Words - Not Now

Just put some on the page.  Break the seal.  Let em flow.

It's strange how much I've changed over the past month.  I was so full of words they practically oozed out of my ears.  I couldn't stop the words from filling my head constantly.

Now-

I have fewer words filling my head, cluttering my existence.  Let me tell you - it's bringing a lot more peace to my life. 

How-

Do I shut down the incessant stream of words running, running, running through my brain?  It's pretty simple, actually.  I do two things:
1) Stop    2) Pay attention

1) Stop - This means I stop my unconscious reactions.  I've conducted some research into what responses are negative to me.  I also have had to uncover what triggers these responses.  Now that I know, when I find myself close to a negative response, I can stop.  I shut down my normal reaction. 

How?  By focusing on what I'm sensing at the moment.

2) Pay attention - This means that after I stop, I immediately focus on my physical being.  I pay attention to all of the automatic systems in my body - breathing, blood flow, movements, etc.  I also key into my emotions.  We experience our emotions through physical sensations.

Emotions are what they are.  I'm working on not judging myself for the emotions I am experiencing.  Instead I just pay attention to them.  It's like I'm just taking note of them.  When I pay attention to the physical experience of the emotion, it immediately shuts off the flow of words.  The words normally carry judgments.

Once I've stopped and paid attention I am then ready to act.  I have broken the ineffective cycle of negative thought and negative response.

Why -

Would I feel the need to shut off my thoughts?  Because those thoughts are destructive.  They keep me trapped in a vicious cycle of negative thoughts, negative reactions.  I'm like Pavlov's dog, salivating at every bell I've conditioned myself to respond to.  It's exhausting.

Actually, not so much any more.  I'm still a work in progress,

but,
every day
I'm
BETTER

at focusing on the NOW.  That is the only time frame I can impact.  I can't change the past, and I can't travel to the future.  Doing what is better for me at this moment will undoubtedly make my future better. 

I can only get to the future  (and reach my goals) one NOW at a time.

Now - There Is Nothing Else

I attended a course on biopsychology taught by The Movement's Frankie Faires this past weekend.  It consisted of two days filled with with listening, absorbing, reflecting, testing, connecting, disconnecting, growing, learning, unlearning, and on and on.

Many lessons swirl around my head at different times, but the one aspect that is the recipient of my attention this week is the power of NOW.

NOW is the only entity we truly have.  Everything else is only a memory of what happened or anticipation of what's to come.  I cannot do anything about either of those.  The events of my past only live on in my memories and my associations to these memories. 

The future is uncertain, and focusing on it, worrying about it, only robs me of the one moment I am certain of - NOW.

What I've already found in a few short days since the biopsych course is that paying attention to the current moment and asking "What can I do now?" changes all my decisions, my actions, and my thoughts. 

How? 

By getting me to slow down my reaction times.  That one change changes the response, the outcome. 

How many times have you jumped to a conclusion about a person or their motives in a split second?  Every day?  Me too.  If you stop yourself from thinking about the past with that person and instead focus on the right now, your usual reaction will change.

Instead of remembering how that person has behaved in the past or how you feel about that person, focus on the moment you are in.  Pretend you've lost all memories of that person.  How does that change your reaction to him/her?

Memories can only hurt us now if we don't change our associations with them.

So, this is just a nugget of what I'm working on - focusing on right now, this moment.  LMK if you have thoughts or questions.

------------------------------------

After a full day of teaching and meetings today, I went to the gym.  I could have easily gone home.  Before starting my car in the parking lot, I asked myself, "Can I do this now?"  The answer - Yes.  I drove to the gym, changed clothes, and went into the training room.

I started testing movements.  Which movements could I do now?  DL, Swings, Burpees, Split Squats.  Cool.  The same drills I did last week. 

I did the same 350 reps workout as below.  Today, I moved the same weight, the same number of reps in 20 minutes, 10 seconds.  That's over 2 minutes faster than last time. 

Seeing a correlation?  I am.

