Karate

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

We are having a one-year anniversery dinner for our dojo a week from Saturday night! Hard to believe it has been that long already.

Settling into routine...

Exercise 3/6: Mission 1: Tae-Bo
Time: 40 min

It is getting easier every day...though I am not sure that is a good thing ;-). I will have to add weight and tighten those bands!
The town clock started chiming an hour earlier on Monday. "What is this?" you say, "Daylight Savings Time isn't until the end of the month."
Ah, yes. But in Japan, they don't have DST. Each town or neighbourhood has a chime at 6pm. This is the signal for all children to return home. (Actually, most children arrive home at that time...they LEAVE wherever they are 5 minutes before that. The Japanese have an expression that being 5 minutes early is actually being on time...Man! have WE had to adjust!!!!)
Well, now the daylight is getting shorter, so on the first school-day of October, the chime is rolled back to 5pm. Thus, our after-school routine has to change because there is less time available to play...AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT! ;-)
Anyhow, I am figuring all that out now...when to work-out, when the kids do their homework, when to make supper etc. I think we've just about got it.

Its Oc-freaking-tober!

I can't believe it is October already. Time is flying here in Japan, the second year round. :-)
I am currently going to follow Billie Blank's work-out schedule and am on week 2 of that. He suggested a rest on Monday...so I did.
Today after school, however,

Exercise 2/6: Mission Two/Upper Body work-out
Time: 40 min

Conundrum

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I really enjoyed tonight. I especially like sparring with Colin. (and NO, not because he is my husband;) . He is the only one in the class, besides Sensei, who I can really go after with no fear of hurting them. My kids don't really try very hard. :-( and after a year of Karate, I think it is because they just don't like it. I am preferring to think this way because I don't want to think they are lazy...
...well, their problem might be solved because it is fee time once again and we are not sure if we can afford it. (we need to be able to return to Canada in 10 months...). We shall see how it turns out.
When we DO get back to Canada, I am really interested in continuing my Karate training. I have previously posted on this blog why I like it so much. Number 1 because it is something we do as a family. However, I don't want to cram it down the kids' throats if it is genuinely not something they enjoy. I know Selah would love gymnastics and Mixon would love basketball. But that could mean different nights out and a lot of money. So, there is the conundrum. How do we keep everyone in the family active and healthy AND enjoying it, but not give up family time and a balanced lifestyle in regards to time management. Is it possible? I invite your comments.

Now, where were we?

Friday, Sept. 29th
Exercise 5/6: Tae-Bo: Mission Two
Time: 45 min

Great work-out! My arms and shoulders are killing me! The Bands work great. Because they are adjustable, I think Colin would even love this work-out. I will see if I can convince him...;-)

Saturday....had ALT's over. I got great exercise cleaning the house ahead of time, but I think I set a precedent already that excludes this from counting as exercise...

Sunday AM...(I still have 3 hours until my deadline of Sat. midnight in BC, Canada...
Exercise 6/6: Billy Blanks 8-Minutes SuperCharged Cardio
Time: 8 minutes (ha ha)

I actually worked up a pretty good sweat! Great work-out when you don't have much time.