the comeback kid

I may not be very good now, but "she was good, and got better" doesn't make for a very compelling story.

getting my RESULTS!!!

I am so pumped.  We do weekly weigh-ins at boot camp and I am down almost four pounds from last Tuesday!!!

I have really overhauled the things I eat thanks to having to track it for my trainer every day, and realizing I can eat more quality things if I cut out the chaff of junk food.  I know I'm just a week in, but this really feels sustainable because I'm not eating anything weird or really depriving myself.

I don't expect to see weight loss like that every week, but it feels so good to see my hard work pay off.  I never thought I would be looking forward to getting my measurements taken, but at the end of the six weeks we'll compare our current measurements to the ones taken six weeks ago.  The person with the most inches and weight lost at the end of the session gets $50, and I think I actually might be in the running! I'm so excited to track the changes in my body, since it's hard to gauge with the naked eye.  I already can feel myself becoming more athletic, as I'm getting a lot of practice running at boot camp and am even tackling those dreaded hill sprints with a smile.

Dance related: I've been drilling Jockey over and over again, and only two bars are giving me grief that I'll need to smooth out over the next week or so.  Sis and I have decided to go for the back-to-back comps in Atlanta in November, and I might be debuting Jockey there instead of at the Oireachtas.  Eeep!

It's amazing what a committment to positivity will do, even when you feel like you're not making any progress.  My body says otherwise!

here goes nothing...

Teach said yes.  I'm registered, and Jockey to the Fair it is.  Trying to stay positive, even though I'm hurting and can't dance it all the way through just yet...





Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy...

So the Southern Region is doing a traditional set competition at the Oireachtas.  FINALLY.  I've always thought it was a nice thing to do for the kids who are coming to do teams but not solos, it's another chance to get a medal, etc.  They're offering all seven set dances (St. Pat's, Jockey, Three Seas, Blackbird, Garden, Job & King of the Fairies).

Of course, this got me thinking...since I'm going to be there anyway, preparing for the competition might be a good way to drill basics like turnout, lift and rhythm.  I have to learn the sets anyway for the TCRG, so this might be an excuse to learn a new one.  I've always liked doing the more obscure sets--there was a time when NOBODY did Blackbird--so I'm leaning towards learning Jockey to the Fair.  It's a pretty low pressure return to competition, and at least I'll break that barrier and be able to say "I did it".

The only thing holding me up is a lack of costume--nobody in the Irish dance universe seems to share my dress size, but I have borrowed an adult dancer's costume in the past and danced in it with some minor temporary alterations.  I think I could make do with it again if she'll let me borrow it.

Pending a discussion with the Teach (and I can't see why he'd say no), I guess I'm going to compete for the first time in 6.5 years in 16&O traditional set.

I think I just might be crazy.

71 days.  Holy crap.



RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS!



Boot camp was super great on Tuesday.  We started a new six-week session and I am fired up because I'm not a newbie anymore.  It was nice being able to guide some of the new folks through the exercises and cheer them on.  I can tell my trainer is challenging me, too, because he often divides the group up into different skill levels, and he put me in the "advanced" group this time.  I was the slowest, but I was going the entire time!  I think the weather not reaching "sweltering" levels definitely helps too.  Hopefully by the time next summer comes along I'll be more fit and able to deal with the heat better.

I get so much energy from my fellow campers!  Our trainer designs our workouts to be cooperative, not competitive, so even though we're getting all hot and sweaty, we're doing it together.  At certain points during the workout when we're flagging, our trainer will call out the three initials of the boot camp and we'll yell back "results, results, results!"  It helps us keep focused, and makes us feel like a big family.  I can't describe the positive vibes that flow through the group without sounding all woo-woo, but let's just say this is the best boot camp ever and I'm inspired to do and be better every time I go.

I am actually tracking my food for the first time in a while because now that I'm a full member (was on a Groupon for the first six weeks) I'm accountable to my trainer and it's definitely been scaring me into eating better, at least for now.  Which is a little silly, because my trainer is the exact opposite of scary, but it is eye-opening to be tracking again.  I went to Sprinkles and had a cupcake yesterday after lunch, and when I went to add it into my calorie counter I wished I'd stayed ignorant of how many calories one cupcake could really have.  :-O

My goal for this six weeks at boot camp is to do what the graphic says up there--try hard every day.  I know I can push myself further.  I know I can be faster.  I know I can finally conquer running!  And I'm going to get a little bit closer during this six weeks.

Dance class tonight!  My goal is to dance A LOT and stretch properly before and after.  Boot camp has taught me my limits aren't where I think they are, and I'll keep going until I can't go any more!

reflection

Someday all this sweat and pain and tears will be all worth it.

ouch.

Hmm, so we're back to the "it hurts to walk" stage of shin splints.  I was neglectful about stretching after class so it's partially my own fault. But I'm continuing to feel better about my dancing (even though it's not anywhere near where I really want it, let's be real).  I did Thursday class and practiced solo stuff for about thirty minutes on Sunday, and have been trying to tackle this one troublesome treble jig step.  During that practice session, there was one point where I thought "I'm never going to get this step."  And then I did it!  On the right foot, anyway.  Still working on ol' Lefty.

Despite the shin splint woes, I think for the sake of my self-esteem I need to buy new hard shoes and soft shoes.  I can't tell what the heck my dancing looks like in the dance sneakers I'm currently wearing.  Thinking about the H2 Hullachans or the Rutherford Graces on the soft shoe front...something with lots of padding for my poor tootsies.  Fays forever and always in hard shoes.

The new six-week boot camp session starts up Tuesday.  I've been wanting to do Tuesdays and Saturdays (arms / full body), but maybe I really should do Thursdays (legs).  It's brutal but may be necessary.  But Saturdays are so much fun!  My trainer is really cool so I can bounce back and forth if I wanted (his exact words when I asked if I could alternate Thursdays / Saturdays if I wanted: "it's okay, we real cool").  And during the next six weeks I am DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, NO EXCUSES going to do three days a week so I won't have this problem.

Goal for this coming week: getting the left & right foot of that treble jig step without hesitation; working on the reel lead I learned a few weeks ago.  It's easy, I just have to put the pieces together.

Onward and upward!