Monday Motivation

"It's important that athletes can compete on a level playing field. And youngsters coming into the sport can know that if they are working hard and training hard, they'll see a true reflection of where they stand and what they can achieve worldwide and not be swayed by people who are cheating."

Paula Radcliffe

Las Vegas Update Part 2 - Guard Up!

Las Vegas was all about UFC Fight Week, the fan expo, and UFC 162. If it wasn't for these events I'm not sure whether or not I would have liked Vegas. However, for this trip, I know that UFC Fight Week was awesome & I would definitely consider flying over to do it again!

My workouts in Las Vegas were split between training with professional fighters and hitting the gym.

The free gym at the MGM Grand was a basic cardio room. I got there around 7 a.m. and it was already packed!

I was quite amused to be staring at the Hooters hotel while on the cross-trainer -- that's something you definitely won't see in Kuwait!! 

I discovered a second gym which was much nicer - free weights, more cardio machines, and a variety of general weight machines. I went there for my remaining weights workouts. I can't resist a good squat bench! For $10 a day it wasn't bad at all.

A squat bench and free weights plus lots of cardio options -- awesome!

Now for the real stuff -- training with the professionals!!

My training in Vegas was mostly focused on Brazilian Jiujitsu. It was such an awesome experience. I was absolutely giddy with excitement. I wish I had some shots of me doing some of the actual training, but here are some pix of fighters I worked with.

I attended a 2-day seminar by Ryron and Rener Gracie -- isn't this picture amusing? ;) 

Me & Matt Hughes

Me & Khalil Rountree (he was main fight for Tuff n Uff & he won!)

 This is my favorite picture of the whole summer - messing around with BJ Penn after training!

 Me & Forrest Griffin at the UFC party

The main fight: Silva vs. Weidman - UFC 162

A glimpse of the fan expo - it was so cool!

There were quite a few celebrities at the fight, and I got a great view of many of them since we were in the 3rd row - Mike Tyson, Steven Segal, Usher, Edward James Olmos, Kim Coates and Theo Rossi from Sons of Anarchy to name a few ... I was smiling the whole night :)

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What I Learned

I love MMA training. The training sessions were tough; they really made me test my physical abilities in a different way from cardio and strength training. After each session, I felt empowered and strong. Upon leaving Vegas all I wanted was to get back home and get into proper training as soon as possible.

I realized that if I wanted to achieve any level of proficiency in MMA, then I was going to have to train more like an athlete. This meant really focusing on good nutrition, proper/efficient workouts, and adequate rest. It's a combination that I have known is necessary for a while, but this time I felt more serious about it.

I wanted it, and I am willing to work for it. The intention itself was very powerful for me. I left Vegas with a renewed sense of determination and a big smile on my face.

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My time in Vegas was occupied with Fight Week. I didn't see any shows, but I did eat at many great restaurants. As a fan of Top Chef, I was quite thrilled with how many of the chefs featured on the show had restaurants in Vegas. I took the opportunity to try several of them. My favorite was Joel Robuchon's restaurant at the MGM Grand - really terrific!

D & Me at Joel Robuchon

We had every intention of going to the Grand Canyon before leaving Las Vegas; however, I was so beat with all the training that the last stop I made was to the spa to be totally pampered before the next long road trip. Bliss!

Next Stop: San Francisco

(Link to: Las Vegas Update Part 1)

LA Update Part 2 - Testing my Comfort Zone

Los Angeles was a great starting point for this vacation. The relaxed atmosphere and sunny weather  was perfect for getting over jet lag.

Cruising around Los Angeles

I used my jet lag to my advantage on the first day and hit the hotel gym around 6 a.m. Heading to the gym while on vacation is no longer a strange concept for me. I remember a time when I would pack gym clothes, with all the best intentions, but never make it to the actual gym. This time, however, packing an extra suitcase with just my workout clothes was worth it.

I wasn't impressed with the hotel gym. It was really basic, and I knew that although I could get a bit of resistance training in, it would mostly be cardio. With that in mind, the next day I head outdoors for a jog/walk around West Hollywood. Between the heat and the distance (6.5 km), I was wiped out by the end of that day!

Vacation Day 1 Workout

Caught mid-stride in West Hollywood

So, the gym and the outdoor walk were 'normal.' What was really exciting to me was going to Jean Jacques Machado's Brazilian Jiujitsu Academy. It was intimidating walking into an academy that I was completely unfamiliar with, putting on a gi (that I don't like wearing anyway), and then grappling with men I didn't know. I'm glad that D was there, even though we weren't grappling together. It was a really great experience. Even though it was just one session, I felt like I achieved a lot just by going there and doing it. I'm still working on facing my fears and building my confidence - this was a great way to test being outside my comfort zone.

My second big challenge was going to CrossFit. I really, really wanted to go to a CrossFit box while I was in Los Angeles, but I was scared. CrossFit is no joke. You push yourself to the limit - it challenges your mind and your body. Would I be ok going to a new box? Would I feel comfortable enough to perform? Would I be up to whatever WOD they had planned for the day?

I was really, really anxious heading to the Box. My heart was pounding, and there were a few times when I thought - never mind, I'll just turn back ... but I didn't turn back. I went in and gave it a go.

The people at CFLA (CrossFit Los Angeles) were great. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. We started with an outdoor run warm-up (run?? shit, will I be able to keep up) and got to know each other a bit before going back to the Box to continue warming up/stretching and of course our WOD.

