What A Knockout!

I thought I was in relatively good shape.

Then I started boxing.

Way back when, on the heels of having finished a marathon, I decided I needed a change of pace. I knew of a boxing class at a small, unassuming gym and decided to give it a go. I walked in with my head held up high armed with the knowledge that I had recently completed 26.2 miles, so nothing on earth can anything be more mentally or physically challenging.

I certainly learned that lesson the hard way.

Marathon running couldn't light a candle to how difficult boxing felt. They're incomparable, actually. Every motion, every hit, every kick was a completely new experience. I loved the focus it required and the deep, inner strength imperative to completing the workout. Whereas with running, I could zone out and zone in to saving the world's problem in my head, in boxing, the only thought that can cross your mind is the way in which you jab, cross, hook, or upper cut. If you allow your mind to wander for a split second, you will inevitably compromise your form. I learned that the hard way, as well.

Fast forward a few more years, a move to a different state, a slew of jobs and a new gaggle of friends, and I find myself missing boxing. Fortunately for me, my gloves and wraps were mere steps away. So was Mark, the trainer at Boston Sports Club who would become my new coach. His boyish looks deceived me; the man can throw a punch like few people I've seen before. Thankfully, he can also teach. With the patience of a saint, he's been reacquainting my uncoordinated, klutzy self with proper boxing technique, form, and footwork. I have come to remember why I love the sport so much. It pushes me in a way nothing else has; not running, not spinning, not strength training...and it's amazing.

September is a fantastic month for change. If you're thinking of entertaining a different kind of workout, or perhaps pushing yourself out of a rut, or simply that you are just bored with your current routine, I implore you to try boxing. It might look intimidating, but you can move at your own speed and improve at your own pace. Be patient, and know that you will get better each time you try one of the toughest, yet most rewarding experiences of your life.

Go kick some butt.

Keep Climbing,

ELD

Eat Your Words.

I just read, cringed, and re-read the article in Time magazine, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin". And not shockingly, I have some choice words for the author to chew on.

The article's premise is that working out won't make you thinner; eating fewer calories is the only way to go about it. The author, John Cloud believes"the basic problem is that while it's true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight; exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger", and feels that exercise makes us eat more, thereby reversing the effects of the workout.

I'm sorry. I must have missed the memo that being hungry and eating is a crime. I must have also been busy working out while they delivered the bulletin about eating and working out existing in the same universe.

To my understanding, exercise and eating right are equally important, and while there is a correlation between the two, they are two completely different worlds. I agree with Cloud when he says exercise does trigger more hunger than if you didn't exercise. But should the fear of overeating be a reason to get minimal exercise? Shouldn't we change that fear and use it as a teachable moment to show people how to choose the right foods to maximize the benefits of the workout? You absolutely need to replenish the electrolytes and energy burned in your workout. And you do that through, you guessed it, eating. We should be teaching people that workout aside, it's important to eat a meal consisting of healthy grains, proteins and fat in everyday life. Even the biggest couch potato knows that eating donuts and sipping mimosas after a workout isn't a healthy idea. It's my belief that if you are more inclined to workout, the importance of healthy eating increases exponentially in order to promote muscle tissue reparation, increase energy, and overall be healthier. The theory that 2/3 of our nation is obese because they workout and perform "compensatory eating" is faulty. 'Compensatory eating' he describes as the "lip-licking anticipation of perfectly salted, golden-brown French fries after a hard trip to the gym" Our nation is obese because of lack of activity AND poor diet, not because one shakes the other's hand.

I have one other 'beef' (no pun intended) with this article. It's a technical terminology one. I become irrationally angry when someone says the phrase "turning muscle to fat", as used in this article. Once again, one has nothing to do with the other. You don't replace muscle with fat, or vice-versa. Fat is fat. Muscle is muscle. You can lose fat, and gain muscle, but your muscle doesn't actually turn to fat, and fat does not magically turn to muscle. As with diet and exercise, muscle and fat are mutually exclusive.

In short, please, please, don't cancel your gym membership. Or worse, please don't stop going to the gym, and still donating money to it. As you know from reading this blog, working out is one of the most important things you can do for your mental, physical and spiritual self. Do not think about eating when you're working out and do not think about how many calories you burned on the treadmill while you're deliberating eating a muffin. Use exercise as a means to live a healthier, longer life. Use eating as a means to nourish, honor your heritage (or your favorite heritage's food), and re-fuel your energy stores.

Chew on that.

Keep Climbing,

ELD

P.S. Check this article out on http://www.time.com/ and let me know what you think.

Bite Your Tongue!

As the daughter of two English teachers, and the little sister of yet another, proper language has never been something taken lightly. Way back when, if you were a friend of one of the Duggan 3, and you had the unfortunate fate of having our father on the other end of the phone when you rang, you had better put your grammar boots on and gingerly inquire, "Hello Mr. Duggan, how are you today? I was wondering if (enter daughter's name) is available to come to the phone, and if so, may I speak with her?"

I can't tell you how many friendships were sacrificed in the name of grammar and politeness. I will spare you the details on what would happen to an otherwise unassuming young man if he showed up with wrinkled pants and tried to take one of us on a date.

Of course this blog is about fitness, so allow me to make a correlation.

As said daughter and sister, I am keenly aware of the language people use in reference to exercise and diet. Nothing makes my blood boil more than when someone says "This brownie is evil!" or "I'm going to have to tie myself to the treadmill until I fall off to burn off this lasagna!" or, "Carbs are my downfall!" Sometimes, we're so unaware of the impact our words have. For one, you are essentially telling yourself and anyone within earshot, that you're ashamed of what you are putting into your mouth. It not only annoys the listener, it also creates an unhealthy internal attitude.

Let's face it. No brownie is evil. And your love for all things bread does not make you a bad person. It just makes you a person who likes bread. If you change your language, you might find that you change your mentality. It's a very small change, but it can have a huge effect. What good can come out of telling yourself "That cheesecake will go directly to my thighs"? You're going to feel worse about yourself, and your motivation will go to zero. Replace that with "That cheesecake is fantastic; I'll have just a small slice!" You'll be amazed at how quickly your mood changes when you just replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Take all the "evil" out of your language, especially when you're talking about food or exercise.

At an early age, I learned the importance of correct grammar. That lesson has stayed with me, and evolved into a greater appreciation for language, and the understanding that what comes out of your mouth, is just as important as what goes in.

Keep Climbing,

ELD