75 Hard - Wrap-Up

Seventy five days is a lot longer than it sounds. I can honestly say I am glad it is over. Will I keep doing some of the habits I have started, absolutely. Will I keep all of them, absolutely not. 

This didn't last long...my mirror was getting too cluttered.

THE RULES

Follow a nutrition plan of your own, no alcohol or cheat meals

This was sort of a gray area for me. I was going to try and follow the Mediterranean Diet (even bought a couple of recipe books) before I realized that it wasn't really a diet like Atkin's, keto, or whatever one you pick where there are hard and fast rules to follow.

North African Peanut Stew,
one of the Mediterranean Diet recipes I tried.
It looked like vomit but tasted pretty good. 

I remember doing the Atkin's Diet a long time ago and religiously sticking to the "Less than 40g of carbs" rule. I lost a lot of weight doing that, but I was also living off of cheese, meat, and pork rinds. Not exactly a healthy plan. I didn't want to do this again, so I did some soul searching about what this "nutrition plan" would look like for me.

Eventually, the "nutrition plan" I chose to follow was more of a nod to my time in "Overeaters Anonymous". I only had one hard, fast rule, "No eating after dinner". For me, that was my weak point that I wanted to focus on. I am an accomplished snacker and for some reason, even if I am full from dinner, I could always find room for popcorn or cookies or ice cream (Hey, it's keto ice cream! That doesn't count, right?)

I also stuck to the "No alcohol" rule. I had just come off of "Dry January" and had celebrated that feat with a weekend of wine (not too much, but enough). I noted that I really didn't like how I felt the morning after a night of sipping. That Monday, I started 75 Hard and once again pushed my wine glass away. 

For me, drinking wine had become a habit and it had gotten worse during Covid. It just became a thing I did. I would go to work, come home, do my workout, have a glass of wine and then another and then maybe another. Retirement only served to make the window of opportunity larger. I would complete my tasks for my part time job and have my workout done by noon. Who doesn't want a glass of wine with lunch? 

It took a while for me to replace the wine habit with something else, but I did. Actually, I didn't even realize that a swap had taken place until a few days ago. I woke up early and noticed that I was feeling excited for the day. I was looking forward to my new habits of getting up early to a nice quiet house, enjoying a cup of coffee while doing my reading (bible first and then whatever book I had chosen) and finally doing a bit of writing on my own book. I now look forward to the start of my day instead of the end and I am loving it.

Will there be wine in my future? Yes (I think). However, it is going to be the exception and not the rule.

Two 45 minutes workouts per day - one must be outside

Doing two workouts a day wasn't too much of a stretch for me. Although it did make for tired legs at a couple of races. I didn't find it hard to find a schedule that worked for me :-)

Tracking my 75 Hard workouts on Strava

Of course, it is easy to fit in a second workout when you don't have a choice about the first one. Before I started this challenge, our daily walk with the dogs was a non-negotiable (at least for the dogs). The only adjustment I really made here was making sure the walk was at least 45 minutes. Thankfully, HS and the dogs obliged.

Always aware of my pace when walking 
the pups...didn't want to finish in less than 45 minutes.

As I prepare to start officially start training for IRONMAN California, I am glad that this part of the challenge will be in my past. Yes, my training plan will have days where there are double workouts, but there will also be days of rest. I want to enjoy those days and get the most of my recovery without worrying about logging another 45 minutes even if it is only yoga or a second walk with the dogs.

Drink one gallon of water per day

I struggled with this one in the beginning and it was my miscalculation that had me starting over after Day 1. Thankfully, I have finally gotten into a rhythm of drinking consistently throughout the day. This is a habit that I will definitely keep. However, if I find myself in a situation where I have only drank 2/3 of a gallon and it's 8:00pm, I am going to let it go. No more chugging water right before bed and getting up several times during the night. Sleep trumps hydration at that point.

Read 10 pages of a non-fiction, personal development focused book

I was a "reader" before this challenge and I did read the Bible every day. However, my daily bible reading was from "The One Year Chronological Bible" which places the books of the Bible in chronological order broken down into readings by date. Most days consist of 4-6 pages. Since this was less than the prescribed 75 Hard reading amount of 10 pages, I added another daily book according to the rules that was non-fiction, educational and that could be used to improve any area of my life. 

