Week 12 - Competition of the Mind

I guess you could say that it's been 3 months now, given that this is week 12.  Although by the calendar it's just shy of that by a few days.  With a drop of 1.3 kg on the day and a weekly average loss of 1.1 kg, I weighed in at 103.6 kg (105.3 average) this morning.  That puts my total loss at 15.8 kg and about 60% of the way to light heavyweight.  Looking back at previous attempts at losing weight, in my most recent 'successful' attempt, it took me about 3 months to drop below 100 kg from here.  Admittedly, I had started from 10+ kg heavier than this time and had been going a few months longer.  So whilst my motivation was still there, I know from experience that the healthy obsession it takes to lose weight can suffer from ups and downs.  I have a system of training and diet this time that is working well.  All I need to do is maintain the effort and stick to the plan....simple as that eh....

Last weekend I travelled with a small band of fellow enthusiasts to watch the live finale of Wimp 2 Warrior.  It doubled as the filming of the final episode of a web based series of the same name.  The first episode of the show went live the following day.  You can check it out on their website - LINKY.  The remaining episodes of the series will be released weekly.  The show itself is about everyday folk who are offered the opportunity to train for several months and then compete in a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) match.  So the parallels with any number of them to what I am trying to do are obviously quite salient.

The man behind the concept and head coach for the competitors is Richie Crannie.  He came to Synergy where I train in December last year to run a workshop that was an eye opener in terms of the skill and intensity he brings to the mat.  He also brought a few of those training in the Wimp 2 Warrior (W2W) program with him.  There I met Ben, one of the competitors and trained with him for the duration of the workshop.  Which was great, because not only is he a great guy, he is a man of similar dimensions to me, which is often hard to come by.  I kept in touch with Ben and followed his progression towards his match as best I could.  It was in support of Ben in the main that I travelled to Sydney for the final.  Of course I was interested in seeing a professionally run night of MMA, but, isn't it really those connections that you make that get you to go the extra mile in the end.

Ben fought a another one of the W2W participants and went down swinging.  This is often the case with heavyweight bouts.  Whilst we are all born with relatively the same ability to take a punch, the big boys tend to have the chips stacked in their favour in relation to throwing them with the heat required to sit you on your backside.  I was resoundingly impressed with how Ben handled himself on the night.  He looked as calm as I could imagine anyone to prior to engaging in a combat sport when I ran into him before the match.  Afterwards, he came out and visited the tables of supporters in the audience who had come to see him and did so with a quiet, humble way that I admired greatly.

Since the weekend I have been reflecting on how to process the idea of competing in the context of winning and losing.  In particular, I have been dwelling on my own reactions to how I handle being on the wrong side of the ledger as it were.  It's easy to be gracious and for most, humble in victory.  But, how much more does it speak of someone's character, how they carry themselves in defeat?

I had some of my deficiencies highlighted in training over the last week.  I mean in terms of MMA skills tested in friendly competition and not by someone standing there pointing out to me where I need to improve or anything like that.  More of an epiphany style of moment where you come to a stunning realisation that people are just that much better at something than you.  I'm pretty comfortable that I am not the best at anything in particular and that doesn't particularly worry me.  What I did resolve out of this week was that in order to compete in MMA, if I get there, I have a lot of work to do and I had just better make about getting it done.  The competitor that lies within me wants to know that I have done everything in my power to be the best I can be so that when I stand up to be called to account, I've left nothing in the sheds.

I hope that win or lose, I can be one of those people that can carry themselves with the quiet dignity that I admire so much.  I guess that forms part of the training as well.  Better be prepared!

Week 11 - Some Firsts Along the Way

Getting the important bit out of the way, a 1.2 kg loss at weigh in time this week along with an 800 gram average loss.  A small milestone this morning was ducking into the 104s if only just as I was 104.9kg.  What that means is that today, I could have competed in the Heavyweight ranks of ammateur MMA rather than the Super Heavyweights.  I think I can live with no longer being Super...

Light heavyweight, here we come!

