What You Should Know About HeatStroke...It's NO JOKE!

I remember Muay Thai training in the summertime one particularly hot year.  Sometimes, we would become so hot, we would actually shiver and feel like we were 'freezing'; light-headed, dizzy and rather nauseaus.  This was not a good thing...this was heatstroke!!  I had the habit of getting out of my gloves and running cold water over my head and torso at the bathroom sink; putting the gloves back on and being stupid for another hour or so because I thought I wasn't tough enough.  Now, I'm not saying this was the smartest way to train, and now that I know better, I don't condone nor do I endorse this type of heat training to that level of discomfort.
Here's what happens when a person exercises in the heat:  the blood is diverted away from the internal organs and goes to the dermal (skin) layer to cool the body.  The hotter a person becomes, the less blood circualtion the organs, muscles and bones receive (this can be as much as 25%!).  This is hazardous to the health as there can be kidney, heart, liver and intestinal damage.  "Leaky Gut" syndrome can occur where bacterial invasion of the internal organs can result in inflamation, sepsis and potential death.
Heat exhuastion and Heatstroke also manifests when a person becomes so hot, they collapse, become delirious or sink into a coma.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you or anyone you are with (including pets) believe you are experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke...use some common sense and stop the activity or exercise immediately!  Ice baths, cold water or cold towels to immediately cool the body is a must.  Sit down, rest and hydrate with cold water.  Take it easy for the next few days and allow your body to recover from 'heat shock'.

Transformation & Reinvention in the Face of Adversity

Last night, I was training with a friend of mine who was also a full contact Muay Thai kickboxing champion.We went our usual 10 rounds, 3 minutes each (which can seem like an eternity sometimes).  Both of us aren't spring chickens and not without our histories of various injuries.  That being said, we modify how we use our elbows, knees, fists and legs so that whatever piece of us is permanently damaged is not reinjured.  We continue to have fun, get an incredible workout, while ferociously executing strikes with tremendous control.  My partner is quite fast and much taller - hence, her length and reach are something to avoid.  I am much shorter, but more solid; my strikes harder.  We work together as training partners; switching our stances from left to right.  We could really hurt oneanother but that's not the point of training.  Occassionally, she 'gets one in' on me if I don't block or keep my gloves up to my face.  I laugh when this happens - always have when hit hard.  It scares the pants off an opponent to know a hit doesn't scare or hurt you.  You adapt; you transform pain into laughter and you reinvent your injury into an asset by surprising your opponent with a different operandum.
This attitude transcends into everyday life.  Sometimes you get hit with events that upset your applecart - layoffs, rejections, dissolution of relationships - it's all the same.  Taking the experience, looking at it in the eye and using it to your advantage is transformation and reinvention.  Change is good; it shakes us up and motivates us to do something meaningful with our lives.  The job was most likely a dead end or boring, the rejection meant that the situation wasn't right to begin with and the dissolution of one relationship brings the opportunity to have a great relationship with someone else.
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  A fighter who doesn't adapt in the ring gets knocked out.  A smart fighter assesses the situation and adapts and modifies every second in the round.  Be a champion...transform, reinvent yourself in the face of adversity and remember...when you get hit, laugh - and laugh loud and hard at Life.  In the end, YOU get LIFE - LIFE doesn't get YOU!
No blog until next Tuesday...I'm goin' fishin' for the holiday!  Enjoy your 4th of July!

Golf and the Kickboxer..Diversification

A big thank you to all who have been writing and sharing this blog with me.  I'll be taking a few days off to go play golf....yes, you read it right---I'm going golfing!!!

I went to the store yesterday and bought my first golf skirt.  It's not dworky, but a civilized, understated navy blue culotte.  I've packed my 'magic' golf shoes, my straw hat with the gosgrain navy ribbon, my golf shirts, my momentus, and away I go!!!  Good grief, I'm turning into my mother!!!  (Well, that wouldn't be such a bad thing).

There's not much of a difference between golf and Muay Thai kickboxing at the end of the day.  Yes...one is an activity and the other is a sport.  But concentration, form, and perseverence (endurance in Muay Thai) are all common elements here.  After taking up the activity of golf, I understand why professional athletes love the game so much...it's cerebral and mathematic; but it's also very social.  Now, being the social butterfly that I am - I'm looking forward to a few days of chit chat, fresh air and using the opposite side of my brain...essentially, I'll be 'clearing my head'.

Here's Your Tip of the Day:
Diversity is the spice of life.  Break up your usual routine today.  Do something different, eat something different, try a new routine at the gym.  Walk your dog around a different block; buy a different shade of lipstick.  It will get you to 'think out of the box', clear your mind and take your thoughts away from the rote and mundane.

I'll be back next Thursday.  For now, I'm going to leave the wraps and gloves home and go listen to the birds!!