Here is my complete reading list:

• The One Year Chronological Bible (not finished yet) *MUST READ*
• Never Finished - David Goggins *MUST READ*
• Atomic Habits - James Clear *MUST READ*
• Grit - Angela Duckworth
• Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer - Priscilla Shirer (Part of Bible study group, still reading)
• Story Genius - Lisa Cron  
• 28 Day Prayer Journey - Chrystal Evans
• Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable - Darrin Donnelly 
• Dear Food (Journal, still reading)
• A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer - John Piper 

Take a progress picture every day

This rule seemed excessive to me, but I did it, begrudgingly. I have several photos in my PJs because I realized I hadn't taken a picture, so I went and snapped one before bed. On most days, however, I tried to take the photo in my workout clothes so I could see the change.

Angry pajama pic LOL

Moving forward, I am still going to take progress pics, but I think they will be on a weekly or maybe monthly basis. My monthly progress pics are in the final section.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 

The Good - Down 17 lbs.

I know that Andy Frisella gives the warning that 75 Hard is not a fitness challenge, that it is a transformative mental toughness program..."an IRONMAN for your brain" and yes, I agree it is. However, most people, including myself appreciate the outward changes too. In fact, you will find lots of before and after pics on his website. So here are my results:

• Starting Weight: 159 (and that was down from the start of the year!!!)
• Ending Weight: 141.6 (17 pounds in 75 days is pretty darn good)

After years of blaming age, menopause and bad luck, 
I would never have believed I could lose this much 
weight in 75 days!!

On to a new goal :-)

More Good - Progress Pics - Photographic evidence of change 

75 pictures of me, mostly unsmiling, in various running outfits is a bit much to show here. If I ever get motivated, maybe I will try and turn them into some sort of time-lapse video. For now, here are my monthly results. Moving forward, whether I take weekly or monthly progress pics, I will be more consistent in what I am wearing so it will be easier to recognize the changes. 

Day 1 (February 5, 2024)

A little thick around the middle, not much definition.
159 lbs.

Day 30 (March 5, 2024)

Not so bloated!
149.9 lbs.

Day 60 (April 5, 2024)

Don't ask me why I'm never smiling ;-)
144.5 lbs.

Day 75 (April 20, 2024)

No tan on the tummy!
141.6 lbs.

The Bad 

Going through my pictures today, I realized that I missed April 16 - aka Day 71. Will I start over because of this oversight? No way! As of today, I am done with 75 Hard and I am shifting my focus to IRONMAN California training. If I had skipped a photo on Day 21, would I have started over? Probably. 

The Ugly

Looking back, I can't really think of anything "ugly". Could I have made the challenge harder? Yes. Could I have pushed myself more? Maybe. All in all, I would call this experiment a success. It has helped me develop new, healthy habits that I hope will continue long into the future. 

If you are considering trying 75 Hard, do some research, get familiar with the rules and lay out YOUR plan. Remember, this is about sticking with something that is difficult, so hang in there!

Race Report - Ice Breaker Triathlon 2024

The 2024 Ice Breaker Triathlon marked the start of the tri season for me with my ultimate goal being to cross the finish line at IRONMAN California. As I write this, I think IM CA will be my last full triathlon...but we will see how the training goes. 

 

Pre-Race 

I woke up Saturday morning to rainy cold weather. It's not as if I wasn't aware of the forecast, I was. It's just that at 6:00am, looking out the kitchen window and seeing it, made me start to reconsider racing. I quickly told myself that staying home was not an option. If I chickened out of this race, IRONMAN California would be that much more difficult to get to the start line. 

HS and I loaded up my car and headed to Folsom Lake about an hour an a half before race start. TBF Racing had been very clear that, due to construction at the lake, there would be a 15-20 minute walk to transition. What went unsaid is that there would be a 15-20 minute walk back to where the swim start was.  

Check-in was easy. I had printed a copy of my USA Triathlon card and a copy of my drivers license and laminated them together. The lady at the registration desk loved it!! I took my numbers and had to go over what was what with the volunteer. This was my first triathlon since IRONMAN California 2022 and I was feeling like a newbie this morning.

After getting my bike and gear from the car, we started the long trek to transition...in the rain.

Transition is located at that white tent way in the background.

