Coach Kirstin

Every fight cycle there is something I crave and I just can't wait until the fight cycle is over to eat it. I usually start making a list of all the things I want to eat. Usually I get through some of them and then feel gross from eating so much crap, then go back to eating healthy. This time, it's grilled cheese. Every place I pass, I can smell grilled cheese. Even if they don't serve it. It's probably the combination of the two things I miss the most during fights, bread and cheese. So while everyone is excited for my fight, I'm counting down the hours until I get to eat a grilled cheese.

Earlier this week I was at my dr's and we were just catching up as part of our normal appointment. Not only is he my dr but also a dear friend. He has seen me through several ups and downs and a lot of personal transformation. I was telling him I quit bitting my nails. We joked about the significance of that since I am so neurotic. He joked that "you are the sweetest person but you are really neurotic". But he also talked about that just being a part of any high level athlete. He sees a lot of high level athlete's and they are all a little stressed out and neurotic. They are all a little neurotic and twitchy. It's what allows them to perform at the level they do. That they have to channel that into their sport. He mentioned how he as giving a talk and showed a picture of me and everyone questioned how I could I get punched in the face. He explained it as it being the very essence of me. This isn't a hobby. Or a casual activity. My whole life revolves around it...

I've heard it takes 21 days to forge a habit. Well I'm on day 18 of not bitting my nails. I have bitten them for as long as I can remember. I have tried to quit for just as long. I'm more than a little neurotic and a very anxious person. But I've been working on focusing on the things that are in my control. And it has allowed me to become a little less anxious. But a few weeks ago I had to go to the ER to get my finger lanced. I had paronychia. Google it. Pretty gross. But it's a nail bitter thing. So I just decided to stop. There have definitely been times when I was about to bite my nails. And I have been very close. Sometimes you have to just tell that voice to shut up. And put a piece of gum in your mouth.

So in my condo each person has one assigned spot that you own along with your condo. There are plenty of visitor spots but there are three that are much closer to my unit and don't require driving over a speed bump. This may seem insignificant but when you see the volume of crap I carry out of my house on a regular day, you would understand the importance of not carrying it very far. Oh and my car doesn't really get along with the mountainous speed bumps in my community. So I have one very strange little neighbor who has two cars and she never parks them in her assigned spot. She parks them in 2 out of the 3 close spots. I was letting this drive me crazy. I was getting so irritated that she was taking up these spots and leaving her assigned spot empty. I was considering leaving a note on her cars. And then I stepped back and thought about what was going on. This was someone else's actions that I really had no bearing on. I was letting the actions of others dictate my ...

I know it’s awful for you but I love Cokes.  I grew up in New Mexico so Coke means any carbonated fizzy beverage .  My favorite is actually Coke and Dr Pepper.  It’s some magical rush of sugar and caffeine.  I know it’s awful for you.  I know the bad things it does to you.  And I still drink it.  A lot. And as much as I know not supposed to do something, that rarely stops me.  Until it’s time to cut weight. So now I have switched back to green tea.  Some of you love it.  It’s just not that exciting to me.  But I know it’s better and better for me.  And I have weight to cut.

Due to a minor injury, I've been working on only boxing this week. I'm not Manny Pacquiao but my striking is my strength. But even in that, I have things I like to do. Go-to's. But when only one of those go-to's is available to me, everything changes. My style has to evolve. I have to bring in other skills. Everything has to be working. It's been frustrating and fun. I've also really enjoyed the evolution as I've been able to make it work. Training can be daunting. And to have it be fun again was a much needed change.

Ah the benefits of being fit. I have broad shoulders. They are muscular. And they don't fit in women's clothes. I went through this period where it seemed every dress shirt I owned, I was busting out of the elbows. I gave up on buying long sleeve dress shirts. Even if I could find one that fit my shoulders, the likelihood it would fit my waist was less likely than Meisha Tate beating Ronda Rousey the second time. So I have resigned myself to short sleeves and cotton shirts. And then I busted out of the elbows of a long sleeve cotton shirt. Who does that? So if you see me wearing a tank top in January, you will understand why.