KB Girl - Story Time

[KB Girl]

When I set goals for 2020 I was very conservative because I was about to have a baby - couldn't have predicted how much extra reason we would have to go easy on ourselves - so all my goals were related to finding a new balance and rebuilding/re-establishing what I'd won over the years. I allowed myself one bonus goal; writing. I need it for all my mayor life goals. I figure it's going to take me years to learn... and while I made a tiny little bit of progress this year, I'd love to finish the year with something tangible. 

 

Main goal; writing habit

5 days a week sit down to write something, preferably right after I've gotten the kids to sleep - to anchor the habit. It doesn't really matter what I write exactly, so I'm thinking I'll tell you guys stories behind a spoiler tag. It can be about anything that pops into my head, but expect a lot of gym / coaching / kids related things. I may also write other places, I'll just mention it here then. 

 

Sub goal 1; 

Keep up all the lifting and rebuilding cardio capacity. Approximately 4 strength sessions each week with a focus on deadlifts and all the single leg work, 5-10k rowing and any KB snatching I can manage to motivate myself for. (I'm not really properly lifting bells yet, I'd love to say it's just because I want to rebuild the strength foundation first, but it's really just because putting on different shoes and a belt seems like too much work in my current state)

 

Sub goal 2; 

Over the years our house has become neater, cleaner, cosier, less cluttered- thanks to my amazing significant other this has actually been kept up over the past months. I'd like to double down on making my contributions (cooking, laundry and regular decluttering) and do something extra for the upcoming birthdays and holiday season. This includes baking all the cookies. 

 

 

 

For today's writing I'll just introduce myself. 

 

 

Simple facts: 32 years old, 2 kids (almost 4 years and almost 7 months), dietician, small gym owner, trainer/coach with a specialisation in kettlebell sport and pregnancy and post partum training*. 

Deeper things: over the last couple of years I've been reasonably successfully battling my huge imposter syndrome (rewrote the * bit 15 times because I wanted to mention I'm still learning and there is a lot I don't know yet etcetc, which is all true, but I'll probably still be making the same disclaimer 20 years from now which is not ok), fear of failure, perfectionistic tendencies and bouts of self loathing - currently struggling with post partum depression but doing pretty good all things considered. 

Fun fact: I love books and I dislike change, which means I've been stuck rereading things (currently WoT) and am on an endless Harry Potter fanfiction binge

Sad fact: my dog died and apart from laying a stone in her favourite forest I haven't been on a longer walk/hike since, should probably fix that, but the thought of going without her makes me gloomy. 

 

What my level 80 looks like; 

First priority is raising my kids well, I'm still exploring what that looks like exactly.. but I want them to feel infinitely loved and feeling like they can handle everything life throws at them. I want to show them how we can live sustainably, how to grow and cook their own food, how to care for the people around them, how to work hard and stand up for the things they find important. How to be kind to themselves and how to be ambitious and content at the same time. 

I'll have to show them that through my own journey. I'll want to work hard and consistent at being an athlete, hopefully I'll be able to compete at the international pro level of my sport at least once. I want to help grow my sport, in size and ethics and leadership and skill. I want to help my current and future athletes accomplish their goals and I want to help teach future trainers/coaches. And I want to write to promote this sport, to bring us closer together and I want to write a book. 

I want to care for my corner of the world. Be a good/mindful entrepreneur. Care for the environment. My employees, my people, my gym. Help people be less lonely and more kind to themselves and others. I want to stand up for what's right - in local politics, in sports politics and in whichever company I happen to be in. 

There is more, but this will do for now. 
 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along hoping to get to smell the cookies baking.

[KB Girl]

Edited the first post with a little intro

 

16 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along hoping to get to smell the cookies baking.

Always happy to have you here! Emma and I made lemon cookies today, they smelled very nice. 

 

Zero week Monday was a quiet day off work. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep (baby is teething), so we stayed home and did a lot of drawing, baking, cooking, reading books etc. We have this book on space, Emma (the almost 4yo) has been memorising the planets and today she asked us on a trip to Jupiter. She also tried to convince the baby to come, her words; "You should come! You'll like it there! It's full of boobies!". 

[juliebarkley]

You description of your level 80 brought a smile to my face and literal tears to my eyes. Following along.

[Scaly Freak]

Here for inspiration for my next challenge.

 

No pressure.

 

Seriously, no sarcasm, no pressure. Proceeding through life without a beloved pet is difficult. Without pressure and with some mutual sympathy, we can make this work.

