Jump Around

What's with Autumn Calabrese and jumping in these extreme workouts? Sigh. She can call it pylo or a staple to getting shredded. I call it ugh-inducing unpleasantness. Today I was dreading the pylo workout--- even though on Saturday I was able to do a real jumping jack during the most challenging work out of the Extreme program ("Dirty 30 Extreme"). Actually, I did about 7 jumping jacks on Saturday, which is a huge non-scale victory. For years, I have been doing the modified version of this move that only affects the lower body by moving one leg at a time in that "jacking" motion ( using the same upper body movement). I am definitely stronger. So, when I finally got off my duff and completed the pylo work out tonight, I found I did a few more jumps during that work out too. I still had to modify most of it and actually said aloud, "NOPE!" when Autumn was jumping (while exclaiming how much fun it is). I feel even stronger this week than last week.

As for challenges, those would be in the kitchen. Right now, I'm working my way through the Netflix show Grace and Frankie and that lemon looking wedding cake during the opening credits is becoming more and more of a trigger. I haven't broken down and actually eaten CAKE. Mostly, it is because the nearest grocery store is currently 25 minutes away from where I am staying, in a town that is closed down by 10PM. No 24 hour places (that I know of---and it's FAR too dark around here to go swerving on mountain roads for a couple of handfuls of sheet cake). So, I can keep the craving in check and turn away from the TV if I need to. In total disclosure, I have had a couple of treats on Sunday and today (non-tread days). I believe the news about a friend who has stage four lung cancer, in addition to the end of the month being quite a season of angel birthdays: Kenny Rittenhouse (7/29), Jo Tylek (7/30) and Scotty (7/31) as well as Charlene's angel day (7/31), has caused their fair share of trouble for my on-program eating and contributed to the cravings. Another non-scale victory is that I haven't binged through this time. I've been able to keep these treats within my daily calorie range. I'm also free from self-loathing or being a white shark in a feeding frenzy out of control. Even though a few of my food choices these last two days have not be on program or "clean" eating, I still refuse to call them "bad" or "forbidden" foods. I have said from the beginning of this journey that I have to find a way to make cake work for me in my life. If that slows down my progress, then fine. That I'm holding it together with mild off program eating in the face of big stress and during these emotional days is yet another huge non-scale victory. I'm definitely seeing progress and learning. I'm doing a whole lot better than before holding myself accountable with this blog, and am completely ok not striving to be perfect.

Keep walking in peace and awareness, my most excellent peeps!

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