I often complain about people who do not take the fighting aspect of what we do seriously enough. They can't consistently make practice and they don't make it a priority. They want to be better, but they do not but in the requisite work.
I do the same thing as this when it comes to my life. I see myself a certain way, a way that I am often far short of, but I do not do what is required to move in the proper direction. I want to be in better shape, I want to be more creative and I want to be better in my martial pursuits.
I've been in the SCA since I was 18 years old and I started fighting at 19.
I've taken some breaks here and there, the largest being for school, which was close to 2 years. Other than that, the majority of the time I have fought between 1 - 2 times a week.
These the Barony hosts a single heavy practice a week, which I make a priority to attend even if I am not fighting. Last year I took up archery and began target shooting. I shoot twice a week. Right now I am shooting or fighting three nights a week.
Unfortunately besides that I have had little physical activity and eat far too much. These things negatively affect my mental head space and cause a downward spiral.
I see myself as strong, as someone who has been Knighted and as someone who has been Prince. I know in the past I have physically and largely emotionally turned my life around. There are days I may look down on myself, but these are typically the result of letting myself down.
Best way to tackle the current life is to identify some of the causes.
- Not enough exercise
- Too much food
- Not enough sleep
Not Enough Exercise
I used to lift fairly regularly. I do not now. Going to the gym for 5:30am is too much and I am not very good at it. I know when I do manage to do it, it makes a physical difference in how I feel.
Solution: Picked up a 300# Olympic set, bench and power rack. I set them up in the garage so I can workout when it is convenient for me.
Measureable goals: Lift weights at least 3x a week
Too Much Food
I eat out far too much. Too many onion rings, too many cheeseburgers. I do it more often than I would like to admit, and this is compounded by the crap eating I often do at work. COMBINE all of this with socializing after training and I am consuming even more calories.
Solution: I can fix a lot by eating well during the day and include more vegetables. Today started with 2 eggs and turkey sausage for breakfast, Oatmeal for a snack, a frozen lunch and sausage and cheese for an afternoon snack. Total Calories for that is about 830. I also have about a cup of chopped misc. vegetables to eat. I will leave work easily under 1000 calories. Leaving me approximately 1000 calories for dinner and such.
Another thing I mentioned was socializing, which includes pub food and beer.
Solution: Drink beer less often, opt for diet pop. Eat pub food less often.
Measurable goals: Remove beer from one of the social nights, remove food from one of the social nights.
Not Enough Sleep
I struggle with sleep as well. Stay up late, get up too early.
Solution: I need to be up by 6, so in bed by 10 is ideal for eight hours. Ideally I will be up more like 5:30, which will still give me 7 1/2 hours of sleep. The latest I should be hitting the sack is 10:30, giving me 7 hours of sleep for my 5:30am wakeup
.
Measurable goals: Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