[Elastigirl]

Following! I loved your intro and level 80 vision

[spezzy]

Following along! Love the writing goal

[KB Girl]

11 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

You description of your level 80 brought a smile to my face and literal tears to my eyes. Following along.

Really? May I ask what part? I am happy to be able to inspire emotion! 
 

8 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

Here for inspiration for my next challenge.

 

No pressure.

 

Seriously, no sarcasm, no pressure. Proceeding through life without a beloved pet is difficult. Without pressure and with some mutual sympathy, we can make this work.

You have all my sympathy!

it does get better... I’m still reminded of her absence constantly (when I get out of bed, when I come downstairs, when I make food, when I put on shoes, when I vacuum, eetcetcetc) and I still have those habits of scanning the room, looking for her.... but I’ve stopped bursting into tears at the reminders and the morose feelings stay for shorter moments. 
Hugs help. And doing some small things to honour her memory, like framing a photo, putting away her things and telling stories to each other. And then some more hugs. 
 

8 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Following! I loved your intro and level 80 vision

thank you  
 

5 hours ago, spezzy said:

Following along! Love the writing goal

Thanks! I’m scared of failing it, but 🤷‍♀️

[KB Girl]

Look what my brothers ‘new’ girlfriend made for me  

(I think they’ve been together more than a year already, but his previous relationship lasted 7 years so this one will feel new for a while yet I think. It’s a huge improvement if anyone cares 😅)

 

Gym members have been putting in requests, I think a small side business has been born. 

[h3r0]

How awesome are those masks! 

 

Also, don't forget that you are awesome. 

 

[sylph]

here for this ❤️

[KB Girl]

5 hours ago, h3r0 said:

How awesome are those masks! 

 

Also, don't forget that you are awesome. 

Love that comic! Thank you

 

3 hours ago, sylph said:

here for this ❤️

Good to see you! ❤️ 

[ZachPSU]

Following along - Didn't know you are a dietician! Very cool, my new job has one on-site.

[Laghail]

Sorry you lost your doggo friend. If its okay, can we see pictures of them?

[Athena]

😍  You rock!

 

Fangirl mode off. Following along  

[KB Girl]

1 hour ago, ZachPSU said:

Following along - Didn't know you are a dietician! Very cool, my new job has one on-site.

Congratulations on the new job! I imagine those multi disciplinarian places are really cool to work at  I remember this module in school when we had to work together in a team with the physio's and speech therapists, it was cool. 

 

1 hour ago, Laghail said:

Sorry you lost your doggo friend. If its okay, can we see pictures of them?

Absolutely! She was gorgeous, a mix between a white swiss shepherd and an alaskan malamute. Her name was Storm, which is the same word in dutch and when she was a puppy we would joke that we had storm damage if she chewed on something we shouldn't have left out. 

 

 

 

54 minutes ago, Aθena said:

😍  You rock!

 

Fangirl mode off. Following along  

Occasionally! haha, thank you, good to see you! 

[KB Girl]

Tuesday

It didn't feel like it but looking back it was actually a pretty good day. Didn't have time for a training after teaching morning classes but Jaap took over some of my tasks so I could go to the gym with Emma after lunch. I arrived and had forgotten my phone and the gym iPad wouldn't run the music and then I got my shirt sleeve soaking wet and then I hit myself in the face with a ball so hard that my glasses cut into my nose and then I ugly cried (due to being tired really) but Emma gave me a hug and was so sweet "oh mom you're bleeding let's go get a bandaid" that I managed to pull myself together enough to make the most of the training time I had left. 

• back squats - 5x35, 3x40, 1x45, 5x40, 3x45, 1x50, 5x45, 3x50, 1x55
  love those waves, first single at 45 felt so heavy but then it turns out you can later actually do a full 5. 
• kettlebell snatches - 10/10x10, 10/10x12, 10/10x14, 10/10x16, 10/10x18, 5/5x20
  wasn't in the right headspace to do some real kb work, but this ladder wasn't half bad, hadn't touched the 20 yet this year

Had a really nice shower, had some time to read and put dinner in the oven (lasagna) right as my mom came to watch the kids while I did two early evening classes. When I got home they were both ready for bed, but they didn't go to sleep easily so it's already 22:00.. but I just ate, I have a cup of tea... let's start this challenge of right! Probably something short tho  

 

Story Time! 

When we first started our gym it was just a fun hobby project. Our friends trained with Jaap in the backyard and I cooked dinner. It took Jaap at least three years to convince me to teach a class. It was several miles out of my comfort zone. It took at least another year before I managed to speak with enough volume that people could easily hear me during these classes, haha. It took a couple more years and a lot of learning before I felt like I sort of knew what I was doing. As a trainer you build this box of tools (like speaking loudly) from watching others, reading, workshops, courses, connecting dots. And then you learn to use your tools by just doing and trying.

