I Love Kickboxing

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Lets play catch up on my workouts-

I've tried a lot of different workout classes over the last few years but the one that has actually changed my life is Kickboxing. Let me back up and explain how I got to this point for anyone who feels like they don't know where to start when it comes to working out. I say this a lot but if I can get out there and do it anyone can. I had a lot of small accomplishments in order to get to this point because I'm going to be pretty blunt and own up to the fact that I'm REALLY focused right now. Pretty much my entire life is about getting healthy and in shape and the rest of my life will probably have to be this way in order for me to stay in shape once I get there. That used to upset me but then I put my big girl panties on and realized, this is my struggle. My "thing" in life that I have to deal with and I'm okay with that because I think everyone should be concerned about their body. It took awhile but I finally get that WE ONLY GET ONE in this life. I'm now obsessed with taking better care of it and I guess now that means I'm the girl at the party that tells you how sore I am. Whoops.

Okay, so back to the small accomplishments... I've been trying to get back in shape for the last two years. The first thing I did was learn how to eat salads. Yes, I know that sounds stupid but I didn't like to eat them. Now, I eat them and surprisingly, I like them. That was over a year and half ago. Then I gave up drinking soda - like all soda, diet included after reading a few horrifying articles about what they do to your body. (dare you to Google it)  It's been over a year now and I don't miss it at all. Next, I started trying out different gym classes; I found yoga and body works at my local LA Fitness and I went regularly for almost 2 months until teachers changed and I lost interest. However, that helped me realized that I could keep to a schedule. I could be committed, which was a pretty new thing to me at the time. I've always started to try and get in shape then I would stop. I recently realized I can't ever stop -- If you never stop, then you'll never fail or so some bumper sticker I read once said.

(Apparently Albert Einstein said it!)

After that realization I got a few workout apps for my phone and started doing 30 Day challenges at the beginning of this year. I completed several months of these and it just kept building my confidence. Even though I STILL wasn't losing much weight I was doing a lot of work and prepping myself for the next phase. In May, my friend Terra told me about a kickboxing class she tried. She said it was miserable and seemed like something I would love. I was immediately interested (I GET TO HIT THINGS!) and talked to Chad about it to see if he would do it with me for 10 classes that I was going to get with a Groupon. He was as always fully supportive and off we went to our first classes before our cruise to Alaska. (May 2014) We were immediately hooked. The first class had me questioning my sanity and I had never felt that sore in my life but at the same time it was incredibly fun. I learned how to properly hit someone in the face and we quickly blew through our 10 classes within a month. I decided I had to join. Chads schedule didn't work well with the class times so sadly I joined alone but now 6 months later I am happily 36lbs lighter and a whole lot stronger.

Fat face be gone! 

Keep in mind I also started doing a low carb diet in June which is a HUGE part of the pounds I have lost. I will post about my diet soon but always remember it is 80% diet & 20% exercise. I used to get so angry with myself for working out as much as I did but never being able to lose weight. It's because my diet was crap... I mean I can work out for an hour and still eat 4,000 calories a day RIGHT?!!? No.  

Lets get back to kickboxing... Classes are CRAZY! The first 15 mins are running around doing push ups, crunches, planks, squats, lunges, burpees, you name it in bursts of time. Then you get a water break, then you get to stretch, and THEN they let you hit things! I love the bag rounds. It's 6 different rounds of punches and kicks with the 6th round being a SPEED round where they threaten you with burpees if you stop doing what your doing at any moment during the final 60 seconds. Oh, and they punish the whole class if one person takes a break so it happens on occasion. Damn newbs. Just kidding - everyone is super supportive in and out of class and I have to admit moving away from this gym is really hard. So many of these people inspire me and it's so nice to have a group of people that are just as motivated about being in shape as you are. A part of me wonders if I can push myself on my own the rest of the way but then I know... I can and I will.

The Thanksgiving morning class was packed. 

What I like/will miss most about this gym is the people. The trainers and members are fantastic. I feel like I have this second family who is just as interested in kickboxing/fitness as I am. These new friends who you do all these intense things with and who you see a few times a week. I know it sounds crazy but these people have become a part of my every day life for the last 6 months and I've learned so much from each of them. Kickboxing has made me really happy and I think that's important for anyone looking for motivation - you have to find somewhere that makes you happy and that makes you want to work harder. Each time I go to class I know that they are going to push me... they know when I'm not hitting as hard as I can because I'm being lazy and they will yell at me "HARDER" in a heartbeat. It's become a tradition to laugh and say, "Oh that was too easy" at the end of class when in reality I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to steer my car when I drive home.

We all stalk each other on Facebook too. At first, I thought I was the only creeper but then the meanest of all the teachers started stalking me and I love it. Shelia, who just won 2nd place Best Fitness Instructor in Western Washington is the toughest instructor I've ever had. She is fantastic at scaring the crap out of people in all the right ways. (Not actual crap on the floor... although... it's possible) She's also the most down to Earth person I have met in a really long time. She is in amazing shape but she constantly works to be better while encouraging everyone around her to do the same. By encouraging I mean giving her signature "f*cking do it" face. She has competed in two fitness competitions since I have known her and watching her journey has been inspiring and hilarious. I didn't know the bitch cheated! She told me that one day and I was like, "Whattttttttt I thought you were perfect?!" I love the realness. Hopefully, she doesn't mind me blogging about her and if she does I probably have a bunch of burpees in my future.

(source)

Seriously though, she is awesome and has inspired me so much! I refuse to get sappy and type all the disgustingly mushy things on here but, thank you. When I joined up you said, "Girl, do you know what I can do to you in six months!?" and I was so excited to find out. Thank you for pushing me get to where I am today and giving me to the tools to know how to get the rest of the way on my own. I'm not sure what got you into fitness but you have helped me realize how strong I am and I am forever grateful for that.

Kickboxing has been amazing and I plan to get a bag and continue even after the move. It won't be the same but I've got enough commitment and know how to keep pushing. I've also got about ten friends on Facebook now that will harass my ass if I don't!

What workouts inspire you?