Tracking can become addictive.

Logging and tracking my numbers has been something I haven't been consistent enough with.  For the past four weeks I have taken consistent action and have recorded my numbers both with my eating and with my Kung Fu.  

What I can share is that this can become addictive. Watching my number grow is part of it but seeing the transformation to my body is the biggest motivation to me.  Doing 100+ push ups and situps everyday will and has made me stronger.  It's transformed how my body feels and looks and I like that my clothes are fitting better!  

Now that I'm eating better I'm seeing that my mind is clearer, my body had more energy and I recover faster from exercise.  These good feelings coupled with feeling and seeing my body change for the better is making the tracking ever so much more addictive!  

This couldn't have happened if I didn't want to see the change in myself and if I didn't take consistent action.  

I don't normally include quotes in my blogs.  This quote means a lot to me not only because I love Rocky movies but it's very true.  To me it means don't look to far ahead, stay in the moment and take it one step at a time.

"One step. One punch. One round at a time!

Quote by Rocky Balboa from the movie Creed.

Mr. Repay

Feeling some nervousness

I'm not sure why I'm feeling some nervousness but yet I do.  I've made the most progress toward my Kung Fu in years in 2020.  I'm also watching the candidates prepare for the next phase of black belt testing.  I know I'm a long ways away from being where they are but in the same breath I'm catching myself with the realization that I'm wasting valuable time.  This is making me feel like I'm not on the mastery path becuase if I were deadlines wouldn't matter.  This has brought a whole new realization that if I'm going to be ready (whenever that is) I need to be more consistent in my preparation.  I used to like to cram a lot of learning into a short window of time. I used to think I did my best work when I was under immense pressure and stress. This isn't me anymore or it's still me but to a much lesser extent.

I'm taking steps to prepare myself.  I was at the potatoe bake get together and I got to watch the candidates do thier boards break.  Unfortunately it didn't go quite as well as I'm sure they envisioned.  However Sifu Brinker gave some really good feedback on what he saw and recommendations for the next attempt.  I went back to my car and for the first time, I recorded in my notes what he said.  I didn't want to forget or have it go fuzzy before I left the parking lot.  These notes are going to be paramount to me as I prepare for my grading.  

I'm eating better, I'm feeling better and I'm losing some weight. This is incredibly important to my physical condition which is a big part of the grading.  I've eaten things two weekend ago with my wife that I haven't eaten in almost three weeks.  It was a treat and it was a weekend getaway with my wife.  I don't feel bad becuase the very next day I was back on the path eating properly and I'm really happy with it.  Becuase I'm seeing the posstives results, I don't want to go back and start eating poorly again.  I don't actually want to miss a day of recording what I eat and keeping track of the points.  Doing this is sooooo motivating and it's the same motivation I get from recording my I Ho Chuan numbers.

I'm starting to taste the next step and I'm getting excited. I'm excited as I'm starting to see my progression and I'm starting to realize that where I want to be is not that far away.  

Mr. Repay 

Intent with intensity = heart

Love love love this!  What I like is how they work together. Intensity is just busyness with out intent. I can become intense but what good does that do me if I can't funnel that intensity toward the intent of what I'm doing?  This is just "noise" combined with busyness fooling me that I'm doing the right things.  What I need to be doing is getting into the right mindset first then applying the intensity to deliver the desired results.  Sometimes easier said than done but also easily doable as long as I'm in the right mindset or simply in the right moment. 

My dad used to tell me that I needed to increase my intensity when he watched me play hockey as a kid.  I knew what he was talking about but I couldn't apply it becuase I couldn't understand it at that time.  I thought my skill alone would carry me to higher and higher levels, it didn't. What was most noticable to coaches, scouts and parents were the players that played with "heart" or played with a high level of intensity. They stood out on the ice, they got noticed becuase they were always involved in the play.   They simply played in the moment more often and longer than the rest of the players on the ice. 

I've only started to understand this because I believe I'm ready.  My mind is open and I'm understanding what Sifu Brinker talked about at last Thursday's class.  The challenge will be to consistently apply it.  However he gave us the tools, "where am I and what am I doing"?

