December Resolutions

Unlike the usual way, I have gotten into the habit of developing December Resolutions, instead of New Years Resolutions. It is normally some sort of fitness goal, and I find the "24 Days of Christmas" to be a pretty good way of doing things.  Plus, it just makes me feel better about all of the caloric transgressions I will be making at Christmas.

This year has been a bit of a let down for me physically.  I started the year developing a case of tendonitis in my right arm, which made it difficult to do some of the weight exercises that I enjoy, and in the gym, I am very much a typical male, meaning weights over cardio.   I've always had much more satisfaction doing that, but it has also lead to me being "beefy," where no matter how much I workout, I still have a gut.

I had long ago resigned myself to the fact that I would never have abs.  It is too much a case of good

genetics in being able to obtain them to stress too much about not having them.  Even when I got into my best of shape in my early 30s, I still had a bit of a gut.  However, with the tendonitis causing problems, I started doing more in the cardio department, specifically a class at the gym called BodyPump, which is basically a high energy mix of dance music and weight lifting.  While you might not be lifting heavy weights, you certainly feel the burn.  My tendonitis even started to clear up, and I decided I was going to attempt to do the Couch to 5K routine to try to incorporate some running into my workout.

While I am not an outwardly grunting type of fitness guy, I am competitive, which I think is one of the reasons I never took to running.  I want to sprint not jog, and sprinting makes me very tired.  Couch to 5K is pretty brilliant because it is an app on your phone, and it tells you when to run, walk, and stop.  It analytically made me slow down and work on achieving goals, and I liked it!  I would get up in the morning and run on the Canal here in Indy, and I was really thinking I could get to a point where I could run an 5K.  Then in late July, I was running on a Saturday, and when I thought I had clicked on the wrong routine, I started to merge over to the side to sit down.  Well, I got wrapped up in my laces and took a tumble on the Canal, and I scrapped up my right knee and hands.  I caught myself from injuring my left ankle, which has been something that has always given me trouble.

Then, not a week later, I roll my left ankle.  It was the first real fitness injury, or really any type, that I have ever endured, and it hurt like hell.  I had to limp back to the fitness center, gather my things, limp to the car, get to Walgreens to buy ice, and somehow make it up three flights of stairs to my apartment.  It was terrible, and I eventually dragged myself down the stairs again to go get crutches and other accoutrements.  Luckily, it was broken, and it healed in about a month.  I took that opportunity to not workout and eat whatever I wanted.  NOT GOOD!

Around that time, I saw a Groupon for a CrossFit box, and I decided to give it a try.  I was interested in it, but after seeing how much it was going to cost, I never wanted to really wanted to commit without trying it first.  So, I ordered up 24 sessions, and off I went.   It is extremely challenging, but it appears to be what I need to get out of my rut.  I am cancelling my gym membership, so that I can justify more of the CrossFit expense, and I am utilizing the free equipment in my building's weight room for cardio and such.  I am still doing the "24 Days of Christmas," even though I have already missed a couple days.  I am doing two-a-days to catch up with it.   I feel like I am making major progress.  We shall see if I'm feeling fitter by New Years...