Project "Back to Bantam"

So, I've rarely ever cared about my weight as a number, because it rarely ever has been a problem or anything. I usually go with how I feel and when my favourite jeans feel a little tight for a change, then I ate a little more strict, meaning less carbs and sweets, but more veggies and protein. But. 

You might have noticed that MMA (mixed martial arts) and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) are weight-class sports and when you are actively competing, you have an advantage when you are able to compete in a weight-class that has opponents about your own size. For males that is rarely a big problem. It might get uncomfy for them, but the biggest weight difference possibly are 5kg or 10lbs. For women however, this looks different, at least in BJJ-tournaments, because there just aren't enough women to fill all weight classes. And since it doesn't make any sense to have three or four weight-classes with 3 competitors each tops, they are mostly just divided into -60kg/+60kg. And let me tell you, it is no fun whatsoever to compete against someone weighing in at about 78kg, when you yourself are 65kg, which is my "happy weight". 

This being said, a friend and training mate of mine is fighting in MMA featherweight (-65,7kg), so if we ever were to start in the same competition, chances are that if I was my happy weight, we'd be fighting against each other. Which just isn't fun, because a) for the fighters it is never fun to hurt a friend, and b) for the audience it's kind of boring, because both fighters know the other's strengths and weaknesses, and tend to avoid them, which makes them careful, which makes the fight a boring escape-game. 

After my moving back to Germany this summer and the stress at work I've had before, I actually weighed about 71kg when I arrived in Berlin. After a month of okay eating I was back at 69kg. Which was still too much. Then my trainer told me after my first Jits competition here in Berlin that I had to lose weight, if I did not want to face opponents significantly bigger than me (what happened to me during the White Belt Challenge). So, yeah, I knew I was going to have to diet. And then, my "blood thirst" or rather competition spirit awoke after a few sessions back in MMA, the spirit I'd been missing after this spring's competition debacle (preparing for four different comps, making weight, thus harming my metabolism, and being told that there is no opponent). Said team mate told me that we could run the world together, if we weren't in the same weight class. And well, she's a few centimetres taller than me and doesn't have anything left to lose, except for a foot or a hand, because she's totally shredded. So, it's my turn to lose weight, and go down to Bantam class (61,2kg). Not to cut it, because I don't want to wreak havoc on my metabolism again, but slowly lose it. 

I've done this once before, in 2014, when I wanted to compete at -60kg in the Finnish Amateur Open, and back then it worked well. I just felt like I looked a little anorexic as soon as I reached 61kg. Also, friends and family started telling me to stop losing weight. So, I gained some back. I knew I could do this, so, I was ready to go, when my trainer told me what to cut and what to not cut even though it might sound like you should cut it. Like carbs in general. Cut the simple carbs, the ones your body burns through right away, which don't give it anything for fuel. But keep the complex carbs, the ones your body needs to keep up power. Because you need power to train. Oh, and he was pretty clear in that I can't have candy. Which doesn't matter, because I don't like candy anyway. The chocolate however is a whole other thing. I miss chocolate. I have an allowance of one bar of dark chocolate per week (55g), of which I am allowed to eat before craving gets out of hand. But after that, none. 

You can't imagine how hangry I got in the beginning. There's nothing that sucks as much as sugar withdrawal. Because yes, sugar is addictive. And I don't really know the middle ground, I either go all the way or I don't eat anything. 

So, yeah, working with a 1600-2000kcal/day diet (depending on how much and what I'm doing on the gym side of things) right now and last Monday I was already down to 66.3kg. Only 5kg to go, so 1/3 of the way went in two weeks. It's going to slow down, though. It always does. 

I also changed my exercise regimen, I am now attending 3 BJJ classes, 2 MMA classes, 2 Combat classes, 2 Crossfit classes, 1 Body Attack class, 1 LMIStep class, 1 Pump class, 1 rolling session and 1 boxing class a week, if everything works out. However, it rarely works out perfectly, so most of the time two to four classes a week don't work out, because of work or soreness/failure to recover properly in time. 

