Most of you know that both Bonham and I take classes at Pride Martial Arts in Oklahoma City. I am a huge fan of their programs, both the adult and the youth. Bonham takes Kickboxing and a core class which rotates through various disciplines of self defense, martial arts and weapons. I take a bootcamp/TRX class as well as kickboxing and self defense. My current rank is yellow belt, and this week Bonham earned his green belt. As we both move through the program it seems increasing more important for me to document the impact and progress.

Bonham wasn’t a discipline problem. We did not seek out martial arts because we needed structure. We happened into it. He asked to try it. He’s not a shy kid one on one, but in a group he was somewhat quiet. His first few weeks he had a hard time yelling “a-ya” as he threw a punch. Or saying yes and no ma’am/sir.

I want to walk down memory lane some. To reflect on the impact Pride has made on him thus far, and continue to document it as his continues through the program. I also want to look at my journey some. Actively look at how martial arts has impacted our lives. Pride is compensating me a bit for these posts, however all opinions are my own. I have loved being part of the Pride community for over a year now and will continue long after this post series is complete.

Not daily, but sometimes they recite a creed at the beginning and end of the kids classes. I love it. I think it is a good place to start….and to end.

Beginning Creed:

I will develop myself in a positive manner, and avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or my physical health.
I will develop self discipline, in order to bring out the best in myself and others.
I will use common sense before self defense, and never be abusive or offensive.
This is a Black Belt School. We are dedicated. We are motivated. We’re on a quest to be our best. Winners never quit. Quitters never win. I choose to win.

Ending Creed:

I am a dedicated Martial Artist.
I will live by the rules of the black belt. Modesty. Courtesy. Integrity. Self Control. Perseverance. And Indominable Spirit.
(Coach): What kind of school is this?
(Students): A Black Belt School Ma’am (Sir)!
(Coach): What do we stand for?
(Students): Black Belt Excellence Ma’am (Sir)!

Getting his green belt/the class getting ready to bow to him. Sorry for the bad pics!

This is so much more than just an after school activity. On that mat they learn life lessons. They learn about themselves and about others. The past few weeks have been hard on Bonham. Up until a few weeks ago most sparring was kid/coach. Lately there has been more kid/kid sparring. Bonham loves sparring with the coaches, but hates doing it with other kids. He is not aggressive and he is not used to rough play. Being an only child, he doesn’t get that roughhousing at home that some kids have. Combine that with being shorter than most of the kids around his same belt rank, and the fact that he can be somewhat emotional (like me!) and sparring has been hard. I feel like he needs some mini successes to get into it. He needs to see that he can get in some good kicks and punches too. Right now he is mostly on the defensive. When he spars with a coach they make sure he gets in some hits, but with other kids that isn’t guaranteed. I know that he needs to work through it. He needs to face this challenge. I know that it is a mini life lesson. Push through the things that intimidate you. Stand up for yourself. Be strong. The mom in me wants to tell him he doesn’t have to spar. That I don’t really want him getting hit or hitting anyone else….but I know that is overly emotional. One thing we talk about in the adult classes is learning to take a hit. If you have never felt a hit and for some reason you get attacked and hit, it will shock you. You will be shut down. Laid out. If you have taken some hits before, you can stand up to it better. Same applies to Bonham. Do I want a bully to give him one hard shove and he falls to pieces?  Do I want an errant elbow in basketball to send him into shock? No. I want him to be a bit tough….not too tough…but a bit. And this is part of that. Emotionally and physically he needs to work through sparring. Not because he needs to be a prize fighter. Not because I want him to be aggressive. He has to work though it because it intimidates him. Because it challenges him. And because it is part of the program. He wants to be in Black Belt school. He wants to progress and learn. You can’t pick and chose. This is part of it. And so I help him with his head gear and his mouth guard and I say encouraging words and I try and look strong and convincing….

And then I realize that I too will have to cross this bridge. That sparring will soon be part of my adult class…..and then I hyperventilate.

When I started TRX it was just as an added part of my work out. Something new. A different form a strength training. Another way to try and slim the belly.

