What’s to eat?

Well March is over and with it our monthly challenge is over as well.

Though the month of March, the UBBT team members at Silent River have been tracking what we have been eating every day and posting it on a blog site for others to read. Taking part of this challenge has opened my eyes on my eating habits and has encouraged me to make healthier choices on what I eat. I have come to realizes that I am an “Opportunist Garburator” I mainly survive on leftovers and I eat only when I have the time. So during the week I eat fairly regularly since at work there is a scheduled time set a side for lunch and breaks and also the evening meals at home (this is were I get my leftovers for the next day or days to come). But when the weekend arrives (starting Friday afternoon) I find there is not enough time eat, or just not the right time to eat. By the time things slow down during the weekend days it’s just too late in the evening to eat, it is almost bed time, so I just don’t eat. At times it seams that I am surviving on a diet of air, water and Kung Fu. Some of my UBBT team mates have noticed this and have brought it to my attention, and also have given me some excellent advice and suggestions on how I can quickly squeeze in a healthy meal on the go to keep my body fueled up.

Thanks everyone.

Greg Wiebe

Stony Plain, AB, Canada

www.silentriverkungfu.com

8th post

So I am totally confused about all these sites where we are supposed to post things, I thought my stuff was on the UBBT Student site but Khona tells me not ... she will baby step me through the process after I am done writing this blog and hopefully we will get it posted to all the right places.

I updated my physout numbers today and there are a number of areas where I have frowny faces ... swimming laps is taking the biggest hit. By the way I love how this site keeps you easily up to date on where you are at and your numbers to bring you up to a green smiley face status. I believe Sifu Prince put this together ... awesome!

I do most of my tracking in a notebook at home (internet speeds at my place are pretty grim) missed a few days but mostly got it. So I was pleased that I actually managed to track it ... keeping track of this stuff is my challenge, I have to do it every day or I forget. The self discipline to sit down and go thru your day and document what you did that day well its not my best thing ... but it is improving all the time and I guess thats part of the whole UBBT thing.

Talk to you next week.

Terry Beckett

Crunch!

This week is crazy busy. I really need to stay focused right now in order to get everything done. I need to resist the temptation to close the books and relax. I need to focus on prioritizing. I need to use my time wisely, get push ups and sit ups and forms reps in during breaks. I need to remember to take some deep breaths and center myself. I need to remember that getting sleep is important. I need to remind myself that this hectic pace will not continue forever. I need to realize the road to mastery is a harder journey than the path to mediocrity. This is my mantra this week.

Andrea Prince

Diet Tracking - Looking Ahead

For the month of March our group UBBT project was to track and blog everything that we consumed each day.  I definitely have determined a trend in my consumption.  I consume about 2,500 calories a day, which is in the target zone for my gender, size, and activity level, however there is a lot of (good) and a lot of (not so good) calories.  I have done some research and will actively incorporate the following moving forward.

Much research indicates that a person who trains consistently should consume about 60% of their calories from complex carbohydrates in their natural state.  This catgegory includes oatmeal, whole grain cereals, grains, brown rice, potatoes, whole wheat pasta, root vegetables, wholemeal breads, beans, and lentils.  I will consume more within this grouping. (the good and improvement)

I will continue consuming protein from lean meats, poultry, and vegetables. (the good)

I will continue consuming dairy from low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. (the good)

I will control and avoid fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and fast foods. (the not so good)

I will contol simple sugars found in junk foods and pop. (the not so good)

I will keep this simple as it is not complicated.

These very simple changes will have great results!!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Quality vs Quantity

Even though I may have heard something a hundred times before hearing something at right place, right time, right environment, and right headspace creates an epiphany. I had one of those ring-a-ding moments in I Ho Chuan class last Friday. The topic was pushups and why we do them plank style (even if it's only one) in I Ho Chuan. Reason: because that's what's done for the Black Belt test. The bell rang.

In that moment I flashed to my UBBT pushups that I had been doing on my knees. At first it was for injury, however it morphed into "I can do many more this way" so that I can catch up on my numbers. (Yes I am behind) I was focusing solely on catching up on the number rather than doing a good quality pushup and building strength. How can I graduate to doing all of my pushups plank if I hold myself back and not challenge myself?

I also clued into something else in that ring-a-ding moment as well. Because I had increased my pushup numbers to catch up, my shoulder blades were becoming very tight and I could really feel the knots making any pushup cranky. This isn't fun and I really don't like wearing my shoulders as earrings. The good news is that I realized the instigator: increasing the numbers. Time to back down to my daily requirements.

So for my daily pushups, I do as many as I can plank style and complete the rest on my knees. Considering that yesterday I did 220 pushups and about 60 were plank, that's nothing to sneeze at. Also Dennis reminded me that when I started KungFu, I could not do a plank pushup and that the reason I am where I am today is that I kept trying. "Where and I, what am I doing, and why am I doing this?"

Sherri Donohue
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Food....wonderful fuel

Over the last month our UBBT team here at Silent River has been blogging our food diaries--and it been an interesting read, both my own and my teammates. I've learned something about myself but also my team. For example, I've noticed quite a few members seem to be able to exist, as quoted in kungfu panda, ' on the dew off a gingo leaf and the energy of the universe.' And just like Po, I definitely need more than dew! Forget to eat? Not a chance!! Quite the opposite, I love to eat! I know having kids and being responsible for occasionally feeding them keeps food at the forefront of my thoughts--I'm usually planning dinner before I've finished my breakfast. And its not a bad thing.I have been trying to think more of my food being 'fuel', taking note of what I seem to need at different times, but I really like making my fuel as premium and delicious as possible too. So, alas, I shall always be a clydsdale, or a panda...and dew will never be on the menu....but I will be a well fueled one:)
Krysta Lowery, Silent River Kungfu student UBBT team

Challenges Beyond the Challenges....

There are certain times when it is more prevalent as to what is in charge, the mind over the body or the body over the mind!

I have really found this past three months to be a real emotional challenge, it has taken a lot more effort to complete tasks than I'm sure it ever has. The last two sleep deprived months have not helped my energy level any. I spent February 16th-20th in an environment which did not agree with my respiratory system and have since then been battling lung irritation and sinus infection; my nights are restless with coughing and my days are long, draggy and I can hardly wait to hit the pillow, which is where the cycle continues itself. I can't seem to sleep enough hours, to catch up and everyday seems to be getting tougher.

I realize the importance of sleep, which makes my issue that much more of a challenge to overcome. Sleep deprivation can have many side affects on the human body; inability to function at work, mood swings, lack of focus, weight gain (adrenal gland activity) - cholesterol level increases and eventually cardiac issues; stress of all sorts - body chemistry imbalances, organ stress and excessive activity.

My knee and hip inflammation/ pain has also been a side affect to the sleep deprivation and in turn has added to my lack of sleep with the throbbing pain and continued flipping and flopping which is associated with this.

At this point I'm going around and around within this vicious non-mending cycle. I went to the doctor today and was told that my respiratory condition has to run its course (it has been more like a marathon...)My hope is that this respiratory infection subsides and my sleeps get better. I purchased arch supports for my shoes today with hopes that I can alleviate some ankle, knee, hip and back pain and stress. And by the end of the week the ambient temperature could be in the double digits....the sun will be refreshing to the soul. The potential outcome looks very inviting!

Darcy Regier, Silent River Kung Fu, UBBT, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.