INSANITY!

On Tuesday, we did Insanity for fitness. It was so hard! I found it really difficult to stay active. I had to take a few breaks other than the given water breaks, which is okay with me, since Insanity isn't exactly the easiest exercise in the world. I was especially proud of myself during the beginning of the workout. I was working really hard, really pushing myself. I think what messed me up was the water break. I think it indicated to my body that it was over. It was after the first water break that I started to slow down, when I was really supposed to go faster. I hope that for next time, I will continue to push myself even after the water breaks. I hope to do the whole work out non-stop (except for water breaks) next time. 

I was actually really proud of myself when I did Insanity. I felt like I got a really good work out. It was really intense, and I was definitely sore the day after. Other than the improvements already stated, I think I did pretty well. I'm proud of the effort I put in that day. :)

Second Fitness Day!

      Today, we did a 40 seconds of exercise and 20 seconds of rest. It killed the day after, but I had a lot of fun doing it. I enjoyed the variety of activities we did. I also liked that it was like an at home workout. I think I got better at motivating myself in this fitness activity. I think what works for me is looking at how much time is left. It's sort of a reminder that it's almost over, and that I only have to do it for a few more seconds. I made a few modifications for some of the exercises, because I wouldn't have been able to last the full 40 seconds had I not done so. For example, I think there was an exercise where you reach your knee to the side and do a push up, then do the same to the other side. I took out the push up, since the push up was a bit much for me. I was still able to do the exercise, just without the push up. For next time, I hope to do less modifications, and do the full exercises. Another improvement for next time would be motivating the people around me more. I noticed that some of the people, including myself, would sometimes give up when there was still a few seconds left. I hope for next time that I will cheer people on, and think positive thoughts, so that I, too, won't give up so easily. 

First Fitness Day!

     Today, I did my first beep test. I did pretty well for my first time. I got a 8.4 on the beep test, which is pretty good, since I've gotten around 7.5 in the past. I' m not too upset, but I'm hoping for next time to get a 9, and work my way up to a 10, my goal beep test score. I hope to motivate myself more for next time, so my next beep test will be higher than 8.5.

Here are the rest of my test scores:
 - beep test: 8.4
 - push ups/30 sec: 12
 - wall touch: 245-230=15
 - T-test: (didn't get to do it)
 - balance board touches/30 sec: 7
 - flexibility: 5
 - plank: ~45 sec

       I was pretty impressed with my results in the beep test. I tried really hard in all the activities listed above, and managed to get decent results. One thing I really want to improve is my plank. I've done the plank for a much longer period of time in previous fitness testing days. I'm aiming for 3.5 to 4 minutes by the end of the semester. Another thing I want to improve is doing more push ups. I think for the push ups, I tried really hard, but I gave up before I could fit in a few more push ups. Looking back now, I could have done at least 3 more push ups.
       Internally, I want to improve on finding things to motivate me. I need to tell myself to keep going and that my "pain" or uncomfortable feelings are only temporary. I also need to better understand that the sense of achievement I will get after is better than giving up and not gaining anything.
      All in all, I was quite proud of myself, since it was the first fitness day. I know what I need to do for next time, and I know what I need to do to achieve the new goals I have set. 

My Personal Profile

*I registered for this course because…

I enjoy being active. I've actually missed doing fitness and challenging myself, pushing myself to my full potential. I feel like that's the only way I can feel like I accomplished something, by pushing myself. It's also a course that I find gives me ideas of activities I could be potentially doing in the future. Lastly, I joined this course so I would be more motivated to be active. It's hard for me to have a fitness routine, since my schedule is constantly changing. It's also hard for me to get up and actually go to the gym or do something active.

* My favorite part of PE is…

Playing sports. I feel like I am quite competitive, and it can sometimes be excessive, but I really like playing sports. I also like the field trips, the little adventures we take as a class to do something fun and active. I also like seeing my progression as I go through the course. It's cool getting to see how much I've improved as the course went on. It's also nice to see what I want to improve upon for the next fitness day.