One of the things I like about where I do my fitness and martial arts training, is that as well as what we do there, is that there is a lot of variety.  Yes you might do the same specific things from time to time and there are some regular classics like pushups and situps etc.  But, there is generally always something new just to throw you a curve ball.  Consequently, while I have been there I have tried doing things that I would not have otherwise and certainly not thought I would have been capable of doing.

For example, a week or two back, I climbed up a rope from floor to ceiling.  First time ever and definitely a big achievement for me.  I even went back and did it a few times just to prove to myself that it wasn't a fluke.  This week I did some 1 handed chin ups.  Got the shock of my life when I could do it.  Again there were several trips back to the chin up bar during the session, so along with my surprise came the satisfaction that it was something that I was genuinely capable of doing.  No need to make a big deal about it at the time as there were plenty of people there attempting the same thing and cheering on those who were successful and encouraging those who were busting a gut alongside.  There's nothing like that genuine sense of encouragement you get even as an individual, part of a group of individuals striving for the same goals.  A good indicator of a healthy supportive culture.

This leads me back to a topic I wrote on a few weeks back in my post "The Good Training Partner".  I am pleased to report that this important aspect of martial arts training is something that I am continuing to work on developing in myself.  The ability to know when to give and take in training situations.  When to soak up knowledge and when to contribute to the development of others, even if that means just being a body to practice on.

To that end, I found a great video recently by a famous martial artist name Ryron Gracie.  I really like the concept of keeping things playful when you are practicing.  Putting yourself in bad positions for the betterment of your training partner.  Letting them try out more dominant positions and learn how to execute finishing moves, or even trying to help to discover them.  The added benefit for you of course is that you are preparing yourself for defending those tougher situations that no one really likes to be in.  That in of itself can put you one step ahead of your opposition in situations that are real or just in competition.  The main point that I enjoy is helping others to help themselves.  It's an added bonus that you develop at the same time.

A few weeks back, I was watching one of the guys I train with practice grappling (called 'rolling') with someone else.  He is more experienced and his fitness was winning out in the situation over above anything else.  I saw several opportunities where he could have ended the friendly competition with a choke, but, he didn't.  When I asked him quietly afterwards why he didn't take the opportunity when it presented he replied 'I just like to see where things go'.  The implication being that there was no ego involved, no need to win or prove any points.  He was there to learn and at the same time be an instrument of learning.  I too learned a lot that night from that one simple expression and the underlying attitude it represented.

Below is the video that I mentioned.  It's worth a look and gives some very useful insights on the topic of being a good training partner.

Week 10 - An Unexpected Pleasure

100 grams.  The sum total of a week's effort.  To be honest I was surprised that I lost any weight at all.  I'm not sure why, but, nothing good was happening on the scales all week.  Speaking of the week that was, it may be time to move to include, if not entirely rely on my weekly average weight as my guide, rather than that of a single point in time (ie Thursday mornings after my biggest training day of the week).  Interestingly, the two figures have run in parallel every week, separated by roughly a kilo each time.  My weekly average weight has consistently been just over that of the specified weigh in morning.  Perhaps I will just report both or highlight where there have been inconsistencies   I know that I feel like a bit of a cheat when I report my lowest figure of the week under the condition that it manifests.  Still, if I am doing things the same each week, there is at least some consistency in that.

I took chest, waist and hip measurements again this week.  Somewhat surprisingly, my chest would appear to have increased in size, whereas my waist and hips have lost 1 and 2 centimetres over the past 2 weeks respectively.  The approach to exercise that I am taking does have strength elements to it and I know that I have made improvements in strength in some areas.  For example about 3 months ago, I could only manage 22 push ups.  Whereas in the most recent StrengthFit test I took, I did 35.  So I guess the work that results in weight loss meaning I have less to lift in a bodyweight exercise like that could also account for increased muscle mass as well and in doing so the maintenance of some measurements.  That's the theory I am going with anyway.  The fact that I am into a smaller size of pants is not a bad outcome though.

