Benefits of Consistent Practice

I wonder if my internalized voices would alter in any way if I kept a more consistent blog practice? I've tended to reserve this space for quarterly-ish progress reports or substantially-new insights, learnings. How might a gratitude practice here more regularly undergird my learnings, my rhythms, achievements and struggles? This morning, I find myself thankful, curious enough to see what rises. Perhaps when I land in the 6 a.m. class, a brief reflection afterward, to ground the day?

Some of the institutional-side of my job is kicking in these weeks of August, requiring me to tend to my CrossFit habit early if I'm going to get it in at all. The first morning was a bit stiff and creaky, yellow-recovery in Whoop terms given the sleep inconsistency. But the next two mornings were easy, with Green-to-Go and a sense of stream-lining my day that I've forgotten of late. Post-book publication, I've let my sense of "drive" sit in the corner, reading a magazine or watching old reruns of Outlander. The spring-into-summer pattern had me at the 9:30 CF session 3 times a week, usually getting #4 in on Sunday. But I forgot how much I enjoy a morning workout, an easier fueling rhythm, and getting into my day's tasks and invitations. I wonder if 6 a.m. is becoming my new fall 'norm'? [image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nelita-jump.jpg]

Having returned from Portland early last week, I'm re-ensconced into a much easier, cleaner eating rhythm. While I'm trusting the wax-on/wax-off pattern I will have with whole-grains, carbs, I'm in a lesser intention for the moment. I'm not bored yet with the familiar routine either, which is nice. Weight was down when I checked. I had thought some of the seeming dramatic loss was due to that shift, but a recent InBody scan showed it was muscle loss, not fat. The hiatus from strength-training while away in Portland. Sigh. On the upside, my weight is back up now, with a return to weight-lifting 4-5 times a week. Or at least that's the story I'm sticking with.

[Writer's note: There may be nothing as motivational as sitting for a couple hours in a colonoscopy waiting room, however. I'm not sure I've seen quite as many obese and morbidly obese people as I have in the last 90 minutes. So there's that. I'm thankful for who and how I am!]

What else I'm thankful for? Three days of Olympic lifting practice--back squat, push press, power cleans--with solid metcon intervals. Monday's lunges are still with me. Yesterday's echo bike and jump rope cleaned out some of the stiffness. This morning's bar facing burpees were not nearly as bad as I had expected them to be. The ascending ladder of power cleans was quite satisfying. I even feel up to the cardio-squat fest planned for the morrow. That's noticeable (more than 3 CF in a row, unusual these days).

I'm thankful for the explorations of new recipes for fueling as well. A Nom Nom Paleo 'stir-fry sauce' which doubles as a good marinade for chicken (breasts or thighs). Steelhead trout filet that was tastier than the salmon I usually get. Asian salad kits made lower-carb by leaving off the wontons/sliced almonds and adding plain salted or raw almonds. Nom Nom Paleo also had a chicken-avocado salad that I'm going to try this week--no mayo, cucumbers, lettuce, chicken, and furikake (a sushi-esque flavoring). I've really been enjoying romaine lettuce turkey sandwiches with summer's end tomatoes. Eggwhites have become a new staple as well, particularly helpful in making the protein macros for a post-menopausal woman. As ever, Liquid Remedy kombucha--small cans--offer a no sugar, sweet but sour, low-carb sip-option for cocktail-hour with Brian. 

Good conversation with my hormone doc this week too. I'm doing everything I love to do, get to do, need to do. It may be time to reframe my 'maintenance weight' expectations, trusting myself and being happy in the body that lets me move nearly as much as I want to. I was surprised to hear myself say to her, "I'm happiest when I'm moving." Anecdotal wisdom: you know you've made it when taking a rest day is the challenge. [image credit: Bell & Bones]