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Football Chick

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This is the fusion of being a fan of football and now at 43, playing professional tackle football with the Dallas Diamonds, 4-time World Champions. We travel together through my journey of being an overweight, suburban wife and mom to a seasoned professional athlete. My goals include encouraging and impacting you to live a clean and active life and to never utter the words, 'I can't'!

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Archive for May, 2008
Listening and Humility
Sitting down to watch Memorial Day stories Monday, I felt twinges of grace…gifts I do not deserve. I have freedom today that generations of young and courageous men and women sacrificed to obtain. I enjoy the ‘easy’ life full of opportunities, experiences, modern technology, and a plethora of stuff I don’t need because of what they gave. I get to play football like the men due to women who fought hard, went to work, and paved the way for equality.

 

 

When you take the time to truly listen to what those who went before you did and believed, you are humbled. And, humility is a quality often missing from most of us. Humility can be defined as putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

 

 

What do you think you deserve?

 

 

When is the last time you listened?

 

 

Have you ever listened to what your Parents or Grandparents struggled through to make life easier for you? It could be simply giving up their time in order to drive you day after day to practice. When is the last time you listened to a War Veteran describe the battle, his or her fear, and the outcome that imprinted into the soul of their character? When was the last time you gave up something…sacrificed a desire…sacrificed notoriety…respected a ‘no’ without grumbling in order to honor another person?

 

 

May I just, in a small way, honor those of you who have served for my freedom….my family’s freedom….this amazing country we live in called the United States. Thank you! Thank you for living for something greater than yourself. Thank you for allowing me to walk out my front door and not fear for my life. Thank you for sacrificing across this globe in order to fight evil and terrorism.

 

 

And, thank you Mom and Dad for sacrificing for me. Thank you for driving me to gymnastics practice and paying for all those lessons and training when I was at home. Thank you for giving up your time and money for my desires. And, Thank you for allowing me to want and NOT GET! Perhaps I have a little humility because of that.

 

 

Humility: putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

 

 

www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com

 

Next home game is Saturday, June 7th at 3:00PM against the Tucson Monsoon.

 

 

Stay inspired and get moving!

 

 

Kip #45

 

 

 


Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on May 28, 2008 1:22 PM
Everything you Wanted to Know Part II
Part II of Q & A with the Football Chick:

 

5. How did you get into football? How did you hear about women’s professional football?

 

I feel sad that Women’s Professional Football is not more known. It’s been around since the 1970’s. It has generated three different leagues since then allowing women the chance to play a sport they’ve watched their fathers, brothers, and boyfriends play. Visit www.iwflsports.com for more information.

 

 

It greatly angers me the press is not exactly our friend. Rarely, if ever, will you hear women’s professional football covered during a sportscast anywhere…that includes local sports networks to ESPN. Even the parent company to this website won’t post our league scores in the sports section of the paper. I’ve seen a story on a women’s bass tournament but not women’s pro football. Unfortunately, the Dallas paper is not unique. My Dad can not get the scores in his hometown paper of Columbus, Ohio which also has a team in our league.

 

 

I just got done reading about area high school Spring sports and a preview of Fall hs football in a pull out section all it’s own in the paper. And, let me ask you this, how much press do the Cowboys get off season? Even Curling gets more press during the Olympics than women’s professional football has seen in its entirety.

 

 

Why won’t they print our scores? Why won’t the sportscasters of America report on women’s professional football? There are several reasons I have become aware of, but none of which seem important enough to completely ignore us they way they do.

 

 

 

Hence, I am greatly appreciative of the Dallas Morning News Neighborsgo section for printing and posting my stories about the Diamonds and your faithfulness for reading my blog. Thank you! And, make your voice known that you want to hear more about the Diamonds and women’s professional football. If you come watch us, I promise you’ll want to come again!

 

 

Moreover, imagine the people, the women, and the athletes who could know about women’s professional football if we could simply be listed with all the other professional, college, and high school sport scores. And, imagine the fans, more people like you, who would come support us!

 

 

I had a random encounter with one of the players. So, by word of mouth at nearly 42, I am just learning and playing women’s professional football. I wish had known about this ten to fifteen years ago!

 

 

4. How can I play?

 

The Diamonds hold open tryouts in January. All shapes, sizes, and ages 18 and over are welcome. Whatever your athletic background, the Coaching staff will teach you football. Keep checking www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com for information.

 

 

In the meantime, you can hook up with us and start working out. We’d love to do some field work with you, you can sign up for classes at Zoom in Frisco, True Sports Performance in Keller, Stroud’s Gym in Bedford, any of the 24-Hour Fitness places to get in shape and learn some agility.

 

 

It is just like a bunch of women to what to know the next three questions. Hence, answers about diet and exercise make up the top 3. 