*I think my current level of fitness is…

NOT GOOD. I don't think I've done a decent workout in half a year, which is pretty bad. I feel that once I finished my GTP physical activity hours, I lost interest in being fit, which is sort of ironic since the GTPs are supposed to help me plan to be MORE active. It needs a LOT of improvement. Quite disappointed in myself now that I think about it.

*My previous personal best beep test is...

I think it was a 9.5.

*I am currently doing the following things to be active (outside of PE)…

Unfortunately, not much. I'm not very active at all. I don't go to the gym very often, and I don't do much else to be fit. I'm a little embarrassed saying this, but it's the truth...However, when I am in a PE course, I tend to do a lot more. My family recently bought a treadmill, which I can use to help improve my endurance. I'm also planning to get some weights, so I can do more home workouts.

*Things that PHYSICALLY prevent me from doing exercise (i.e. medical, injury)

N/A

*Things that MENTALLY prevent me from doing exercise (i.e. energy, time)

For me, it's mostly time. I worked out a bit during the summer, and staying active came to a halt when school started. I had a full course load, and I couldn't find time to do any workouts during the week (I know...excuses excuses). I also had no motivation to go to the gym or do anything active. It was hard for me to motivate myself to get active since I didn't have anyone to go with me. I also didn't feel like it. Doing something active was always a thought at the back of my head, and I just kept putting it off.

*My eating habits are…

Not too sure. I only eat the food my mom makes me, which is half good and half bad. My family and I eat stir fry and food with lots of vegetables, but mostly on weekends. During the weekdays, my meals usually consist of meat and a few vegetables. But on the plus side, I don't eat out too often, only on special occasions. I think I've cut down to eating out once every two months. I would like to eat more vegetables during the week. Sometimes I actually crave vegetables...like a normal kid would...

*I Want to be able to learn more about…

How stress impacts health, and how to deal with stress.

*I want to improve my abilities in… (ex. fitness, communication, positive impact)

Fitness. I really want to push myself to my full potential, and feel the gratification of having achieved the goals I set for this class. I also want to improve on doing more outside of class time. I want to be able to motivate myself enough to do a simple 20 minute workout, or just a simple jog around the neighbourhood. 

*Outside school activities I’d like to try are...

Hiking, surfing, sprinting, rock climbing, snowboarding, gymnastics?

*My fitness goals for the semester are…

To really push myself and get a 10 on the beep test at least twice. I know it's quite a stretch, considering that I haven't had a PE course in a more than a year, and I haven't been staying consistently active since GET FIT, but I think this year is my year to really push myself and get a 10. I think I can accomplish this if I put in the time, both in class and outside of school hours. I also think that I've trained myself well enough in the past to motivate myself to just keep going, no matter how uncomfortable I feel or how much my legs hurt. I think this goal can also apply to the other aspects of the course. I need to set high goals for myself and actually accomplish my goals by putting in the time.

*My personal character goals are...

To be positive, even if no one else is. Positive thinking spreads almost instantaneously. I want to be able to lift people's spirits and hopefully motivate them to be more positive and more enthusiastic about the activity, as well. I think a positive thinking class makes the class more fun and enjoyable for everyone.