This is another thing I've changed; I am now taking rest seriously, too. There is one day a week, where I don't do anything, and every five weeks, I take it really easily. 

During project "Back to Bantam", I have so far fallen in love with Crossfit, LMIStep, and found my abs again. I can actually see them again (in the right lighting :D ). Also, I am feeling better now, and maybe I have become a little judgmental, when I see people eating crap, but that's probably just jealousy in most cases. Because yes, some days, a muffin would be great. Or a brownie. Or red velvet cake. And yes, I am still hangry every now and then, and nothing sucks more than having your calories for the day used or planned and then thinking about eating something great. But all in all, I'm doing okay. When I reach Bantam weight, I can add a good 200-300kcal to my diet again, but until then, well, it's really strict. Today I was totally excited, because I could eat a jackload of stuff, because the main ingredient was spinach which has so few calories that you can eat away at it until you burst, basically (not really, but almost). It's the simple things. 

MMA and Grit Strength 13 - or: Hearteyes, baby

Yesterday, I had a more relaxed training day, after Monday had been kind of rough. And by relaxed I mean... only 2,5hrs training. MMA and Body Balance. After Monday MMA was hard; we did a lot of hooks and upper cuts and my shoulders were sore from Body Combat and Body Pump the day before. Now, our coach always likes to send us back into the world with a grueling last exercise, yesterday it was jab-cross-tabata. We did jab-cross-combos (either fast or heavy) for a minute and got 20sec rest. Then again combos and rest. We did five rounds of that. Our coach actually took a video from that last set. I'm back there in the white Bad Boy-shorts and my technique is way off, I'm so tired. I wasn't even able to raise my hands properly:

MMA training

But. Today. I finally got to try Grit Strength 13 and I loved it. I did a "light" Body Combat class before and was already pretty done with the world, but I had to prove a point. To myself. Best decision ever. 

I love the new choreo. There's a new move in there: 

New Move

And it's coming up in Track 2 already. As always, track 1 is warm-up. Track 2 is 3 sets of two different moves you do for 30sec first. 3sec break. 10sec reps. 3sec break and a last 10sec rep round. The first move is squat to push press with a bar bell, the second is this new move. 

Track 3 is fun, because you get a little movement into the otherwise static set up: you have two teams facing each other, one does high knees for 30sec, the other upright rows to shoulder press. Then the teams change moves. After two rounds, the teams get new moves. Team 1 does jumping lunges (if there's anything I hate more than burpees, it's jump lunges...*sighs*) and team 2 moving press ups. 

Track 4 was 45sec for each set, first set 7 upright rows and 7 rows, as many rounds as possible. Second set 7 burpees (aaand there they are) and 7 press ups. After you're through with both sets, you do the same, but the rep count goes down from 7 to 5. 

Track 5 was the one minute challenge, where you took your weight plate, did a squat and one squat jump. Then one squat, two squat jumps and so on for - as the name of the challenge says - one minute. As many rounds as possible. I got to 7,4 today. 

And then it's core. And let me tell you, after these last few days, my core was incredibly sore. Actually, I can feel the muscles moving beneath the skin these days, which feels a tad weird, to be honest. I have never been an athletic child, so being an athletic adult still feels strange to me. 

But that's it, that's the new Grit. And I love it, because you can really push yourself to your limits (especially after a Body Combat-class). Came close to barfing today. But that's also the fast level changes, when doing stuff in an upright position and then going down to do a press up or sth of the sort. Does anyone of you know the feeling? It's not even being exhausted, but the fast level changes. 

And tomorrow my best friend is coming to visit for my graduation ceremony and we'll have a blast. She'll be here all weekend, so you'll probably not hear from me in a few days. Have a nice one, guys! :)

The Joys Of Muay Thai (or martial arts in general)

that is thaiboxing. and poledancing. Three weeks without these two and I really managed to forget - or rather suppress the memory of - how easy you get bruises. Well, back into the game, after my first poledancing and second Muay Thai class since my break, I do remember oh too well. Why can't I love sports that are less bruisy? :D
and this is just my side. My legs and arms look even better.