Before doing the WOD, each one of us had to state our goal - whether it was to complete the WOD in perfect form, beat a certain time, etc. I said that I wanted to complete the WOD within 6 minutes. The coach said - no way, you can do it under 5.

Talk about putting on a bit of pressure, but it was exactly what I needed. I managed to complete the WOD under 5 minutes, and I felt great. Everyone was being encouraging and supportive. It was such a great atmosphere, and I felt amazing afterwards. My only regret was that I wasn't going to be in LA long enough for another CrossFit workout.

Partnered Sprints at CrossFit LA

I made it on the board & I beat my goal time of 5 minutes.

Me and Michael Stanwyck - one of the founders of the Whole Life Challenge!!

What I Learned
I need to trust myself more.

Dieting and exercise are so much easier once my mind was in a positive place. Even though I know that I am strong and capable, I am still not confident in my abilities. It is this lack of confidence that makes me think (know) that I am not pushing myself 100% yet. I wonder why I could not tell myself - set your goal at 4 min 30. So what if you don't make it; at least put forward a challenging goal so that you can push yourself.

I'm still hesitant, and I need to believe - without hesitation - that I am up to the challenge. Having a supportive environment is really important (thanks Dizzle Rivera for encouraging me & believing in me). However, I need to also provide that type of support to myself.

This is something that I want to work on for this next year. By next summer I want to be able to walk into any CrossFit box around the world and feel confident that I belong and am able to compete.

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A few other pix of my time in LA.

Hollywood Boulevard -- I wasn't impressed

LA Street Food Fest -- not too many healthy options here, but had a great time nonetheless. Plus I got to meet up with a college friend (bottom left photo) after 10 years!

My childhood best friend and I reunited after 23 years!!

D & I at Spago

It was a sign! The UFC 162 poster was the first thing I saw outside my window every morning. Next Stop: Las Vegas!

(Link to: LA Update Part 1)

Back Home

Wow, what a vacation it's been. It seems like such a long time ago that I was in Los Angeles (well, I guess 6 weeks ago is a long time). It feels good to be back. My journey home was long, but uneventful (just the way I like my international travel!). I was pleased to have completed my mega-holiday in the States without any problems at all. I truly feel blessed to have been able to enjoy such a wonderful vacation.

Now, it's back to reality.

I'm sure it'll take me a few days to get over my jet-lag and to get through tons of laundry, not to mention put away all my shopping ;)

I'll be weighing in on August 12th. I thought I'd give myself a few days to get over my post-travel bloating that I always seem to be affected by.

All the posts I wrote while I was on holiday were labeled 'Part 1' (except for my 2nd NYC post). I'll be writing my Part 2s over the next few days. I had a different experience in each city. Aside from the holiday aspect, I had many realizations in terms of my health and fitness progress/mentality. These were really important moments for me, and definitely ones that I think are worthwhile noting in my blog since I believe these discoveries demonstrate how much I've changed/grown over the past year. They also give me an idea of what direction I'm headed in ... and so far I'm liking what I'm seeing.

New York City Update Part 2

This is my final week in the States. I have mixed feelings about leaving. Part of me is more than ready to go home. However, another part has been thoroughly enjoying being on vacation and really making the most of my time here.

My final week consisted of more reunions with friends from college, lots of walking, some more training at Renzo Gracie's Fight Academy, and lots of shopping.

The thing I've enjoyed the most about being on holiday has been the daily walking. We just don't walk in Kuwait. The weather and the landscape is just not built for it. We drive ridiculously short distances. Here, however, I haven't thought twice about going to a store or some place that's a mile or two away. Part of it is probably that I'm not in a rush, but I know that because others around me are walking as well, it doesn't feel like I'm the only one. Walking is easy. It has definitely helped me stay fit while on vacation. I've needed it to cancel off my not so clean meals.

That's another thing -- I'll really be happy going back to my kitchen. As 'fun' as it may sound to some people - not having to cook for 6 weeks and eating out for each meal - it has been tough as I'm still determined to see a loss of 5 lb when I weigh in on August 12th!

Monday Motivation

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." 

Aristotle

Hoosick Falls Update Part 1

Hoosick Falls -- that's right, Hoosick Falls, NY. 

Have you heard of it? Are you wondering what in the world drove me to go to Hoosick Falls? 

It's definitely a place I never thought I would have gone. However, my best friend from college (met her the day my parents left me in Rochester, NY) lives there. Although I've seen her almost every time I've come to the States, this was the first opportunity after 7 years that we were getting the chance to spend a week together for some non-stop catching up. It was a fabulous week. I had some true R&R time. As much as I've loved working out and trying new things, taking a break from it all also felt good. 

I also got the chance to bond with her 6 month old baby. Now, I'm not an ooh-aah type of baby person. In fact, I'm not too fond of being around them at all. However, her daughter was totally adorable & I had an amazing time. 

Aside from two 3-mile walks, I didn't exercise that week. However the big difference was that except for one day, we ate super-super clean. It was such a welcome relief from all the restaurant eating of the past month! 

Mid-week I took a peek at the scales ... Lets just say I'm very, very happy. I'm really close to my -5 lb goal post-vacation ... We'll just have to wait until I 'officially' weigh in on August 12th :) 

As a side note: August 2 is a significant day for me as it marks the anniversary of the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990 -- a day that really changed me life. If you're interested, you can read my blogpost on it from 2 years ago - http://unveiledangel.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-2-1990.html - 

Reading that post again makes me very emotional. There's so much that I didn't write, 

but I remember it all so well. The thoughts and memories just come flooding in. 

Anyway. Here I am, 23 years later -- feeling very blessed and grateful.