Mr. Repay 

Not ready but ready

I'm finding that a lot of my journaling this year is fairly philosophical in nature.  I've spent more time than ever this year reflecting on my Kung Fu journey and life in general.  When I look back specifically on my Kung Fu journey I have to laugh at what I remember. About five years ago I got my blue belt and I was flying high with my progression or so I thought at that time.  I may have been putting in the most time I wasn't using that time effectively.  I thought I was ready for the next level but I wasn't.  I wasn't mature enough to understand why I was training.  I thought that if I train four hours a day everything would take of its self and I would be ready for my brown belt.  I didn't slow down to really understand what was being taught.  I didn't look at the finer details or the "why". I just wanted to consumer as much content as possible and I was far from ready for the next level.  

Fast forward to the present and I'm training less than I was five years ago BUT the training is at a higher level.  I've slowed down (mentally) to really think about the "why".  I've let that sink in and I apply the lessons to my personal training outside of the kwoon.  I'm getting to really feel my Kung Fu now. I can feel the six Harmonies when I move, I can start to feel my power like never before.  I've been a blue belt for longer than I can can actually recall.  So long in fact that the glue on my stripes has let go and my stripes are falling off lol!  I'm a ok with that as I wasn't ready to progress to the next level. Seeing those stripes starting to fall off the end of my belt has become a constant reminder. A visual and physical reminder to put the right kind of effort into my training every time I tied my belt on.

Mr. Repay

Mindless eating update

It's been a couple of weeks since I changed my diet.  I'm feeling the benefits to my health already.  I've really reduced my intake of refined sugar, bread and saturated fats from things like bacon etc.  What I'm noticing is that I'm not as bloated as I used to be.  I'm not gassy and I feel more alert.  I'm not a believer in diets and cutting out different types of foods completely.  I'm believer in eating good quality foods in moderation.

Since I started tracking what I'm eating I'm shocked at what a good portion size is Vs what I was eating.  I'm actually staggared by the amount of food I'm was consuming along with the poor quality of it.

Seeing exactly what I'm eating through the tracking app is extremely beneficial. It has the same effect as watching my I Ho Chuan numbers grow.  We talk about the benefit to tracking our numbers and the motivation it provides.  The same thing is happening when I see that I've stayed under my daily, weekly target.  

It is more difficult eating properly on the road but far from impossible.  I used to frequent drive through fast food places for lunch because it was quick and easy.  Now I've changed to going to Save On foods and grabbing thier pre cut fresh fruits with a side of hummus, some sliced salami along with nuts and some cheese.  This type of meal makes me very happy which makes eating better a lot easier.  

I'm feeling the benefits of the choice I've made and because of these noticable benefits it's unlikely that I'm going to allow myself to fall back into the poor eating habits.

Mr. Repay

Dietary Defense and mindless eating

My weight has become concerning to me.  I'm 43 years old and I know that the older I get the harder it's going to be to get back into a healthy weight.  I'm not looking to get back to my mid twenties weight (wouldn't that be awesome!)but rather a more healthy weight. 

I've started to track my eating and I'm using a points system.  What's shocking is exactly how much I'm eating because I'm mindlessly shoving food in my face throughout the day.  Once you apply a point system to food you quickly realize not only the amount I should be eating but what types of food I can eat without racking up a negative points balance. It's also staggering to learn how many "empty" and sugar laddened foods I've been eating. 

So far, I'm struggling to stay within my allowed target but I'm eating way better, more healthy foods this past week.  This is becoming a lifestyle change for me that will need to imbed itself into my mental and physical pysche.

As I become older diet will be so important in my life.  What I put into my body has a direct impact on what I put out into the world.  I want to be here for as long as I can and diet and Kung Fu will help me get there.

Mr.Repay

Everyday is a reset day

Lots of conversation recently about resetting. I've used meetings, classes and blogging to be my "reset button" for my traning and IHC requirements.  I've also realized that every day is an opportunity to reset my training.  Why wait for a blog, class or meeting?  

Last Thursday's IHC meeting was one of the best ones I've attended in a very long time.  There were many reasons but the most important one was seeing everyone in person in the Kwoon.  There's just something very important about being in each other's precence that had a profound effect on my mental state and every levels.  

My training has been up and down but the peaks and valleys have been leveled out Vs prior years IHC years.  I'm struggling with some of my non physical requirements.  I've not prioritized them and not surprisingly they're suffering.  No time like the present to reset on these requirements!

Ian Repay