Fight shape

The word, I am shape is tossed around a lot. With an ever increasing need to increase our degree of physical activity being in shape reaches a broad spectrum of what it really is. For some of us, it means I walk my dog daily (which is awesome), for others its swimming laps, and for me until this point it meant running and lifting weights. 

However, things change, perceptions change and you begin to realize that the shape you always thought you were doesn’t fit into the puzzle you desire. For me, I always seek a challenge, part of why I left the consulting world.  I seek to confront my query for new tasks on a regular basis. This time of course I am referring to the gym and exercise.

It was 2006 when I completed my Basic Training Theory and Strength training courses and started working as a personal trainer. For the year before that I had discovered this new world of steel and tears of sweat. My body grew and I continued to grow in that area. Seeking a new challenge I began Crossfit, and with that came Olympic lifting, from there I jostled between those and running. For a period I tried to see how muscular I could get (peaking just over 190 lbs), then decided I don’t like walking around like a gorilla and dropped the close to 20 lbs of muscle I used to have on my frame.

Oddly enough my next step was to discover a favourite Canadian pastime, ice hockey. Not that this was new to me, but the skating on ice was something I hadn’t done for 14 years. I fell in love with that activity thanks to my roommate at the time Haley and an eccentric organizer of ice times (http://www.icemanhockey.ca/)

All along the way we rattled off bone crushing smashes of the squash ball and through the good old pigskin around. In Singapore last year you may remember me plugging Insanity workouts and more on topic GSP rushfit. Do you see where I am going with this?

A summer back in Calgary, Todd had recommended 2110 Fitness. A gym I have crazy respect for and an ability to kick me into  “shape”.  All the guys at 2110 love the field and are happy to contribute to your puddle of sweat. Chris who helped me the most also trains an MMA fighter. Hints keep on dropping.  

Last bit of hints are as follows: have you checked my twitter? What about instagram?

Give in? If you haven’t figured out by now you know I have started boxing.  Those around me all know that because it’s all I can talk about…sorry! My head is rampant with double jab, straight, left hook, right hook, left uppercut, and right uppercut also known as Mike Tysons.  That pep in my step has me floating like a butterfly. As I walk down the blog aunties go googly-eyed trying to figure out why my hands are up and my head is bobbing. 

Currently this is my exercise. I have tossed the weights aside for a bit, to work on my feet and hands. This new form of exercise has shown me that maybe my cardio is a little weaker than I expected. I was trying to save face there, my cardio sucks when it comes to boxing.  After 10 of those combos being mentioned earlier I can hardly hold my arms up.

The mind and body aspect of boxing has truly hit that sweet spot for me right now and I hope to continue.  In the week and a half I have been going my body is much more capable of keeping up, while my ass still gets kicked I recover faster and can hit harder more often. This is the ultimate goal to get my body into fight shape.  

And PS. anyone in Bangkok can you try and snap a picture of my billboard on Rama III and send it. Thanks.