Staying the Course

Well - I'm officially into my first two weeks of 2010. I've really made progress towards improving the quality of my life and overall health and wellness, both interally and externally. For the last two weeks, I have made a concerted effort to reflect upon my core values every morning as the foundation of my day. My core values authentically are who I am and what my thoughts and actios should reflect. What I treasure: my relationship with God/Jesus, my family (they ROCK!), and leading others. I've stopped obsessing about measuring food out each day, what the scale number is each day and how others perceive me. The result is that I've truly been so much more joyful and peaceful. My perspective has changed and I am reaping the benefits.Wanna hear something really amazing? My daughter's teacher just told me that Isabella has been so much happier over the last two weeks and for the first time in pre-school, Isabella has brought home two consecutive weekly reports of perfect behavior. I get it now - Isabella's view of her world is a direct reflection of how she sees me, not how she hears me. Epiphany!!!

With regard to my TKD training, things are really on pace. I've been doing 3 classes per week, along with an hour long private lesson. My new attitude has also really helped my TKD progress, as well. While I excel against a peer comparison, I am not where I want to be against my personal expectations and goals. I am wondering if I should take an additional 6 months to prepare for my black belt test and test in December. More than being prepared for the physical aspects of the test (3 hours of grueling anaerobic and aerobic testing activities without water in the 100+ degree Texas heat followed by a 1 mile run), I want to feel deserving of being a black belt and confident in my TKD skills. I just don't see that I can reasonably accomplish this within the next 6 months. My instructor feels differently, and while I don't want to challenge his authority, I am pressing him to consider letting me continue this level of training and test in December. We'll see how this goes with time.

My body hasn't felt this sore in awhile. My quads, hamstrings, calves, biceps, and core are definitely feeling the results of my new training - they are awake! Starting Monday, I'll add an additional mini-morning workout to supplement my TKD training. My morning regimen will focus on weight work with cardio on alternating days. There's a terrific martial arts conditioning program called Warrior X-Fit that really fits the bill for these morning workouts. I'm going to have to really become efficient and disciplined in my daily schedule, because adding my morning workout means I'll have to wake up at 4:45 every day!

My form this testing cyle is In Wha II. To see the form, I posted a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_kImUd-YF0&NR=1

Well - I gotta make some breakfast. I'm going to made some yummy high-protein pancakes! Then, on to my Warrior X-Fit training workout.

Kihap!

Dedie

OUCH!!!!

Today's class was an ass-kicker! I worked out so hard this week in my classes, that my quadriceps felt like they were shredded. EVERYTHING hurt - going downstairs, sitting, standing - everything! So, today when class started and I realized that it was going to be a class packed with nothing but jump kicks and plyometric work, I almost died. I gave it my all, though, and know that a workout like that will just help to rid the lactic acid moving through my quads.

Tonight I'm mapping out my strategy. Will post it later.

Kihap!

Big Stuff

I'm jumping with excitement!!!2010 is the year of big stuff for me!!!!

Here's why - chronologicially and, naturally, in a verbose fashion:

January -
1.) Got a premier position with my company. It already rocks! It'll be a HUGE challenge, though, as the bar of expectations of my performace has just been raised SUPER high. I have no choice but to deliver. In positions like this, if you don't "kill it", you're demoted eternally and no one EVER forgets. Lotsa pressure there. On the flipside, there are great rewards for success at this level and I've worked my entire life on education and climbing that ladder to get here. My plan is just to keep climbing higher!!!

2.) I looked in the mirror, took inventory and didn't like what I saw. Remember in previous posts when I lost weight and was kicking ass and taking names? Well, I fell off of the wagon. Those changes were not lasting. In 2009 after multiple injuries, I fell back into depression and everything suffered. All of my weight came back on, my training was lackluster, and I stopped competing. Monday I just gave myself a big, swift kick in the ass to get it together. I joined a transformation challenge at www.transformation.com and found a place that I truly believe will help me to make lifelong and lasting changes. Remember that tattoo on my leg? It says, "Indomitable Spirit" in Korean. I LOVE that tattoo, because every time I look at it, it's a terrific remember to persevere and NEVER give in. I already know that my weight and health issues are a life long battle and I'm prepared for war.

February - Turning 40 (Shit!)