Field of Dreams

"If you build it, they will come."

Actually -

If you move it, PRs will come. 

I'm blown away by how quickly I've made progress once I got my body moving.

I've added 20 lbs. to my deadlift in the past week.  I've been moving more weight and spending more time under load. 

I'm out there, Jerry, and I'm lovin' it!

Seeing the PRs on paper is so rewarding.  I'm glad I keep a log.  If you don't, you need to.  How else can you track your progress?  If you don't see progress, how can you stay motivated?

Here's what I did today.

350 Reps Workout
I did 7 movements, 50 reps of each, and timed how long it took me.  The next time I do this workout, I can see if I complete the 350 reps in less time.  When I do, I'll feel the satisfaction of being better.

Split Squat - Right - 24 kg
Split Squat - Left - 24 kg
Burpees with Jump Up
Sumo DL - 150 lbs.
Ab Chopper
Swing - Right - 24 kg
Swing - Left - 24 kg

Time to complete - 22 min. 20 seconds

I live in Iowa, a state covered in fields.  The most beautiful field, however, is the one I am cultivating, planting, and harvesting of my own.  It's called "Amy."

Twenty and Done

I absolutely love how biofeedback training allows me to focus in my training on exactly what my body needs.  Because of this, I don't waste time doing unnecessary drills. 
Today, I worked for a total of 20 minutes.  It took me about 5 minutes to test movements and determine which ones I would do today.  I also took about 5 minutes between circuits to get set up. 

Factor in the 5 minutes to change into my workout clothes and that's a whopping 35 minutes to train today.  Not much, is it? 

That efficiency is why I am able to train.  It would not be sustainable for me to workout an hour a day 5-6 days a week.  I'm interested in a lifestyle I can manage throughout my life.  Twenty and Done is definitely manageable!

Circuit #1 - 10 minutes
1. One-Arm Press - split stance, torso twist, 12 kg
Left - 16 reps, Right - 19 reps
2. Supergirl Squats
Left - 40 reps, Right - 40 reps

Circuit #2 - 10 minutes
1. Inverted Rows - TRX
50 reps
2. Mountain Climbers
120 reps each leg
3. One-Arm Clean - 20 kg
Left - 40 reps, Right - 40 reps

A Couple More

Here's a couple more training logs from this week.  Two good sessions so far!

Session #1

Circuit 1 - 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, 5 rounds
1. Rows - 12 kg
75 Left, 75 Right
2. Suitcase Squats - 20 kg
75 Left, 75 Right

Circuit 2 - 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, 4 rounds
1. Clean - 20 kg
52 Left, 52 Right
2. Windmills - 12 kg
32 Left, 32 Right

Circuit 3 - 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, 4 rounds
1. Supergirl Squats
32 Left, 32 Right
2. Pushups
48 reps

Session #2

Circuit 1 - 11 min. 30 secs
1. Lunges - 48 kg
50 Left, 50 Right
2. Pushups
104 reps

Circuit 2 - 6 min. 30 secs
1. Sumo DL - 130 lbs.
52 reps
2. Burpees
48 reps

Catch Up

Whew! It's been a busy week!  I've been training, but I haven't been blogging.  Sorry for the delay.

On Sunday, I met the Bootcamp Boys for an hour of fun.  We did lots of swings, clean & press, squats, sumo DL, burpees, body weight drills, and animal moves.  I got my sweat on, for sure!!

On Tuesday, I put in a quick, intense session (25 minutes of work).

Walking Overhead Lunges - both hands overhead w/ 10 lbs.
Pushups
Swings - 130 lbs.
Side Burpee to Knee Tuck
Sumo Squat w/ Torso Twist
Split Lunge w/ Kick

Tonight I got a massage.  Ahhhhhhhhh

I'm thinking a bath and bed are on the agenda for my immediate future.

Kearney On

I snuck in a quick training session this afternoon.  Boy, did I need that!  Training helps me move my brain off an issue so I can think more clearly.  Move my body, move my brain.  Move better, think better. 

