Face pain and other good things. 😛

Hi Everyone, this is another update on the trials and tribulations of my journey through an 8 week boxing program. 

First let’s get the bad out of the way. We did some sparring this weekend. It didn’t go well for me. I’ve used this image before, it pretty much sums up what happened. The good thing about the session, I got a free education on how not to defend when under pressure and I get to write about it here. Win-Win. 

I had two, two minute rounds with John Fitzpatrick, all I saw was hands. I thought I was doing well in training but it just didn’t seem to translate into the [insert awesome boxers name here] like performance in the ring which I expected from myself. I think Tyson had it right when he said this;

I felt bad afterwards, like I didn’t let the learning go the other way. After all we are a team of people training towards the same goal. If the learning isn’t on both sides it’s not really fair. 

I didn’t move enough when I should, and I tried to move when I shouldn’t. Don’t get me wrong I did some good things, I know I did, but my personality doesn’t let me focus on the good. If I’m good at something I just expect that those things happen, it’s areas for improvement I focus on. This sometimes comes across as negative, but that negativity motivates me, I feed off that. 

It’s a weakness I have, I know this and have been working on it for a long time. I’m getting better at seeing the positives, in boxing, life, work, everything. It’s one of those things I’ll be working on forever I think. The good thing is I know about it. Your biggest weakness is normally your biggest strength if you know about it and use it to your advantage.

There are many people that have helped me progress in this area, family, friends, managers, trainer, there are too many names to list here. You all know who you are, and if you don’t know that you’ve helped, but you know me, then your definitely in the list above. Thank you all. 

The good. 

I had a personal target when I started this program. It was a simple three stage target. 

1) Qualify to compete, in sponsorship, seat sales and weight. 

2) Be able to actually last three, 2 minute rounds with someone of the same skill. 

3) Fit into a 17″ neck shirt, comfortably. 

I know one of those targets has definitely been achieved. On the day I decided to do this charity task I went out and purchased a shirt. Nothing extravagant, just a green shirt and tie combo from Tesco, with a 17″ collar size. Now this may not seem like a big deal to most of you reading this, but I’ve not been in a 17″ shirt since I was about 20, I’m 36 now. That shirt sat in its packaging stuffed at the bottom of my wardrobe for the last 5-6 weeks. 

Below is an image of the shirt size chart, from the previously mentioned shirt. At the start of this program just 5 weeks ago I was just about fitting into a 19″ shirt, honestly I should have been in a 19.5″, that’s a 54″+ chest size. Wow. 

Today I opened the packet, my wonderful wife told me to try it on to see where we were. This was prompted by me not losing any weight over the last week, “Charlene said it looks like you’ve lost weight, try your treat shirt on.”

You do not understand the emotions that come from just slipping on a shirt, 5 weeks ago this was a stretch target for the full 8 week program, then fastening the top button. 

Not just fastening the top button but thinking “I could wear this all day”. 

I know there is some work to do in the gut area but just wow. I’m in it. 

This is the shirt I will be wearing after my bout. In fact, it may not be. I may have to go out and buy a smaller one. 😜

How’s that for positivity?

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