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40 by 40: Days 3 and 4

I didn't get to post yesterday. My life is so damn busy and I hate even saying that. I feel like I need a vacation from everyday life, just for a couple of days. Hell, I'd even take solitary confinement and a book on a lumpy metal cot. At least I would be away from it all.

In any case, Day 3 was Cardio Core. I hate cardio. I didn't always hate cardio, but I do now. I don't know what triggered the hatred but I suspect it has to do with P90X and P90X3. They are both excellent programs, but since I chose the Lean path they were super heavy with cardio in order to maximize weight loss rather than tone the muscles. I'm grateful that 80 Day Obsession, at least this week, only has two cardio days, and honestly, it wasn't THAT bad. It's just not as enjoyable to me as weight training and isometric exercises. Everyone has their favorites I guess.

Today was better, it was AAA (Arms, Abs, Ass). I had to use sliders, which didn't come in the mail yet, so I used two frisbees that my kids got as plates when we went to breakfast last week. If you have a rug in your living room, frisbees work just as well as sliders. The moves were damn intense. One was called "frog" where you are in high plank position with your feet on the sliders (frisbees) and you move your leg like a frog does when it swims. The other was the same move except pulling the legs in without rotating them out. Holy hell my ass and abs were burning and sweat was pouring off of me. My wrists were KILLING me from holding myself up so I had to switch to fists and low plank (on my elbows) for part of the time, but the impact was the same. I have wrist issues in general but because my core is so weak, they hurt even more than they normally would. I hope as I get stronger this issue will ease up a bit. I also have push-up risers which I might try to see if the strain on my wrists is any less.

Tomorrow is my favorite workout subject: legs. Most people hate leg day, I love leg day because I don't have to do push-ups. I also love the burn I feel in my legs and thighs and butt. It's satisfying. Legs make up fifty percent of our bodies and my legs are long. So it's good.

Nutrition, like I said, is the hardest part for me. I'm a sugar addict and I have to stop it. So, I have to give myself some concessions or I will fall off the wagon completely. To do that, I will have a spoonful of peanut butter or some dark chocolate chips. I have to admit that I had a strawberry jam bar that my mom made, I felt guilty about it but it made me work out harder this morning, so I forgive myself.

That's super important. I don't think any of us can be expected to change overnight so we have to be lenient with ourselves as we learn that discipline truly does equal freedom. As time passes, I know that I won't even crave the sugar anymore but right now, I need the tiny bits of it.

The most important thing is to fight that voice in your head that says "I can't" and instead say, "I must". Do it, be honest with yourself, and know that it's an uphill climb, it's hard, but you can do it. I tell myself that everyday and when the cooldown shows up, I smile because I am proud that I finished.

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