The Luck of the Irish

So, I've been AFK for quite some time, but there's a reason for that: I've been busy with training, work, and travelling. A friend and I travelled to Dublin at the beginning of December, because the two of us had a holiday at the same time for the first time in a while. And we've always wanted to go see Dublin. 

And what can I say, it was all we had hoped for and more. Why? Because of reasons. The Luck of the Irish being just one of them.

1. Irish people are among the friendliest I've ever been in contact with. I know, it sounds cliché, but most people we encountered on our trip were happy-go-lucky people, who didn't take themselves or life too seriously. They helped whenever they could and had the greatest accent ever.

The Liffey at night

2. Our accomodation: we had a great hotel room looking out on the river Liffey, where staff was nice and the room cosy. And cheap. We even had a kettle and several Starbucks and Costa branches within walking distance. Well, to be completely honest, almost everything of interest was within walking distance. Check out the Clifton Court Hotel.

View from our hotel room

3. The Irish luck seems to be contagious; after a few hours, you start to get more relaxed as well, and notice that most things just work out, even if you don't stress them. Or maybe that's just why. You just trust that everything will work out for the best, and if not, then you deal with it when or rather if it doesn't. I was able to take some of that Irish chill back to Berlin and I'm feeling a lot better than before. 

Anyways, it is (almost) impossible to get stressed in Ireland. 

4. Nature. Everything is just incredibly green. Even in December. Trinity College and the park around St. Patrick's Cathedral were great representations of "the Emerald Isle".

St. Patrick's Cathedral

5. Guinness. Do I need to say more? Well, pub culture and Guinness seem to go hand in hand, and it's just an experience in itself to visit a real Irish pub. There's live music, happy people, red cheeks, and laughter all around. We headed to the Temple Bar pub and The Church, an old church that serves as a pub these days.

Temple Bar, probably one of the most photographed spots in the city

6. Nando's. I know, I know, you can find Nando's in London, too, but the staff were grand (and one of the waiters was named Taco), friendly, and it was our first Nando's experience. We love Nando's. And it's just across the street from The Church.

Quinoa salad at Nando's 

7. Boots. The drugstore. To make this one short: my friend and I are into British cosmetics. I for one have had to travel to London or Britain every other year, to get my favourite scrub, Soap & Glory's "The Breakfast Scrub". You get all or at least most British cosmetics in Ireland as well. And you don't have to change money, seeing that the Irish use the Euro. 

8. Sights. We only had two and a half days, so we had to leave out a few of the more time-intensive things in order to get a feel for the city and see the most important things, like the Georgian Doors, Oscar Wilde's birthhouse, Oscar Wilde's lounging memorial, the Ha'Penny Bridge, etc. Next time we vist, we have to see the Guinness Experience, maybe the inside of Trinity College's Old Library with the Book of Kells (which had an unexpected 10e entrance fee, after we read on the net that it is free...), the Writer's museum, etc. There's a bunch of writers hailing from Dublin. And if you've been there, you know why.

Oscar, lounging in style

9. You feel like you walked into a postcard most of the time. Or onto a movie set. It's just surrealistically beautiful.

movie set feeling because of all the details

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. 

CrossFit can't be that great...oh, nevermind

So, I only meant to try CrossFit to be able to take part in the debates going on about it. I was a sceptic, but I wanted to give it a try. And after the second class I was already hooked. There's something epic about doing stuff you didn't think you could do (e.g. handstand push-ups) and that other people will never do in their lives. So, what I mean to say is: it's not a cult, it's a lifestyle. And it's not about being the best, but being better than before. And even though everybody is encouraging you and cheering you on, no one is gonna keep you from giving up, which means you have to get through it with sheer will power sometimes. It hurts, but you see improvements and development even after a few sessions. I was the last person I ever expected to say this, but CrossFit is amazing. I just sold my soul to a great box with a great trainer and I am totally happy about that decision. 

You're my favourite sin...

"So I salute you with both hands

It's unbearable pain, but time well spent

[...] You take all my problems, filter them up, then throw them all away

With the pleasure comes the pain that only you could bring...

You've been given all I have

When you come around, I seem to give in

In a fight I'll never win, cause all the while you're my favorite sin"

(Within Reason - My Favorite Sin)

The awkward moment when you hear a love song and all you can think of is: "that's exactly what MMA is to me!" 

So, after a month at Randori, training with the same Jits and MMA coach, who knows pretty well, what he's doing, I came to a decision. I'm almost 30 now. My prime time for competing is almost over, so when I came to Berlin, I already knew that it was either all in now or having a fun hobby on the side for the rest of my life. 

I'm not an 'a little bit'-kind of person. I'm either all in, or I'm out. Obsessed or not interested.

So, I had a talk with my trainer. Real talk. I told him, I wanted to go all the way. That I trusted him enough to get me where I need to be. And he said, he'd be there to do everything he can to do what it takes for me. He'd give me conditioning instructions and revise a nutrition plan. And while he's talking a lot and one could think that it's all just talk, he came through right away. Yesterday, I had my first conditioning circuit with our competitors. Our trainer invited some other people, too, to check out our basic fitness levels and well, torture us a little (he's doing the same training with us, so don't get me wrong, he's walking the talk). We did five rounds of pull-ups, push-ups, lunges, burpees and abs. It wasn't that bad then, but today, I'm SORE. On the other hand, he also told me that my fitness was solid, a good base to build on (because there's always room for improvement). So yeah, now it's all about nutrition, conditioning and training as regularly and often as possible. The life of an athlete. Fat me seven years ago would have never thought that I'd be enjoying this so much. Life is a funny thing, it never turns out the way you thought it would, and that's great. 

Feel the burn...

Handstand push - ups on a box. Good morning, shoulders. Ouchie. This CrossFit - thing is worse than I thought. And more fun. And it hurts more. And it's way more addictive. Having the time of my life right now with MMA, BJJ and CrossFit. I'm probably in way better shape at 30 than I've been at 20. :D

Others collect stamps...

..I collect bruises. But you know what has been a really stupid idea? Face- or rather foreheadplanting into the cage to literally save your neck. I didn't get choked, but now I'm growing a second head out of my forehead. :P
On the light side of things, my 51-year old coach twerked to 50 Cents Candy Shop today. We had a blast at training and I have to say, as much as I miss MMA Team 300, the team at Randori-Pro is probs the best thing that could happen to me at this stage (while MMA Team 300 was what I needed before).
I love training again.

Priorities

Life is a strange thing; it is a different experience for everyone and no two people take the same path through it. And why is that? Because people have different jobs, hobbies, friends, and priorities. I, for one, love exercising. I love fitness, sports, you name it. And because exercise and sports are important to me, I make time for those. I prioritise them. 

For a long time people have been asking me, why I am single or why I don't even try to change that. Well, for one, I'm happy as it is. I love my way the life it is and for me to compromise and change even parts of it, well, that'd need someone who's worth it. I haven't met anyone like that before. 

But the other thing I never fully understood myself is prioritising. On Saturday, I got talking with a guy about those things and he said something that's true for me, too. "Well, if I could go out and socialise or go to training, I'd always choose training. Which kind of takes a toll on my social life sometimes." And that's just it. If I get to choose between anything and training, I'll choose training. The type of training might change, but it's almost training. Which is why my life is different from those of many other people I know. Sometimes it's sleeping, too. But yeah, my life revolves mostly around exercise and sports. And you know what? I'm okay with that. I'm happy with it. Otherwise I'd change it.