2014 - MOVING INTO 2015

Changes are coming in 2015.  Starting the new year isn't about making resolutions.  It is a time to reflect on the past year and think about the future.

In less than 3 weeks I will be 57 years old.  Each decade, each year is different.  It is so much easier being 57 than 27.  Those five decades have been the seasons of my life.  I thought Landslide was a song about aging.  I play the video on or near my birthday...always.   The line on replay in my mind...

        "Can I handle the seasons of my life?  I don't know."

It is possible to handle the seasons and accept aging when you know when it is time to make changes and know when it is time to challenge yourself.  Of course everyone's limitations and challenges are different. 

For some reason, I spent some serious time thinking about the past year.  I felt I had to analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly to move forward.  Time was spend thinking about changes I want to make and challenges I want to pursue.  Challenges come first...

So officially, well I haven't sent in my payment yet, I am going to train to become a certified kettle bell instructor.  StrongFirst will be doing a certification in Boston in August and I am accepting the challenge. 

Just so you know, the certification is a physically demanding three day event that includes a written exam and demonstrating that you can teach.  That teaching aspect is what I find to be the most daunting aspect of the certification.  I am an introvert and teaching will take me way out of my comfort zone.  The 100 snatches in 5 minutes is no piece of cake either but that is a story for another day.

The challenge isn't just about becoming certified.  It is about the road to certification.  Working at Iron Body Studios with a group of like minded women working toward the same goal is an important part of the journey.  Again, a situation way out of my comfort zone.  It is about becoming stronger.  It is about the mental challenge of not giving up...about finding your last bit of strength and pushing forward.  Part of the journey is about accepting defeat when it presents itself.  It is about overcoming defeat.  If at the end of the journey, I become certified by StrongFirst I will be a very happy 57 year old chica.  But I have a lot to learn...

Let the journey begin...I hope you will join me.

Please feel free to share you goals and challenges in the comment section!

Can I also say, part of what I hope to do is improve the blog.  I don't mean necessarily mean the content but the layout and presentation.  My computer skills are lacking and it is going to take some work to get up to speed.  Bear with me.


Side Note:
I have always thought that landslide was about getting older and thinking about the changes you might want to make as you get older. Then, when I was looking for a landslide video, I came across this.  Guess I had that one wrong. 

Addendum to Blog Posting on Why Do a Kettlebell Swing Challenge...

If anyone is interested in heading to Iron Body Studios and learning the correct way to swing, let me know and I will be happy to take their Body Basics Class with you.  It is offered twice a month on Saturday at 10:30 AM.

I promise you will not be disappointed.

WHY WOULD YOU DO A KETTLEBELL SWING CHALLENGE? WAIT...WHAT EXACTLY IS A KETTLEBELL SWING?

The picture above is my kettlebell collection...small but growing.

Seriously, why would anyone want to do a 4 week kettlebell challenge?  Why would you spend part of your day swinging that weird shaped weight?  Me?  I like to attempt the various challenges that fitness professionals post online.  Sometimes I succeed; sometimes I don't.  Kettlebells rock my world.  Only thing better are deadlifts with a bar but that is a story for another day.

I started the challenge for a variety of reasons.

First, I really like Artemis and her fitness style.  If Artemis was setting it up, I wanted to be involved.  Simple as that. 

Second, I wanted to see how much I could actually swing in a week.  I did 4996 swings in 4 weeks.  Previously, I would do 50-100 in a week.  That seems like such a puny number right now.  As the weeks went on I realize the challenge wasn't just about how many swings you did.  For me it became, not only about the number of swings, but about lifting heavier and the cardio work out. At the end of each session, damn I was sweaty...every single time.  If I was swinging a heavy enough weight, my glutes and hamstrings were on fire.  My lats and core felt like they also got a work out. 

Third, I needed the mental challenge.  I knew if I did the work outs as designed, it would be a mental challenge especially if I did my usual work out the same day.  There were times I had to mentally push myself through this challenge.  Don't get me wrong, if for some reason my body didn't feel up to the challenge from a safety standpoint, I either stopped or didn't attempt the work out that day.  The challenge helped perfect the ability to tell the difference between mental anguish and physical pain.  As you get older it is very important to know the difference.

Fourth, I knew those weeks before the holidays were going to be difficult from a time management point of view.  The challenge provided an intense but relatively quick work out that left me feeling physically satisfied. 

Fifth, I actually worked out in these babies.  Granted, it was in the comfort of my own home but still. 

If you want to learn the kettlebell swing in the privacy of your own home or if you just want to know what a kettlebell swing is here is an excellent tutorial by Artemis and Eric....

HOLIDAY SWING CHALLENGE - Week 4

My week 4 total was 1062 swings. 

Week 1 = 1330. Week 2 = 1360 Week 3 = 1244 Week 4 = 1062 for at total of 4996.  Damn...I am only 4 swings short of 5,000.  If only I had known.

W4D1 & D2

It seems I am slowing down at the end of this challenge.
I did W4D1 on Wednesday and completed 250 swings. I also did my regularly scheduled work out.
Christmas was a day off...back at it today.
...

