75 Hard Day 7: Kayaking, Butterflies & Learning to Adjust
Saturday — Day 7.
Day 7 started early.
Too early.
I woke up around 3:45 AM, which was a little frustrating because I didn’t actually need to be anywhere yet.
Usually, I teach yoga on the lake at 9 AM on Saturdays.
But this week, I hadn’t scheduled class because I was supposed to go watch my niece’s senior softball game at Santa Clara University.
My original workout plan was actually to do the stadium stairs before the game.
But then my daughter woke up not feeling great, so we decided to stay home instead.
And staying home felt like the better choice for the day.
Outside Workout + Anderson Marsh
I knew I still wanted to start the day with my outside workout.
But after six straight days of hill walks, my calves were absolutely yelling at me.
So I decided I needed somewhere flat.
That led me to the trails at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
And conveniently…
it’s only about one exit away from Starbucks.
Starbucks Breakfast + Making the Best Choice Available
I had already planned a little Starbucks morning since we originally thought we’d be driving all the way to the softball game.
My original plan was:
a 2% latte with 2 pumps pistachio
an egg and cheese protein box
Except…
they didn’t have any protein boxes at all.
So suddenly I was standing there trying to figure out what I could realistically eat that still aligned with how I’ve been eating this week.
So I adjusted.
I looked at calories, saturated fat, protein, and what the rest of my day would probably look like.
And I ended up choosing the bacon gouda sandwich—but without the top bun.
And honestly, the latte was so good.
A week ago, I probably wouldn’t have thought much about it.
But after a full week of drastically lowering sugar and processed foods, it tasted incredibly close to the original pistachio latte.
Which really made me realize how much our taste buds adjust when we stop constantly overstimulating them with sugar.
Walking the Trails
Then I headed to Anderson Marsh and walked the trails.
And this part of the morning felt really beautiful.
There were yellow butterflies everywhere feeding off yellow and purple wildflowers.
The weather was warm without being unbearable yet.
And after a week of structure, movement, and routines…
it felt nice to just walk slowly and enjoy where I live.
Work + Simple Meals
After my walk, I came home and did some work.
Lunch was simple:
A Lean Cuisine chicken and vegetable meal.
Not glamorous.
Not homemade.
But realistic for a busy afternoon.
Keeping things like Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice meals, or even healthier frozen meals from Trader Joe's on hand is really helpful for days you don’t feel like cooking or standing in the kitchen.
Snack was:
half an avocado
a banana
And after my snack, I had my square of dark chocolate earlier in the evening instead of waiting until nighttime.
Dinner
Dinner was a giant salad with:
chicken breast
onion
olives
beets
mushrooms
strawberries
blue cheese
balsamic vinegar
kidney beans
Fresh, filling, and exactly what sounded good after a hot day.
Kayaking Instead of Another Walk
After dinner, instead of another walk, I went kayaking.
The lake was beautiful.
The weather was hot.
Getting out onto the water felt like the perfect way to move my body without feeling like I was pushing it.
Ending the Night Slowly
After kayaking, I came home, took a shower, and settled in for the night.
Then I forced my daughter to watch Harlem Nights with me because it popped up while she was scrolling through Tubi and I realized I hadn’t seen it in forever.
By the end of the movie, I was exhausted.
I think I was asleep by 11.
Seven Days In
Seven days down.
And six pounds down already.
I know it is water weight and inflammation, but more importantly…
I feel different.
Less swollen.
Less stiff.
More energized.
More connected to my body again.
And I think the biggest shift so far is realizing this challenge works best when I stop trying to make it perfect and start learning how to make it supportive.
Day 7 Complete
One full week down.
Still adjusting.
Still learning.
Still aligned.
