Back again, with another annual resolutions post. Seriously, this is the only time I ever think of posting to the blog.
First, the recap and scoring:
Learn another language
* Brazilian Portuguese - Probably buy some app for my phone so that I can listen in my car on the way to work.
- Did a little better here, still a work in progress. Since I started riding a motorcycle to work, I don't have the same amount of in-car time.
Learn more Kanji
* Learn 500 new kanji this year, improve my reading/writing abilities with the kanji I already know.
- Hahaha. No.
Martial Arts
* Continue training at least 5 times a month (yeah, it doesn't sound like much, but it's been difficult to hit in the past). Hopefully, a minimum of twice a week.
- Actually did okay with this until May-ish. Then I quit my job. Since I mostly trained at work with coworkers, this put a cramp in my martial arts training scheduling.
Exercise:
* Two handed kettlebell swing 50lbs for 100 reps.
- Didn't actually attempt this. I did managed to get something like 75 reps of clean & press with the 24kg bell, which is roughly 53lbs, so I'm going to call this one good.
* Two handed kettlebell swing 70lbs for 100 reps.
- See above.
* Tacfit Kettlebell Spetznaz PreRecruit and Recruit
- Nope. My kb training has gone a different direction entirely. I'm really happy with it though.
* RUN. Seriously this time. Complete a Couch to 5k routine.
- Fuck running.
* Lose another 20lbs.
-Didn't manage this either. I lost some weight, gained some back, lost some more. I'm stronger than I've been since high school, and my pants are the loosest they've been since 2003. So, didn't make the goal, but achieved the spirit of the goal.
The theme of 2012 for me was apparently "changes". I quit my job, got a new, awesomer job. I continued my kettlebell training, but not the routines or workouts I'd planned on. I decided to give up entirely on running for the near future, because it's not fun enough. I've had to drop consistent martial arts practice, but I'm enjoying learning and refining the kettlebell exercises. The only things that didn't really change from last year were my pathetic, weak language learning attempts. So I'll continue on with those.
This year's goals:
* Brazilian Portuguese - I've been using memrise.com to accumulate some basic vocabulary. I'm currently doing a "1000 words of Brazilian Portuguese" module, so I'd like to finish that one this year.
* Press the 32kg kettlebell for 5 reps. Alternatively, if I get into barbell training this year, overhead press 75% of my bodyweight.
* Do 5 pullups.
* Continue being consistent with exercising. I had a banner year for this in 2012, and it really helped keep me sane. I wasn't 100% consistent, but at least I kept coming back and making progress.
* Get below 90kg.
I'm considering taking some time off of kettlebells in order to do a Starting Strength cycle with barbells. We'll see what my budget and motivation allow.