With lots piled up on my plate these days, it's easy to get tunnel vision.  As my fortune cookie read yesterday "It's impossible to see all the stars from the bottom of a well."  Sometimes it seems there is only one solution, or one course of action, or one perspective when we are stuck down in our own wells. 

If we move our bodies and climb out of the well, we can see all the options out there for us.  It is liberating.

In order to inspire me to move, I put on a little Mat Kearney - songs from Young Love like "Hey, Mama" and "Ships in the Night."  It's impossible NOT to move when I've got those in my ear! 

Two Drill Circuit - 10 minutes
1. Sumo DL - 130 lbs.
90 reps = 11,700 lbs.
2. Swings - 130 lbs.
72 reps = 9360 lbs.

That's a total of 21,060 lbs. in 10 minutes.

Inverted Rows - TRX - 7 min.
66 reps
Density PR

Now I'm better prepared for the rest of my evening.  Kearney on!

Training Log - October 3

Snatch - 12 kg - 7 min.
Left - 65
Right - 64
3354 lbs. = 480 lbs. / min
Density and Volume PR

Squat to One Arm Press - 12 kg - 3 min. 30 secs
Left - 18
Right - 18
936 lbs. = 267 lbs./ min.

Goblet Squat - 12 kg - 4 min.
50 reps
1300 lbs. = 325 lbs./min.

Animal Circuit
Bear Crawls - 60 yards
Bunny Hops - 60 yards
Crabs - 60 yards
Star Burpees - 20 reps

How Amy Got Her Groove Back

I'm sitting here in front of a blank screen, wondering what to write.  I've been training, but it seems so boring to just post my training logs.  I'm pleased with my training - I'm hitting PRs every day in the gym. 

I'm moving more and more regularly.  I've increased my swing density, intensity, and volume.  I'm free of pain.  I'm finding my old groove again.

Or am I finding a new groove?  It's been quite obvious that I'm at a different point in my life.  My goals and motivations have changed.  What seemed so important a year or two ago seems insignificant now.  I have a clearer vision of who I am and what's important to me.

I know what energizes me and what drains me.  I do more of what moves me toward better and less of what tries to move me away from better.  I've developed a keener awareness of the activities and people that "test" well.

Sometimes I fall into old habits of saying yes to the draining activities and people, but I detect it more quickly so I can correct my course of action.  (Because this is a public blog, I will refrain from giving specific examples, even though the writing professor in me is screaming "You MUST provide specific examples so your audience can grasp what you're saying!!")

I used to agonize over every decision I made and stress when I chose unwisely.  Now I don't think so much.  I run tests - Does that course of action result in positive or negative feelings?  Positive? Do more like that.  Negative?  Stop doing that.  No obsessing.  Just data to inform future decisions.

What do they say?  "Every day is a choice."  I agree, but with a small addition:

Every day is series of choices.

Even more, every day is an opportunity for me to learn more about myself; my small corner of the world; and my family, friends, and colleagues.  Every day I get the opportunity to do better.

Now that's a groove I can get used to!

Hands All Over Workout

Maroon 5 provided the music for today's training, specifically songs from their album Hands All Over.  This album is perfect for training. 

Below each movement, I've posted the songs I listened to for that part of my training.

Pushups - 3 minutes
47 reps
"Give a Little More"

Swings - 120 lbs. - 10 minutes
140 reps = 16,800 lbs.
"Stutter"
"Never Gonna Leave this Bed"
"I Can't Lie"

Windmills - 12 kg - 7 minutes
40 reps Left, 40 reps Right = 2080 lbs.
"How"
"Just a Feeling"

I set a PR in swings.  I did 20 more reps in the same time frame.  LOVE biofeedback!

Back Log

Yikes!  I've gotten behind on my postings.  I've been training; I just haven't had an opportunity to post it. 

Here is the info from my last training session:

Sumo Deadlift - 106 lbs. (48 kg)
80 reps = 8480 lbs.
7 minutes 30 seconds - 1211 lbs./minute

Two Hand Swings - 120 lbs.
120 reps = 14,400 lbs.
10 minutes - 1440 lbs./min.