Stamina and Longevity

Last night, I went to see a corporate 'fight night' event.  This is an event where, white collar (men and women) train to box at their gym and then get into the ring for 3 two minute rounds of boxing bouts.
There is dignity in just having the guts to get into the ring...no one is a loser here.  The training that goes into fighting is grueling, rigorous and demands the highest standards of cardiovascular training.  2 minutes in the ring can be the longest 2 minutes of your life.  The bell rings and your opponent comes out of his or her corner, ready to beat your brains out...and they don't even know you.   It's nothing personal; you're just 'IT'.  The heart rate soars during those 2 minutes and can go up to as much as 170bpm.  You'd better be in really good cardio condition for this sport. 
Did you know that the resting heart rate of a conditioned athlete is approximately 48bpm?  This is because they are heart healthy.  Your heart is the most important muscle in your entire body.  Forget the quads and biceps that most think are the target muscles to hit at the gym.  Your heart rules:  the better cardio-conditioned you are, the better your heart will pump that oxygenated red blood cell supply to your organs, muscles and bones...oh yeah - and the brain.   In the long run, you'll be smarter, stronger, faster and you'll most likely live longer.
And if you think you've got what it takes to go into the ring....you'll have more stamina.  You'll have your 'day in the sun'.
Here's Your Tip of the Day:  try jumping rope...it's great stuff for the heart.  Start off with a consecutive 2 minute round.  Take a 60 sec break and then get back to it.  Next round, jump for 5 minutes, then take another 60 sec break.  Keep increasing the length of time you can jump without resting.  Breathe naturally and think about dancing.  Rope jumping is like dance...it's rhythym and fun.
And when you think you can jump for at least 20 minutes straight, give me a call and you can come jump with me!
Have a great weekend!

How Sweet It Is...Training, Comradery and Friendship

Yesterday, my training partner and I went 10 (3minute each) rounds.  We did a few rounds freestyle punching, then it was all knee, push, and roundhouse combo kicks, punches and blocks followed by sicilian situps and stretching.  As I would with any other patient, I rubbed a little bit of Chinese medical 'hot pepper sauce' on my left knee to 'sweat out' any remaining extraneous fluid.  After about 30 minutes, we could actually see my knee 'sweat'.  Chinese Medicine is just so cool.
One month after surgery I was back!  Although I kicked only with my right leg (because of the tremendous force of impact of the leg to the pad and possible impact of limb to limb), my left leg was my pillar of strength.  I spent all my time up on my toes, perfectly balanced and as light as ever as my right leg once again reached up to 6ft while my left leg danced perfectly in balance.
Today, there is no swelling, no pain and I slept like a baby...not so bad for an old dog!
The Tip for Today?....how sweet it is to do your sport again!  The hard work of doing physical therapy is paying off and I will continue to do exactly what my physical therapist tells me.  The acupuncture and laser self treatments are doing their work to improve circulation and rebuild connective tissue.
The Second Tip of the Day?  How blessed I am to have a great comrade and friend who took the time to support my journey and train with me yesterday.  Your training partner is just that...your partner.  It's a two way street - you support oneanother through your ups and downs and help oneanother to prepare for any event that comes along.  Take time out today to say 'thank you' to your training partner (s) and let them know how much they contribute to your journey of reaching your goals!

Muay Thai Forever

Today, I will wrap my hands and put my gloves on once again......
I will rinse off my mouthpiece and shake out my silk shorts...........
Surgery was February 4th, Today is March 7th.....
I will bow in respect to my training partner and I will once again know the joy of martial arts...
Muay Thai Forever!

That's MY tip for MYSELF today!!!

Train Like a Pro and Fight Like a Girl

Yesterday, while showing my surgeon 'what I could do' 29 days after knee surgery, he looked at me while I was standing on one leg while my 'post surgical knee' was completely bent and lifted high enough to touch my nose and said "how can you do something like that???"  I told him it was years of training like a pro and fighting like a girl.  Being in generally good physical condition helps when you need any type of surgery but the road to recovery is crucial for longterm health.
If you can train like me and fight like me (a girl), you're WAY ahead of the game, 'cause not many people can fight like I can, that's for sure!!
During the past year, I have had many people ask me if I would train them in Muay Thai...to learn how to defend themselves, get into great condition, or obtain the back and arms that I have.  I've thought about it and have decided to train any of you who are willing to work hard and go the distance like any fighter.
So, if you want a back and arms like mine (go to: http://www.kmondesire.com/whatsnewsthismonth.html and look at that photo on the website....that's me and it ain't photoshop), give me a call or email me.  If you do what I tell you to do, in 12 weeks time, you're gonna see changes you never thought would happen and you are going to feel amazingly better.  The warm weather is coming....now's the time for all of us to get off our pitypots and get movin' and groovin'.
How many days is it to Easter???  My pants are beginning to get looser...how about yours????