I did my regularly scheduled workout which included 4 x 10 at 400 pounds and then W4D2 but not all of day two. I did 2H swings with 25 KG. I did 10 x 10 for 100 swings.
I did one round of 6 x 6 with 18 KG pounds and then I felt like toast. So I stopped.
One thing I did today was 18 KG Turkish get up which is a PR for me. It was really difficult. Working my way up.

W4D3 = 270 swings

I did my regularly scheduled work out this morning. I saved the swings for tonight. Before the swings I did overhead carries because I did not get them in this morning.
Thanks for doing this challenge Artemis. Loving it!

W4D4 & D5

I finished Week 4 on Sunday and Monday...couple days late but I did it.
W4D4 - 280 swings
W4D5 - 250 swings.

I also did my regular work out on both days.

I cannot believe how many swings I did in four weeks.  Whenever I wanted to quit, I thought about how important it was to me to complete this challenge.  I wanted to conquer the mental desire to quit. 

Over and out....I did it. 

 

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS AND MEANINGS

My step-mother, Ann, has, for as long as I can remember, created Christmas ornaments for my sister and me and other children.  They are always creative and reflect our interests or milestones in our lives.  Usually, one or two are tear worthy.  It has become a special and wonderful family tradition. 

Check out my 2014 ornament:

The ornament is a reflection of this blog...its name and its mindset but it is much more than that.  If you look closely at the bike you can see the number 303.  That number is still on my bike.  I cannot bring myself to take it off.  It probably looks silly but...

That number has very special meaning.  It was my number for my last triathlon and the tri was in Asbury Park.  It marked the end of my tri career in a place that holds a very special place in my heart.  So...every time I look at this ornament, I will remember that very special moment in my life.

My beautiful bike...Gracie!  She has been with me through it all

SheRox Tri Transition in the early morning

Asbury Park Beach and Sunrise

The Finish Line

You never know though...for my 60th birthday I may treat myself to a last tri at Hever Castle in England.  A girl needs to have goals ya know. 

Holiday Swing Challenge - Week 3

Want to check out my Christmas present from my nephew....one of the best presents ever! I now have two matching 35 pound KG and I have a plan.  Stay tune for more details.

Here are the results of week three...

W3D1

I did it! I did it! I did it!. I keep thinking I don't have it in me to get it done and then I do. I get it done and still feel really good.
5 rounds at 16KG for 250 swings

W3D3, 4, and 5

I haven't posted for awhile but I have been swinging...here are the results

W3D3: 270 swings.

W3D4: Not a good day. I've always had callouses but today they were particular painful. I also forget the order of Day 4. Anyway, I didn't complete the entire work out but I got some of it done. Did part of part two for 120 swings. You do what you can do.

W3D5: Pretty much back to normal for 250 swings.
I also have workouts that I normally do during the week. Those went well!

As you can see, Day 2 is missing.  I am reposting what I am post to the Iron Body Studios Group on FB.  Apparently, I did not post Day 2.  I did Day 2 but did not record it. 

Here are my 3 week totals

Week 1 = 1330. Week 2 = 1360 Week 3 = 1244 for at total of 3934.

Holiday Swing Challenge - Week Two

The Holiday Swing challenge continues...because of work commitments it has been a tough week for me but I did get it done, just not the way I wanted to get it done.  In some cases, I was able to increase the weight I used. 

Finished week 2 with a total of 1360 swings.

Week 1 total was 1330.  My two week total is 2690 swings.  This number won't win me any prizes.  However, I do feel a sense of personal satisfaction!

Started W2D1.

 What I realized is that yesterday I did day 1 again and not day 5. So tonight, because I wanted some variety, I did Day 5.

I did two sets of H2H with 16 KG.

I then did three sets of H2H with 16 KG for 5, 10 and 15. Went down to 12 KG for 20
...

Total of 250 swings.

W2D2:

Monday I did my regularly scheduled work out and took a break from swings.  Tuesday I did nothing but walk.  I needed a break.

This morning I did 290 swings.
2H swings
11 sets at 20 KG
1H swings
3 sets of 20 kg
12 sets of 16 KG

W2D3...

Very long day but I just got them done. 270 swings. Only disappointment is that I did them with 12KG, I felt like I couldn't go any higher tonight., It is all good.

W2D4

I started the morning with good intentions.  I did the first half in the morning.
10 x 12 with 16 KG.  Felt good but decided to do the second half later in the day.  Well, that didn't work out the way I planned. 

So I made the decision to finish the second half  the following day.  40 pounds (at the Y).  Did 15 rounds before my regularly scheduled work out.  It was a great work out day. 

Total of 300 swings

W2D5

Just finished up after doing a modification of my regularly scheduled workout.

5 rounds for a total of 250 swings

H2H Swings with a 16KG.  I did two rounds of 5 swings and 10 swings with 20 KG. 

They were tough but we are working on getting stronger and increasing weight so it is a start

The plan for next week is to wear these while I swing...