3. What kind of workouts do you do to get those arms?

 

Let me just say first, genetics are not in my favor! I have worked very hard to get my body in shape and I work very hard to maintain it. I can gain weight at the drop of a penny.

 

 

My arms are a result of a clean diet first and resistance training second. I lift weights three to four times a week. Usually, I do about 4 to 6 shoulder exercises when I work that body part and 4 to 6 bicep and tricep exercises.

 

 

For about a year, I worked one body part per week. That means I worked the shoulders one day, bi’s and tri’s one day, legs one day, chest one day, and back one day. Now I work about two or three body parts per resistance training session.

 

 

Michael Mummert at 24-Hour Fitness in Frisco is and was a big part of helping me develop my arms and be fit enough to tryout and play football. He is a Trainer who thinks outside the box and listens to your personal goals. If you want to work hard and see results, then consult with him. He will guide you.

 

 

Now that I am playing football, I do different kinds of workouts. I do speed and agility workouts twice a week. That involves Zoom treadmill workouts, field agility drills with the team and with my NFL/CFL buddies, and sometimes heading over to True Sport Performance for football specific agility drills. I lift weights 3 times a week at Zoom and 24-Hour Fitness. And, I go to football practice twice a week working specifically on my position as a Defensive Back and with the Defense as a whole or the with Special Teams. We do extra conditioning at end of practice. Just last week we had to do 60, 30-yard sprints. Whew! Finally, I go to heated yoga twice a month to help me with flexibility, strength, and adjusting to the heat. That came in handy this weekend in Miami!

 

 

 

2. What kind of diet are you on? What do you eat?

 

Diets do not work. Whatever ‘diet’ you choose, you need to plan on living with it the rest of your life. So, choose wisely because whatever you do must be a lifestyle. “Going on a diet” means you will go off it at some point. And, when you do, your weight will come back and usually with more tacked on than when you started.

 

 

I eat a ‘clean’ diet. That means I avoid all fast food, processed food, fried food, and the like. My main diet consists of complex carbohydrates like vegetables, whole grain breads, lean protein like fish, turkey, and chicken, some fruits, and lots of water. I highly recommend Tosca Reno’s series of books on The Eat Clean Diet. She has a website too: www.eatcleandiet.com .

 

 

I eat about every 3 hours. A typical day for me might be this:

 

 

7:30AM Breakfast: ½ cup Old Fashioned oatmeal w/ 1 TBL brown sugar, blueberries and 2 apricots; 4 egg whites w/ spinach, tomatoes, and 1 TBL parmesan cheese; water

 

 

10:00AM Protein bar; water

 

 

1:00PM 4 oz grilled chicken or fish; steamed veggies; baked potato; water

 

 

4:00PM whey protein shake made w/ water or skim milk

 

 

6:30PM 4oz fish or chicken; salad no dressing; water

 

 

9:00PM whey protein shake

 

 

I know, I can already hear some of the excuses popping up. Stop right there! We’ll cover some of those excuses and issues like eating out, working, cooking time, etc. in a later blog.

 

 

1. You were 204 and now 140…how did you lose all that weight?

 

Over a three year period of time, I slowly took the weight off and changed my body. I wanted to do it right. There was no need for it to come of fast. Generally when you lose weight in a rapid manner, it does not stay off. Again, diets and rapid weight loss do not work.

 

 

My formula, if you are looking for one, was changing the way I ate and exercised. I changed what and how much I ate. I did not deprive myself. In fact, I still have my ‘cheats’ and enjoy them when I do. (I see a blog on best cheat foods coming!)

 

 

80% of changing my body, however, was related to my diet lifestyle. As I mentioned above, I started eating ‘clean’ and avoiding non-nutritive valued items like chips, fried foods, processed meats, and sodas.

 

 

I exercised 5 days a week. I did 30 to 60 minutes of intense cardio 4 to 5 days a week. Leisurely strolling through the neighborhood is not an intense cardio workout. I did kickboxing, spin, boot camp, step aerobics, elliptical trainer, treadmill, and Stairmaster workouts. I also included resistance training 3 to 4 days a week. When I did not see the results I wanted, I worked with a trainer, and investigated online sensible workouts and nutritional information.

 

 

It was not easy and it still is a lot of hard work. But, time ticks by and what you do with that time is key. The next year will go by and each decision you make regarding your food and exercise will impact your life. How different will the next year be if you continue to make good choices in both areas.

 

 

Thus, setting short term goals was important in the process for me. The first time I did a kickboxing class I thought I was going to die. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. So, I made that a short term goal during one month: get through a kickboxing class.

 

 

The benefits are worth the hard work. I feel incredible! And, I’m playing tackle football at 42!