Body Weight 500
1. Split Switch with Kick
2. Sumo Squat w/ Jump
3. Plank Jump Backs
4. Hindu Pushups
5. Sumo Squat with a Twist
6. Reverse Lunge to Side Lunge
21 minutes 30 seconds to get to 500 reps

Sweatin to the Oldies

Let's give it up for Richard Simmons.  He was the inspiration for this post. 
I went back to basics today with my training and it felt great.

What are the basics? 

• Deadlifts
• High Pulls
• Pushups
• Snatches

I just wanted to get my heart pumping and sweat.  It felt great!

Circuit of 10s - 17 minutes
1. Sumo DL - 106 lbs. - 80 reps
2. High Pulls - 26 lbs. - 80 reps each arm
3. TRX Pushups - 80 reps

I stopped after 17 minutes because my ROM was not returning.  On to the next drill.

Snatches - 10 minutes
70 reps Left
70 reps Right

This was exactly what I needed today.  A gold, old-fashioned sweat.  I feel like myself again.

My Big Fat Blue Ankle

This post has been sitting in my list of posts for a couple days.  I suppose I should finish it and publish it, huh?

So, yes, this post is about my swollen black and blue ankle.  (See pictures below.)



Actually, since I took that second picture, my ankle has become darker, but I'm too lazy to take another picture.  And really, who wants to look at bruised feet?  Which begs the question of why I'm even posting them.  Hmmmmmmm

Anyway, on with the story.

On Sunday I was with my family and some friends on our boat taking our kids water skiing.  The kids are 8 & 10, so they have training skis.  That means someone in the boat hangs onto the rope that is attached to the skis.  That way if the kid falls, the adult holding the rope can let go to keep the poor kid from being drug around the lake.

After one kid was finished, I was fishing the rope out of the water when the boat starting rocking from waves.  That isn't really unusual, but my feet were wet, and they slipped out from under me. 

I can't even say what I smashed, smacked, grazed, or bumped.  All I know is I did NOT fall off the back of the boat.  I ended up on my hind end on the swim platform, dazed and confused. 

I looked at my left leg.  A goose egg was already bubbling up from my shin.  My friend Angie quickly got me some ice to get the swelling down.  That worked wonders.  As you can see from the top photo, I don't have even the slightest bump on my left shin.  I don't really even have a bruise.

On Tuesday, I noticed that my ankle felt a bit stiff.  I looked down and was shocked to see my enormous cankle.  On Wednesday, I noticed the bruise.  Now it's Friday and the bruise is worse. The cankle is smaller, but not back to normal.

I did some training on Wednesday.  As you might guess, I didn't do much with my legs.  I did lots of rows, presses, head stands, and rolls.  It was quite therapeutic. 

On September 1, I am offering two free kettlebell class at the new Lifelong Learning and Recreation Center on the campus of Northwest Iowa Community College.  The classes are at 5 and 5:30 p.m.  If you live close, come over and check it out.  I'd love to see you!

Untitled

This is just a boring post.  So boring, in fact, that it doesn't even get a title. 

My training was short today, but it felt great.  I moved some weight around and avoided the elements of effort (straining, slowing down, losing form/posture, holding breath). 

Circuit 1 - 11 minutes
1. Sumo DL - 106 lbs. - 50 reps total = 5300 lbs.
2. Two-Hand KB Swings - 79 lbs. - 50 reps total = 3950 lbs.
3. TRX Pushups - 75 lbs. (?) - 50 reps total = 3750 lbs.

That's 13,000 lbs. in 11 minutes.  Not bad.

Circuit 2 - 6 minutes 30 seconds
1. Rotating One Leg Pushups - 18 reps
2. Sumo Squat Pulses to Jump Up - 21 reps
3. Reverse Lunge to High Kick - 24 reps / leg

I still love the body weight drills.  They work my balance while increasing strength and body awareness.  I need to get back to rolling as well.  Now that I'm 40 I have to use it or lose it!  :)

Really? Yes. Really.