This morning in class I had someone complain of elbow pain. Just a couple years ago I would have had to watch the movement a couple of times, think about it, try different things, maybe ask for help. But now I could just cue "when you're in the bottom try pushing through your elbows, don't think about pushing yourself up, just push your elbows down" and that fixed it. I really enjoyed that moment. I felt competent. I still have a whole lot to learn, hopefully I'll always keep learning, but I'll endeavour to treasure and appreciate the growth every now and then. 

[Laghail]

1 minute ago, KB Girl said:

Absolutely! She was gorgeous, a mix between a white swiss shepherd and an alaskan malamute. Her name was Storm, which is the same word in dutch and when she was a puppy we would joke that we had storm damage if she chewed on something we shouldn't have left out. 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

lemme get my phone
 

 

 

But for real. I have a tiny 3 month old nom'ing everything he can reach ATM.

[KB Girl]

31 minutes ago, Laghail said:

But for real. I have a tiny 3 month old nom'ing everything he can reach ATM.

❤️ they're worth it

I edited in the photos now

Now I need puppy pics! 

I edited a fourth time to add that my 7 month old human is doing the same thing 😂

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

41 minutes ago, KB Girl said:

 

Story Time! 

 

  Hide contents

 

 

When we first started our gym it was just a fun hobby project. Our friends trained with Jaap in the backyard and I cooked dinner. It took Jaap at least three years to convince me to teach a class. It was several miles out of my comfort zone. It took at least another year before I managed to speak with enough volume that people could easily hear me during these classes, haha. It took a couple more years and a lot of learning before I felt like I sort of knew what I was doing. As a trainer you build this box of tools (like speaking loudly) from watching others, reading, workshops, courses, connecting dots. And then you learn to use your tools by just doing and trying.

This morning in class I had someone complain of elbow pain. Just a couple years ago I would have had to watch the movement a couple of times, think about it, try different things, maybe ask for help. But now I could just cue "when you're in the bottom try pushing through your elbows, don't think about pushing yourself up, just push your elbows down" and that fixed it. I really enjoyed that moment. I felt competent. I still have a whole lot to learn, hopefully I'll always keep learning, but I'll endeavour to treasure and appreciate the growth every now and then. 
 

 

 

It's really great when you look back and see all that progress culminating in a single moment like that.

[Elastigirl]

I'm so glad you went out of your comfort zone and  tried teaching.  I think your gym is much better because you are a coach

[Ann of Owlshire]

Here for stories! Love your ambitions on parenthood. I’m trying for similar, although I often feel like I’m failing at being an example XD 

[Waanie]

Those masks are really pretty .

 

It's so nice that you can see the progress you made as a trainer yourself now as well, that you know you did improve. I'm glad you took that dive and started teaching classes .

[KB Girl]

16 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

It's really great when you look back and see all that progress culminating in a single moment like that.

 that’s the cool thing about writing, I remember thinking this is a good topic and then after a while at my laptop in turned into this ruminating thing, wouldn’t have thought about it quite like that otherwise. 
 

15 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

I'm so glad you went out of your comfort zone and  tried teaching.  I think your gym is much better because you are a coach

Im glad too! One of those life altering events. I still remember exactly where we were walking in the woods when Jaap finally convinced me. Ahh and the gym would have been great without me as a coach too, but I would have missed out. 
 

5 hours ago, Ann of Vries said:

Here for stories! Love your ambitions on parenthood. I’m trying for similar, although I often feel like I’m failing at being an example XD 

Im starting to think constantly feeling like a failure is part of parenthood x) 

but Jaap assures me that the sum total of everything still works.. they have to see the struggles too.. 
 

22 minutes ago, Waanie said:

Those masks are really pretty .

 

It's so nice that you can see the progress you made as a trainer yourself now as well, that you know you did improve. I'm glad you took that dive and started teaching classes .

Me too  I don’t really have trouble seeing progress, (especially not if it’s this blatantly obvious) i just have trouble ever thinking it’s good enough.. Or being happy with it, I tend to grumble in my head ‘should have gotten there ages ago’ or shit like that. But I felt pleased writing this, so that’s good. 

[raptron]

The masks are so cute! And helllll yes for your continued growth as an insightful, thoughtful, and caring coach who puts in a whole lot of work to continue to improve and help your athletes improve. ❤️