The Synergy crew with Brandon Vera

On the more interesting side of news for this week, last Sunday, I was fortunate enough to take part in a martial arts workshop at the UFC gym in Sydney.  The 3 hour session was run by Brandon Vera who is a current and long time UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) fighter.  It was a great experience and Brandon was generous with both his time and knowledge, very approachable and was open to answering any and all questions from everyone who participated.

As per my post a couple of weeks ago (The Hero Within), there are many people around the place that I admire.  Most are those that I interact with frequently.  Some however, are those that I have never met and only admired from afar.  Brandon Vera is one such person.  I remember watching his early fights and being so impressed with his skills and ability.  His last UFC fight was somewhat of a turning point for him, at least as I understood it.  After a period of what would be considered less than outstanding performances by his standards and by those set at the highest level of competition (ie the UFC), he faced more or less a do or die fight for his contract against Maurício Rua, who himself is a legend of the sport.  Whilst Brandon lost the fight, he gained an enormous amount of respect for his courage and abilities in what was an amazing fight.  So to have the surprise opportunity to meet, learn and train with Brandon was a pleasure and a privilege.  What made it even better was that I was able to do it with some of the Synergy people with whom I normally train.

I took two main things away from the day by way of learning.  Firstly, in terms of my own health and weight loss journey, I learned that what I am trying to do is achievable.  Brandon is about a centimetre or two shorter than me and walks around about the weight that I am now, if not a couple of kilos heavier.  Brandon said that he is about 108 kg at the moment, I am 106 kg.  He competes at light heavyweight (93kg).  He told me he trains intensely for 8 weeks prior to each fight and drops the weight required by training 6 hours a day in that period.  Obviously he is training to sharpen his skills at the same time, but, to compete, he has to make that weight.  It encouraged me greatly that I can do the same thing.  I may not have the same capacity to train as much each day, but, I also have longer than 8 weeks.  The point being that I know it is possible.

The second thing I took away from the workshop, other than sore legs from eating leg kicks, was an insight into just how big the gap is between the everyday amateur/enthusiast like me and a top professional competitor.  Not only were Brandon's movements precise and consistent each time, the techniques that he taught us showed me just how far I have to go in my martial arts development.  The concepts were not so complicated, but, the skill required to execute them struck me as considerably more than I have now and may ever hope to.  That's the great thing about MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), it's the mixed aspect.  It's about taking what works from a variety of sources and using it because it is effective for you.  What works for you may not work for me and vice versa.

Over and above that though, seeing what can be done at the top level was also fascinating.  Once again I was taken back to thinking about my Rugby days where years of training drills had the execution of certain skills automatic in given situations on the field.  Thinking about what Brandon taught us and the skills involved made me think of all the hours of practice it would take to be not only proficient in them, but, to have them so natural that they just happened automatically.  The thing about those thoughts that brings a smile to my face even now as I type this, is that those hours don't present as a chore when I think about them.  Rather, I dwell on them with excitement.  Even if I know that with the time that I have left where I will be physically able to train and the diminishing athleticism and reflexes that are already very noticeable, I will never reach the same level as a Brandon Vera, assuming that was ever even possible.  The exciting part is in the simple joy of improving and genuinely striving to be the best me I can be.

Week 9 - A Healthy Obsession

Just over 2 months down now and as I said last week, my progress in terms of weight loss at least, have far outstripped my expectations.  I put in a bit of extra effort this week, even putting in a 10km rowing session, which I haven't done for the better part of a month now.  The most pleasing aspect of which was that my time actually improved.  Certainly nothing like what I was doing when a year or so back when I trained at it specifically for months on end.  However, I am pleased enough to say that along with the weight loss, my methods are improving my fitness overall.  I still want to drop some time from my rowing, but, that is now a secondary thing amongst the goals that motivate me more broadly.

One of the primary goals of course is weight loss.  This week caught me a little by surprise in that it resulted in a 1.6kg drop on the scales.  This brings my progressive total to 13.2 kgs and exactly 50% of the loss required to reach the magic number!  As I said to my dietician in my weekly weight check in email, 'I know my run can't continue forever, so I'll take what I can get for now!'  My goal for this stage when I set out was based on 1 kg per week, of course meaning 9 kg.  I thought that was a pretty lofty goal.  So to be in advance of that is very pleasing indeed.