Perfoming movements that my body tells me it wants to do can fix issues such as pain, limited ROM, and weakness.  I experienced it again yesterday.  It was a much needed reminder to me about the power of movement.
My sciatic nerve in my left hip has been aggravated for the past month or so.  It was to the point that it was waking me at night.  If you follow my blog, you've undoubtedly noticed the lack of training I've been engaging in this summer.  Well, it is no coincidence that my hip starting acting up when I quit moving.  Duh!

Yesterday I had had enough.  While walking through my living room, I stopped and tested my ROM using the toe touch test.  Then I did a few "air swings" to test the movement.  My ROM increased 8 inches.  I knew immediately what I had to do.  Move my body! 

Off to the gym where my heavy kettlebells and plateau buster are located.  I tested more movements and lo and behold, swings, sumo squats, and push ups tested off the charts.  So away I went.

2 Hand Swings - 36 kg (80 lbs.) - 10 min.
200 swings total = 16,000 lbs.

Body Weight Circuit - 11 min. 5 seconds - 4 Rounds
1. Burpee Jump Backs (burpee w/out the stand) - 40 reps total
2. Sumo Squat Pulse to Jump Up - 40 reps total
3. Lizard Pushup - 40 reps total
4. Flying One-Leg Squats - 20 each leg total

My hip is loving me today.  I slept like a baby, and I feel amazing. 

Movement is powerful.  Really? Yes. Really.

Find the Fun

This is my motto.  I try to find the fun in the every day, the routine, the challenges, the frustrations, you name it.  I'm even learning to find the fun in my training hiatus. 


If you haven't noticed, I haven't been training much.  I've pretty much been in full-on training mode for five years or better.  I used to get extremely anxious if I went even a week without exercise.  Well, aside from some sporadic running and body weight circuits, I have gone the better part of two months without training.

I'm running an experiment.  Actually, I'm running a couple of experiments.  Let me elaborate.

Experiment #1 - Manage Anxiety  

I'm seeing how well I've learned to manage my anxiety related to training.  I used to believe that I would instantly gain back the 30 pounds I've lost if I stopped training for awhile.  The only way to quench that fear was to get back to exercising ASAP.

Through the Gym Movement protocols, I've learned that doing what my body wants me to do will eliminate anxiety.  My body is really enjoying the break from training.  Nothing tests well.  In fact, when I think about swinging a kettlebell or going for a run, I get anxious.  So, I don't do what makes my body react negatively.

I've applied this to every aspect of my life.  I've taken a long break from work as well.  I've just been focusing on my family, home, and relationships.  I get lots of sleep and lots of home grown fruits and veggies. And, I've spent many hours with great friends relaxing and laughing.

As a result, I find myself looking forward to a new semester at my college.  I'm recharged.  I'm ready to get back after my professional endeavors.  In addition, I'm looking forward to new physical endeavors.  I'm finding a lot of fun and joy in this anticipation.

Here's the lesson from my experiment:  I know without a doubt that I will be better - no, I am better - after this summer training break.  It has refueled my fires - both physical and mental.  I've learned that my well-being is as much mental as it is physical.

Experiment #2 - Manage My Weight  

Along with my fear of gaining weight from lack of exercise, I have had a fear of gaining weight from eating certain foods.  For the past year, I've been eating what I want without guilt.

How have I done this?  Well, I use intermittent fasting to boost my fat burning.  Mike T Nelson introduced me to Brad Pilon and his theories regarding fasting.  Since then, I have been using the "Eat, Stop, Eat" protocol.

Every time I fast, I learn a little more about my relationship with food.  I also learn that I can manage my weight without starving or limiting my food choices.  I eat bread, cereal, tortilla chips, crackers, and all other sort of carbohydrate.

I used to be deathly afraid of carbs.  I felt horribly guilty and anxious every time I ate carbs.  How ridiculous.  Calories in.  Calories out.