 

 

Again, as with the ‘diet’, there are many more questions and avenues to discuss with regard to exercise. Email me or leave a comment with your questions. I’m sure more blogs on exercise are to come. In the meantime, I’ll be glad to answer your personal questions.

 

 

Our next home game is Saturday, May 17th at 7:00PM at Pennington Field against the Iowa Crush. See if the 4-0 Diamonds can get another victory! And, join us on the field after the game for photos and autographs!

 

 

Stay inspired and get moving!

 

 

Kip #45

 

 







Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on May 15, 2008 9:29 AM
Everything you Wanted to Know!

How did you lose the weight? What is it really like working out with those guys? What does your husband think about you playing football? What kind of workouts do you do? What do your parents think? Aren’t you too old to do this?

I’ve been asked all kinds of questions during the last few months since I’ve taken on my new career as a Dallas Diamond Defensive Back. So, here are the Top 10 Questions I get along with a short answer:

10. At nearly 42, aren’t you too old to be playing tackle football? What are you doing?

It is true most professional athletes may not be in their 40’s. And, that is definitely true among football players. But who is to say when you are ‘too old’. We live one life. Many times we have one opportunity to accomplish something or make a dream reality. God has graciously given me this opportunity at 42.

I know for far too long I waited…scared to try things or make opportunities happen. I lost out…You lose out when you do that. Many of you, from what I see and hear, are lazy and have an idol of comfort. You’d rather sit and watch American Idol however many days a week it is on than do the hard work to achieve your dreams. Some of you are busy with too much meaningless activity. You miss out on the relationships with those closest to you when you fill your day gaming or making sure everything is picked up and in it's place. Or how about those of you who are so trapped in your reality you have forgotten to dream and move towards something you are passionate about.

If you had only one more shot at a dream, what would you do today to make it happen?

9. What is it really like working out with the NFL/CFL guys? What is it like covering a ‘real’ football player?

These guys are amazing athletes who work hard to foster their dreams! We laugh a lot, grunt a lot, tell stories about our families and friends. We encourage each other, push each other, and share that common passion of America’s greatest game…Football! They dispel any notion of ego although, come on…we all have one, don’t we?

8. What did your parents say when you told them you were playing football?

My Mom’s first words were, ‘don’t start taking those steroids’. That’s a Mom for you…always worried about doing the right thing. Mom, I have not seen anything that even remotely looks like a steroid. The hardest thing I’ve seen is an Advil and maybe an amino acid or occasional protein bar.

My Dad is giddy with pride. He’ll call and say, ‘Is this Anne Watson, defensive back for the Dallas Diamonds?’

7. What does your husband think about you playing football?

My husband is the best! While he walked out of the room laughing when I very first told him I was going to try out for a women’s professional football team, he came back focused on whatever he could do to support me. He has accommodated the crazy schedule, he has helped around the house, and with the children. He even has to be the ‘Mad Scientist’s’ assistant this Friday in our son’s class while I am off to Miami to play the Fury on Saturday.

Scott admits his skepticism at first, “It can’t be real football.” But, after watching practice and attending our games, he is a changed man. Here are his thoughts in his words: “I am continually awed by the sight of these women doing the things I’ve only seen men do. I am amazed at their athleticism. I’ve seen Bowman blast through the line and drive straight at the quarterback who in both terror and desperation hurls the ball away only to have it blocked.”

On Jen Welter who introduced me to the Diamonds, he says, “I really enjoy watching Jen. She is a stunning combination of intuition and quickness that comes from playing a lot of years.”

Secretly, he loves being able to tell his colleagues and clients he is married to a professional football player. And, then he loves to explain that.

6. Football? It’s not tackle, is it? It’s powder puff, right? Tackle…for real...what does that look like?

You just read my husband's thoughts. My Trainer at 24-Hour Fitness said this after coming to our first game, "Oh my God, I am so impressed. I am very proud of you. It is a big thing to be on a team that is so badazz."

The Dallas Diamonds are 3-Time World Champions in tackle football. This is not powder puff. We are gunning for a fourth this year. We are 3-0 and not settling for anything else than another Championship trophy! So, after growing up in an environment where it is an all out brawl for an Ohio State Football Ticket and the price is steep, $10 to see a World Championship team play seems like a deal to me.

Come watch us! Once you see us play, you’ll be hooked! We are addicting! I admit, this is not the NFL. We have not been playing since we were six years old. But, it is great football. Our linebackers hit, our quarterback throws hard, and our running backs leave a trail of defensive players in their path.

We have great fans and every game is a fun and exciting experience. It is only $10 and it is worth every penny.

Our next home game is May 17th at 7:00PM against the Iowa Crush at Pennington Field. Visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com for tickets and information.

Stay tuned for the remaining Top 5 Questions.

Stay inspired and get moving!

Kip #45





Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on May 6, 2008 11:40 PM

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