The Shifting Weather

I’m glad to hear that our Little Dragon, Ken Zen is recovering. This is always a dangerous period in the annual round, with drastic, unpredictable shifts in weather. Whether we pass our days indoors or out, these climate dynamics can affect our bodies. For myself, it was a very difficult week in this respect. Early on, I sought medical advice about a recurring issue with losing sleep due to late-night coughing spasms. The doctor who examined me suspected the problem was worse than your average virus, and so gave me a prescription to treat pneumonia. Between these meds and a cough suppressant I took at night, my energy was sapped and, even when awake, I felt loopy and drugged. Though I could have very easily stuck around the house, close to the couch and bed, I forced myself to do a regular work regime and to continue my martial arts practice, though with perhaps a slightly reduced intensity

At the same time, my brother’s Ab Challenge continued into its second week, and I pushed on with it. Thankfully, the tensions that had been brewing around my training approach seem to have subsided. There are a few others who are now starting to push themselves into the high reps, and I was even allowed to post a video featuring one of two personal records I cracked this week: 13 L-Hold Pull-Ups (up from 12) and 21 Inverted Sit-Ups (up from 20). This challenge has come at an appropriate time for me. I checked my weight a few days ago and learned that I’m now 192 pounds, almost 20 more than I was in September, and the most I’ve weighed in my life. I attribute this increase to an improved appetite, after quitting smoking. Unfortunately, I think most of these pounds are going to my gut. And while it hasn’t affected my abilities (yet), it’s probably best my attention be drawn down there for a bit. In addition to the increased abdominal strength exercises, I’ve now begun to run every second day, and am looking at how I can decrease sugars in my diet and speed up my metabolism a bit