I test my food (not faithfully, however) and eat what tests well.  Simple.  No guilt.  No anxiety.  Just pure enjoyment every time I eat.

Here's the lesson learned from this experiment:  Food doesn't have to control me.  My associations with food are more harmful than the foods themselves.  Eliminate the negative associations; test food and eat accordingly; fast once a week; maintain/lose weight.

A wise man once told me - Stop obsessing over your food.  Fast once a week and enjoy eating.  When he told me that, I thought "Yeah, right.  Me?  That will never happen."  Look at me now.

(Thanks Mike!) 

So, there you have it.  My journey to find the fun this summer break.  I feel pretty positive about my results.  I've learned some important elements I can take with me.  Have you learned anything?  Drop me a line with your thoughts.  I love hearing from you!

The Fourth Decade

Today I enter my fourth decade - 40 years old.  It's making me quite reflective of the previous decade. 

Ten years ago, on my 30th birthday, I was pregnant with my second child.  I was so excited to be a mommy for the second time.  My son was three at the time.  My life was full with family, church, and work.  Soon after the birth of my daughter, I began experiencing severe anxiety.  My life and my body felt out of my control.  I sought treatment, thank goodness, and began a journey toward finding who I am and honoring that person. 

By my mid-thirties, I learned that I needed to carve out a piece of my life for me.  Like many women, I gave to everyone and everything except myself.  I was thirty pounds overweight and I looked like a frumpy mommy.

Exhibit A - A photo of me taken in 2004. --------->

This photo opened my eyes.  I started exercising after quite a hiatus.  I started weight training and walking.  I had been an avid weight lifter in college, and I loved it.  I also got involved with the Advocare company.  Advocare is a company that manufactures supplements.  Their products are top-notch and helped me feel better.

Through a woman involved in Advocare - Jody Nelson - I was introduced to kettlebell training.  That was early 2006.   I fell in love with kettlebell training.  It met my need to lift weight while simultaneously get cardio work in.  Being as busy as I was, I appreciated the substantially shorter workouts.  Before kettlebells, I would lift weights for 45 - 60 minutes and then get on a treadmill or elliptical machine for another 30 minutes.

I lost 10 pounds after a few months of my new training and decided I needed to kick up my training.  I knew I needed some accountability and some help with my diet.  Enter Brad Nelson.  He lived in St. Paul, MN.  I live in Iowa.  We started a distance training program where he would email me my training and I would send him my workout and food logs.  I met with him every four months or so to check in, get measurements, etc.

Working with Brad changed my life.  I found success; I found my strength; I found my voice; I found my passions.  I finally believed in my own power.  I became an RKC in 2008 and continued training with Brad until early 2010.

Exhibit B - a photo of me from 2009.

In February 2010, I attended Grip n Rip 2, a workshop put on by Brad Nelson and Adam Glass.  There I was introduced to Gym Movement.  I learned that the best person to train me, was me.  I learned how I could use data from my body to develop a customized training program suited just for me.  Revolutionary.

I cut the cord to Brad and ventured out on my own.  I attended the first ever Gym Movement certification taught by Adam and Frankie Faires.  Talk about challenging, fun, stimulating education. 

I love following Gym Movement protocols.  I've become stronger and more confident than ever.  Every day I learn more about myself.  The biggest change has been in my anxiety levels.  I've never been so calm in my life.  I don't worry about "stuff" any more.  I never thought that could happen.


What Gym Movement taught me was to make decisions based on data, not on feelings.  Also, because I don't rely on someone else to tell me what I'm doing right or wrong, I don't need approval from others in other aspects of my life.  Everything is connected.  I learn from every choice.

Exhibit C - me today.  I am comfortable, calm, and confident.  I know who I am.  I exercise a whole lot less than I ever used to, yet I'm stronger than I ever.  I have more time for the important people and events in my life. 

Overall, my third decade saw me change dramatically.  It turns out that my thirties were the spring board for my forties.  I can take the lessons of my thirties and apply them to make my forties even better.  What a gift!

