Getting My Kick On

Day 32
In the absence of our Friday night soccer games, I ventured into a cardio kick class. The class is based on movements from boxing, karate and muay thai. Thanks to my friends and instructors, Jeremy and wife Allison, who tried to make my awkwardness less evident! Even prior to gaining all this weight, I never had great balance or flexibility, so you can imagine how awkward class was for me!

The class definitely worked a different set of muscles than step or spinning and overall it was fun! There is a bit of foot work/technique also that goes with the punches and I think after a few more classes I can get it all down. Definitely a good upper body workout.

During the past two classes I've taken (step and kick), I have found I am so annoyed with the person I see in the mirror. I never really was that concerned with appearances before; but now that I find it hard to do parts of exercise routines due to my weight, it is making me really upset. I have always been the athletic one; never really concerned about my weight since I am always one to jump into any type of activity (walking/running 26.2 miles through the desert of New Mexico in the Bataan March [twice actually]; running half-marathons with little training; walking the Bisbee Stairclimb route every weekend carrying Evan in the backpack; playing soccer; etc...).

Participating has never been a problem with me, I enjoy it and welcome it. Now that I feel pain by simple participation due to my weight, it makes me want to cry. During high impact classes, I can feel that muscle herniation in my lower leg get worse; it heals a bit, but then more impact makes it pop out again. I don't want to turn into one of those people who can't do something due to an injury. I have been lucky to never have had a major injury due to sports. I hate swimming and I don't want to be limited to non-impact exercise like that. I love the group synergy and I don't want to lose that...but I also don't want to be that person in the back of class always having to take everything down low. Maybe I am just getting impatient with getting back into shape.