March -
1.) I'm going to meet BILL PHILLIPS - Yes! THE Bill Phillips!!!!!!- in person and run a half-marathon with him in Dallas, Texas. This is HUGE on many so levels! Can you believe it, Mandi?????!!!!!

2.) I'll be almost debt-free (aside from mortgage)!!! Financial freedom is something that I've had and lost. When you've been financially free, you truly do feel free!

May -
1.) I will have achieved my goals from my weight loss & health transformation (started in January)!

2.) Going to travel throughout Germany with my family.

June - I'll test for my first black belt!!!!! I have so much work to do between now and June. I don't want to have any regrets about this day. I want to go in there prepared, ready and leave it all on those mats. I don't want to have anything in me left over. When my instructor presents me with that belt, I want to feel worthy of being a black belt. I want to feel that intrinisc rush of accomplishing something huge that I've worked so hard for. The terrific thing is that actually earning a black belt signifies that you have just started the beginning of your true martial arts journey - not the end. Love that!!!

I'm stopping at June, as that's where my focus and my short term goals lie right now. I'm going to spend some serious time tonight constructing my game plan and strategy for how to accomplish these things.

I felt super motivated in Taekwondo class tonight as we closed class with our ATA creed:
"I will Persevere in the spirit of Taekwondo
Having Honor with others
Integrity with myself
and Self Control in my actions"

Kihap!
Dedie

Still Here & Kicking!

It's been well over a year since my last blog. My year has been filled with injuries, frustrations, failures, healing, progress, victories and good intentions to keep my blog current. I've had plenty of content to blog about, but somewhere along the journey this blog became a chore. However, I have really missed blogging about my long and perilous journey toward earning my Black Belt and getting back to a winning position in life, so I've decided to get back to it.

I've had a host of physical and other issues that have plagued me this last year. One really can't deny the mental challenges that accompany physical pain and I've experienced my fair share of those, too.

Where am I now? Well, over the next few weeks, we'll get reacquainted again. Yesterday I tested (and passed!) for the second stage of my Brown Belt (Brown Belt decided) and I am one step closer to achieving my Black Belt goal! The belt colors in ATA TaeKwonDo are: White, Yellow, Orange, Camoflauge, Green, Purple, Blue Belt Recommended, Blue Belt Decided, Brown Belt Recommended, Brown Belt Decided, Red Belt Recommended, Red Belt Decided, Black Belt Recommended, Black Belt! After Black Belt, one can further progress in their martial arts journey by achieving higher levels of Black Belt rank through training, instructing and testing, and these higher levels are indicated by degrees e.g. 1st Degree Black Belt, 2nd Degree Black Belt, 3rd Degree Black Belt, etc.

To keep this blog entry from becoming a novel, I'll summarize the tribulations that I've endured this past year: right knee injury, right hip injury, both feet injured, right trapezius injury (upper right back/lower right shoulder), both elbows injured, work stressors, and home/family stressors - all of which affected my training and positive mental attitude. The biggest heartbreaks for me are that I've struggled with depression and have gained back the weight that I worked so hard to lose in the beginning of my training.

Conversely, I have persevered and will continue to fight through. Though sparse and overshadowed by my challenges, I have had my share of accomplishments this year. Being the perfectionist that I am, my memory is clouded by all of the imperfections and I'm unable to recall any, though!

What's in my immediate future? I have much work cut out for me over the next 5 1/2 months, as my Instructor (Mr. F) has decided that I will test for my Black Belt in June 2010. That day of testing will be tough - 3 hours of intense TKD followed by a 1 mile run - all outside in the Texas sun with NO water breaks allowed. Not only do I want to be the best martial artist there, but I want to feel like I deserve that coveted Black Belt. Tomorrow I will carve out time to sit down and blog my specific goals for the next few months.

I'm signing off for now to get in good workout this morning! SO great to be back!

Kihap!
Dedie

Just For Kicks .......

When I need to close a door or a cabinet door or a drawer, I use back kicks, front kicks and side kicks - it drives my husband nuts.

The other day a door was slightly open and I used a slow motion hook kick to fully open it. He rolled his eyes at me.

When we are in the bathroom together brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed, I practice my balance by doing slow motion kicks that almost touch him. This pretty much puts him over the edge, but I can't stop! (although he's a black belt in TKD and a black belt Kuk Sool Won and could totally take me out if he wanted to)

I just can't help it!!!!

Kihap!