New PR in the "Body Weight 500"

I'm amazed at myself.  I did the Body Weight 500 workout today and shaved 4 min. 30 seconds off my previous time.  I'm pretty pleased with that performance.  I think the difference was I didn't rest between rounds.  I was able to just keep going continuously.

1. Split Lunge w/ Kick - 140 reps total

2. Plank Jump Backs - 95 reps total
3. Sumo Squat Pulses to Jump Up - 45 reps total
4. Hindu Pushups - 50 reps total
5. Reverse Lunge to Side Lunge - 80 reps total
6. Sumo Squat w/ Twist - 90 reps total

Total Time to 500 reps - 19 minutes 

For a comparison, see my June 8th post below.   

To top off my day, I had a great round of golf - my best all season.  The weather was perfect today for golf.  Finally!

Adaptation and Training Log

I've been doing some training the past week.  I just haven't had a chance to post.  No biggie.  My training has been a bit boring - lots of running, walking, and body weight drills; no exciting 200 lb. swings or 300 lb. deadlifts. 

I'm really enjoying the change of pace in my training.  For so long I've incorporated weights of all types in my training.  Taking a break is good for me.  That means it's good for my head, body, and my soul.

With my summer schedule, I'm just not able to get to the gym where all my kettlebells and other equipment are stored.  I need to be able to workout at a moment's notice.  The running, walking, and body weight drills have given me that flexibility. 

Probably the best part of this change in training is my ability to elegantly adapt.  Adaptation happens, whether we want it or not.  I used to stress out when adaptation happened.  Now I embrace it and learn from it.  There was a time I would have panicked if I couldn't get to my kettlebells three times a week.  I was afraid I would lose strength and gain weight if I didn't do a certain type of workout.

I now know those thoughts are not reality.  I get to choose how I respond.  I choose to respond elegantly and accept the adaptation for what it is.  Then I choose a way to make the most out of the opportunity.

That behavior is good for me.  It makes me better in all aspects of my life.

Training Log
In case you're wondering, I ran in Vibram Five Fingers for 20 minutes followed by 15 minutes of walking on 6-15. (See my post below.)  I walked in VFF for 45 minutes on 6-17.  And I ran in VFF for 20 minutes on 6-19.

Today I did the following body weight circuit:

1. Jumping Jack to Jump Up - 105 reps total
2. Sumo Squat w/ Torso Twist - 140 reps total
3. Split Jump w/ High Kick - 140 reps total
4. Mountain Climber Jumps - 70 reps total

Time - 19 minutes, 15 secs
455 Total Reps - 7 rounds

The mountain climber jumps were new for me.  Basically, you get in the mountain climber position and then jump up during each rep instead of "running" your knees.  I guess it's like doing a split jump with your hands on the floor.  They are really tough to do.

There you have it.  My training.  Not exciting, but it's effective.

It's All in the Wrist

That isn't a good thing for me.  Remember several weeks ago I wrote about injuring my wrist while opening a bottle of Cheer detergent?  Well, I re-injured my wrist this week.  Guess how. 

Wait for it. 

Playing golf. 

Jiminy Christmas, woman.  How can I get hurt golfing?  I think it's an overuse injury.  I golfed 18 holes Friday, 9 on Saturday, and 18 on Monday.  I don't golf that frequently.  Ever.  Monday's experience took me to a brand new course with thick, thick roughs.  Sometimes I couldn't even hang on to my club when hitting through it. 

By the 14th hole, my elbow and wrist were aching.  Maybe if I hit the ball onto the fareway more often instead of into the rough, I wouldn't be in pain.  Lesson learned.  Just knock the freaking ball into the fareway.  Don't try to hit out of that stuff on that course. 

In spite of my aching wrist, I did work out.  I did a 20 minute run in my Vibrams followed by 15 minutes of brisk walking this morning.  It was so beautiful outside.  That started my day out on a great vibe.  In fact, I may do it again tomorrow if the weather permits.