When I started Kickboxing it was to challenge myself. To work harder. To feel proud. It was less about the belly and more about finding strength – internal and external.

Doing Insanity was a bit of both.

Warrior Dash was along the lines of kickboxing.

What now? The belly is still there. I am tired of looking at it and trying to will it away. I am tired of working my ass off, only to find my ass still present. So I need to focus on the other motivators. On the strength gained verses the pounds lost. On the pride of accomplishment verses the inches.

I am not the weight I was when I was 27. But I am a lot stronger. I am not as slim as I was at 27. But I am doing things I would have been to scared to try back then.

So….Sept 28th….a 10k. I was a sprinter in high school which means I never ran over a couple of miles and usually had breaks in between. As an adult I have run a few 5ks, but never run as part of my work out. I tend to get shin splints easily  and also find running kind of boring. But maybe that is the challenge. Can I run. Can I let my mind go for an hour and just run. Will this get rid of my muffin top? Probably not. But will it work towards my strength, my inner mind strength and my outer body strength. Yes. And that’s what’s important…right?

Today I ran 5 miles. I walked for 1 min every 10. Not perfect….but a huge step over what I have done running up until this week. Go me.

Thanks to Susan and Michelle for the endless support and love. And thanks Maggie for this post (and Susan for sending it to me). I think Maggie and I need to start a kickball team.

I did it. I completed 63 days of Insanity. And I kept doing TRX and Kickboxing at the same time. So…did it work? Yes, and no.

My problem area is my tummy. And it is still there. I swear I have the world’s most stubborn muffin top. And my weight only went slightly down. It went down and then back up a bit. I think this is just due to the muscle mass I gained. Overall I feel great. I am stronger than I have ever been, my cardio endurance is higher, and my arms/legs/butt all show a significant increase in tone and definition. I can see muscles in my arms and legs that I have never seen before, and my thigh/butt area no longer has all the dots and bumps.

Would I recommend Insanity? Yes…if you can. The plyometrics are really hard on your knees. If you have any knee issues, you really should not attempt this. If you overall have solid knees and joints, then I recommend this for sure. I loved that it was 63 days. I work well with the count down structure of a program like this. I also like the fit test that you do every few weeks throughout it.It helps you to see your progress.

Where do I go from here? I am not sure. I think if I went back to 45 minutes on the elliptical I would not only be bored stiff, but would also lose some tone – but that said, I also want to give my knees and joint somewhat of a rest. I think I am going to pick 3-4 of the Insanity DVDs that I like the best and do them 2-3 times a week, 2 days I will keep doing TRX and kickboxing and the other 2 days I might run or do the elliptical and some free weights. The past 63 days I haven’t taken very many days off, and have doubled up Insanity with TRX/Kickboxing on some days…so this summer I am going to try for 1 day off a week.

This Saturday I am doing Warrior Dash with some friends. Hopefully these 63 days have prepared me for the obstacles that I will face….but really, does anything prepare you for belly crawling through mud under barbed wire!?!?

I have been working out consistently now for over a year. I started with Jillian Michaels (30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30), and then moved to working out on my own (mostly elliptical) and then at the end of this summer I started TRX. I have loved TRX and have seen a major improvement/change in my legs and butt. Much more tone and much less cellulite. A few months ago I added a core karate class and kickboxing class to the mix. So for the past few months it has been TRX/Karate 2 days a week and Elliptical 4 days a week. Throughout all of this I have also been tracking my calories on My Fitness Pal.

I feel in shape, and I see tone in my arms, back, legs, butt….but…my tummy is still bugging me. And my overall weight isn’t coming down. If my tummy disappeared, I wouldn’t care about the overall weight.

So…some changes and new goals for the next 60 days.

On March 23rd, after taking the week of Spring Break off, I started Insanity.

I will continue to do TRX and Karate. This might mean doubling up with Insanity those days (yikes!) But I am going to try my best. It’s only 2 months. I can deal.

I am trying to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology. Not 7 days a week, maybe 4 or 5 days a week.

I will still be using My Fitness Pal.

Oh…and I signed up for this.

So do tell….do you have any work out goals in anticipation of summer?