End of Semester Post :(

So, it's that time of year again, where we have to say goodbye to the people we have met and made friends with. But it's also that time of year to reflect upon what we have learned. I have learned so many great things about myself and others throughout this entire semester!
I learned...
1. That outer beauty isn't everything - after having watched the documentary, I think my whole perspective on how I view myself changed completely. I used to think that girls had to be skinny and cover their whole faces with make up to be considered "pretty." But now I know now that inner beauty is learning to accept yourself for who you are, as well as embracing your insecurities, because those are what make you YOUnique.
2. That fitness requires a lot of motivation - ugh! Fitness! It takes SO much motivation! But I just have to keep going and know that it will end soon!
3. That it's only yourself that's stopping you from what you want to do - if you keep telling yourself that you cannot possibly do whatever you have to do, then it will never get done! I have learned to instead tell myself positive things like "You can do it!" and "It's not that bad!"
4. That I place a higher importance on health, rather than placing a high importance on "fixing" my insecurities - maintaining my health is a better use of my time than spending hours perfecting every single thing I dislike about myself. I would rather die of old age than to die of a surgery to get rid of wrinkles or something like that.
5. That I am and will be judged, but I am strong enough to handle it - I have learned that people say things that may offend me, but I don't necessarily have to let it get to me. If they say those things about me, I will probably get a bit hurt, but I will bounce right back up from that, making me even stronger.
6. That positive energy spreads like wildfire - I love our Get Fit class because there is so much positive energy! There is not one day that I have not managed to smile, or laugh, or be more motivated to do something because of the positive energy that we have!
7. Different activities that I can do outside of Get Fit/PE classes - I have learned that I love being outdoors. I would rather play outside than do a workout inside, mostly because of the nature aspect of the outdoors. Throughout my Get Fit experience, I have learned that you can jog in snowshoes, go to a gym and do gymnastics, do the Grouse Grind, do Tae Kwon Do, and dance! There are so many things that I can do  to stay active, the possibilities are endless!
8. That what motivates me is seeing the "finish line." - what mean by this is the end of the exercise. I just really like the feeling of having accomplished my goals and even sometimes exceeding my expectations!
9. That girls should be given more credit for the way they handle how they are treated in society - again, referring to the documentary. I feel like my eyes have been opened since then, and I have learned that girls are treated so unfairly for so long that it has become normal for some of us. I think girls should be appreciated so much more than they are. I mean they give birth and have periods and all that hormonal stuff!
10. How to love myself as a whole, not just bits and pieces - I have learned to accept my flaws and see them in a new light. I now see them as something that makes me unique and unlike other people.

After this Get Fit class is done, I think that I will continue to stay active through different outdoor activities and through the Wii (Just Dance! and Yoga). I will also continue to spread the positive energy, and avoid the negative at all costs!
Overall, this class is probably one of the best experiences of my life, and I am glad that I have learned so many things from it. I really hope that the girls in next semester's class will learn and discover as many things as I have.

Inspirational Quotes

Here are some inspirational quotes I have found on the internet. I think the quotes that I like reflect what I want to become: strong. No, I don't mean lifting 500 lb weights or anything of that sort, but strong on the inside. I think how you react to a bad situation really reflects the type of person you are. And personally, I strive to be the type of person that picks themselves up and comes up stronger than they were before. I want to be the type of person that throughout all the pain, will keep moving forward - where else do I have to go? With this inner strength, I believe that I will have the motivation needed to keep going even on those days where I ask myself "Why do I even try?" And I think that this inner strength can also help me during future work out/fitness days. I believe that I can achieve whatever I want to, as long as I have motivation, strength and heart to do so.

Snowshoeing

Yesterday, we went to Mount Seymour to do some snowshoeing. I really enjoyed it! I had fun having small chats with some of the girls in our group, as we walked through the sparkling white snow as we ventured through the trails with our snowshoes. It was really fun playing games, such as the snowshoe hare relay race and freeze/ hypothermia tag. I learned a lot about animals that survive through winter conditions. For example, Whiskey Jacks, snowshoe hares and snowfleas. I learned that the snowshoe hares burrow in the snow during the winter, when they have white fur, and their fur turns brown in the spring and summer time. I enjoyed raising my heart rate with snowshoes, since I've never experienced snowshoes in that way. I had gone snowshoeing before, but at Grouse Mountain with my family. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and the snow, so I enjoyed the experience even more when I got to snowshoe with my friends. I was a bit jealous of the little kids that got to ski and ride on the magic carpet! :( In the future, I really want to try skiing and snowboarding, even if it's just one lesson. I am planning on trying to find more outdoors type activities. I think that being outdoors allows for moth exercise and it also allows people to enjoy the nature surrounding them.

Snowshoeing by Me, Nanki and Jessica

Snowshoe hares burrow,
As we walked through the snow without sorrow.
It was all laughs and smiles
As walked for miles and miles
Through the ups and downs
We lost so many pounds
We had lots of fun
In the snow and the sun
And we sweated off our buns!
My soreness is gone
But the memories will live on!