Certainly in many respects I think my results are representative of the hard work paying off.  For me, whilst I have put in consistently in StrengthFit classes and on the MMA mats, the biggest effort has been around improving my diet.  Nothing flashy.  Just being meticulous around what I am putting into my mouth.  Combine that with researching and educating myself around how to train and eat and you have the whole strategic package.  I call it strategic, my beautiful wife calls it obsessive!

I think she has a valid point too.  Whatever label that you put on it, I certainly think that when you genuinely want to be successful in an endeavour, it requires a certain level of investment and commitment.  When I look at the truly high achievers in life, whether it be athletically or in any of the other myriad of paths people walk, I would hazard a guess that none of them did so without a little healthy obsession around what it was they were working towards.  I imagine that in some cases the obsession was less than healthy too and therein lies the key challenge for me.  To get a sustainable balance to my boots and all approach.

If health and weight loss are the primary goals of this whole show, speaking from past experiences, I can yo-yo diet\health kick with the best of them.  In the past few years I have ranged from 140+kg to just under 100 kg and anywhere in between depending on my level of apathy or obsession at the time.  The key ingredient that has been missing is sustainability.  So what is different this time?  An excellent question that I have been tossing around in a very fearful dance in my head since I set out this time.  The fear is centred on the prospect of putting in the work again, only to find myself a big couch potato in a year's time.  So the question again is, what is different this time?

Well apart from abject fear of returning to the world of poor health and obesity statistics, I genuinely want to be a good example of what it is to lead a healthy lifestyle to my kids.  I like to walk rather than talk in that I believe in modelling the right behaviours to others, in work, in life generally and most particularly with regards to my children.  That objective requires long term and sustainable outcomes.  In support of that aspiration, I have been targeting my self education process on defining what a sustainable healthy lifestyle looks like for me.

My MMA coach will be very please to know that I finished the first book he suggested I read a couple of months ago called "The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual" (small round of applause for the author of this blog who is notorious for not reading anything longer than an SMS message).  It was a comprehensive guide to nutrition and training for the martial arts.  In addition, it had sections on maintaining a positive mindset and building a sustainable approach to long term health.  A quote, directly from it's pages:

"Why not make it a goal to be as healthy as possible this date next year, and a long-term goal to be as healthy as possible this date 10 years from now?  If you are going to be around anyway, why not be as healthy as you can?"

Kind of makes sense eh? Simple enough right.....?  Fortunately in addition to the thought that I have been giving it, the book, along with other reading that I have been doing has giving me some good ideas to help formulate a longer term strategy.

I work best with goals in mind.  For example, right now I am working towards light heavyweight with a view to competing in MMA at some stage in the future.  The act of doing so in a division where I feel I would be most competitive necessitates the weight loss that I desire.  So that is a short term goal with an end point in the next year or so.  What about 5 or 10 years from now?  Well, those goals are still being formulated.

One such goal that is working its way around in my thinking is grading in my MMA.  This is a multi year process and whilst the colour of my belt is not the be all and end all, to me, it holds significance in terms of the commitment it represents.  Commitment to yourself and others.  To being disciplined and determined over a long period of time.  What better symbol of my work towards long term health?  Being at a healthy weight for the duration of my progression through the levels of my MMA training would be such a great outcome and genuinely satisfying.  As would the opportunity to help others along the same journey.  Walking that mile in the same shoes of those seeking to be both better martial artists, or in addition, like me, trying to find that one thing that inspires them to put the work in to get healthy.

In a nutshell, knowing myself and how I work in mind, body and spirit will be the key to long term success in this endeavour.  Whilst things are going well now, history tells me that having plan to go forward with that includes short, medium and long term goals is the right way to go for me.  Fortunately I have a good network of supportive people.  Another vital piece of the puzzle.  With all the right measures in place and all going to plan, living light heavy will be a long term reality.