware of my calorie intake though. And try hard not to overdo it. That and I should drink more. Really I should.

Excercise wise, the only days I didn't stick with the programme were again, the EROC days. I have had a four hour workout (on- and off skates) on saturday though, so I guess I have not completely failed. Plus I've doubled the amount of excercises yesterday and today. I guess I'm good in the excercise department. 

Have you noticed any difference in your strength and stamina during the workouts? During skating?

Yes I have. I have more stamina, my legs don't tire that easy anymore, and I've become significantly faster on skates. I still feel I've got a long way to go, but I feel I am making progress. And love every minute of it.

Have you come up with any of your own meal recipes following the basic guidelines? Share!

As stated, I do not like cooking for myself. So I have been trying to avoid that, by giving the people around me my diet and having them cook for me. (I know I am a terrible manipulative lazy witch, but hey, no one has complained yet) our Ref Blauwe Bill scored really high by not cooking more than allowed and placing it all on a cute little plate. YAY! The few times I have cooked I mainly tried to season some flavor into it. Not with salt, but with pepper, dill, majoran, ginger and things like that. Other than that, the cooking has stayed pretty darn sober.

When is your next bout and who are you playing?

As my team is still very young (established september 2010) and none of us has even passed their minimum skills level tests, bouting is not on the agenda at all. We do look forward to scrimmaging at the end of this summer. The Belgian teams Antwerpen One love roller dolls and Gent go-go roller girlswe've befriended over the months have been so kind to say they would scrimmage with us when the time is ripe, so I guess we do have a lot to look forward to.

Take a picture of one of your healthy meals and post. If you can't take pics find a super healthy food online and share that!

This is my healthy food unit, where I store ingredients for my shakes, keep my dark rye bread and veggies. The Jameson bottle  and the beer tender are not mine. Sadly.

Go go go week four! I see some interesting workout thingies coming up! Stoked!

I will defintely include this one in dance routine day!

Derby Dance Love ;)

Day 23 - EROC II the aftermath...

How to describe EROC? AWESOME doesn't begin to cover it.
I have, even at this late age, developed a very true and pure admiration for the Bear City Roller Girls. And for some of them even more than might seem healthy. A very big shout out to Master Blaster for being a very inspiring on- and off skate trainer, as well as a very gifted moderator for the European discussion.
My personal derby love to DeviLena whose motivational talk made me jump. Litteraly.
And last but not least, Swede Hurt for the laughs, the wise words and the awesome performance she gave during scrimmage. When I grow up, I want to be just like her... (I told you true and pure admiration, I feel like I am four years old again)

A short Photo Impression of those three awesome days. (I very randomly remembered I had a camera, sooo...yeah)

The first night: Cocktails at Tiki Heart! (This was a Watermelon man if I remember correctly)

In the morning on our way to breakfast, I was so hungry that I shouted: Donut! when I saw this lying on the ground. It wasn't...obviously.

My face after discovering what I thought to be flat water, was mineralized bubbly water, tasted like doorknob. Or what I think doorknob tastes like. Whippin' Red Siren had a better experience, obviously...

Second night: Cocktails at Tiki Heart (this was a white russian, of course)

Whippin'red siren, Lollichop and Ann C Hammer at Tiki's

Whippin' Red Siren moments before getting dressed for scrimmage

Furrrocious getting dressed for scrimmage

Wobbly picture (I was nervous) of Whippin' Red Siren, Furrocious and Lollichop just before scrimmage

Team talk

See Whippin' Red Siren go!

I like photographing butts I guess...

And to top it off five mini clips of jams Whippin'red siren was in. Study material for us. Entertainment for you?

And now....homework week 4! We are still being challenged!


Derby Love!