Transition
Credit TBF Race Photography

After arranging my gear into two large clear blue recycling bags, I made my way to the swim start. In the shelter of the restroom/snackbar building overhang, I put on my thermal swim booties, my wetsuit, my thermal swim cap and the blue latex cap for my wave. I was tired after struggling to get into my gear, but at least I was warm. That is, until I got in the lake.

Swim

I made my way slowly into the water, letting it first penetrate the booties. It still felt cold, but eventually, my body would warm up the water trapped inside them. I continued walking until the bottom of my wetsuit zipper was submerged and the icy liquid flowed down my backside and started to fill the legs of my wetsuit. Eeek!

Still contemplating my life decisions that got me here ;-)

When I was almost chest deep, I stopped. In my mind I kept hearing Coach James telling me to stick my face in and blow bubbles. Which I did, reluctantly. I know it's supposed to help, but it was so cold. Eventually, I pushed off the bottom and took several strokes. Cold water flooded into my ears and I remembered the one thing I forgot. My silicone ear plugs. 

I turned around, took a few more strokes (Warm-up done!) and went to find HS. Thankfully, we had put my tri bag back in the car so it wouldn't get soaked. I asked him to go and try to find the ear plugs and get back before the start. He made quick work of finding them. Yay! My ears were going to be protected from the piercing cold water.

My swim wave entering the water
Credit TBF Race Photography

The swim started. I didn't get in a hurry. I strode out slowly until it was deep enough to swim and then I just swam. It is actually nice with the ear plugs in because there is a serenity in the silence. It was also nice that everyone was so aware of their space and I was only bumped and slapped (my feet) a few times. I continued swimming, stopping every once in a while to see where I was at. My Garmin data shows a fairly straight swim (for me anyways).

Swim exit was almost as casual as the start! 

I am thankful I put a pair of shoes out, because it

was close to 1/2 a mile to transition through 

sand, rocks and mud!

Bike

Cold does not begin to describe how I felt on the bike!

When I got to transition, I stripped off all my thermal swimming gear and slipped on my helmet, the easiest piece of gear when you are soaking wet. I had a pair of riding socks, but my cycling shoes that I had just pulled out of the bag and set next to my bike were already getting soaked by the rain. I've raced without socks in the past, I figured I didn't need them now.

I grabbed my riding gloves next, knowing how cold and miserable my fingers can get. However, in what looked like a reenactment of the infamous court scene where a pair of dried, bloody gloves were tried on, I stopped before I got the first one on. I would just have to ride without them.

I slipped on a pair of clear riding glasses because I really hate water in my face and jogged off to the mount line. I have no pictures of the ride due to the fact that transition was so far away and there were no spectators on the course.

I opted to ride my road bike today. Unfortunately, the bike decided to act up and for some reason I struggled to shift into a high gear. I could downshift easily on a climb, but then I was stuck spinning for a while until I could get the bike to change gears...usually right before I needed to climb again. Anyone that has rode this course, knows that it is twisty, turny with lots of ups and downs. Having a bike that didn't want to cooperate was not ideal.

I'm not smiling, my face is frozen!
Credit TBF Race Photography

As I said, cold does not begin to describe how I felt. I was in my sleeveless tri suit, soaking wet, sharp rain pelting my skin at times. My bike does not have disc brakes, so I was very, very cautious. I averaged 14.7 miles per hour on this ride. I can safely say that is probably my slowest race ride average ever. Even at IM CA 2022, in the brutal winds, I still averaged 16.12 mph! So, due to my slow pace, I got to enjoy more time in the cold. 

I was relieved to finally complete the second loop and head into transition. I unclipped and struggled to dismount my bike. My legs and arms were so cold, they didn't want to bend or move as I directed. I gingerly jogged over to my rack and hung the bike. I took off the helmet and glasses and tossed them into the bag with some of my swim gear. I pulled out a dry towel and wiped my feet and took the time to put on a soft, dry pair of running socks. Heaven!! I slipped on my shoes, knowing full well that my sock would be soaked in minutes.

I then started cleaning up my space and putting some loose gear away in the bag. "Stop!" I told myself. "Do that later." I have no idea what possessed me to clean up at that point, maybe I was just delaying the run. I pulled on my running cap, thankful for the protection from the endless drops of rain and started running.

Run

The long run from transition.

Perhaps it was my freezing cold legs, but I felt fresh headed out on the run. My steps felt light and I just jogged along easily. I had grabbed my handheld water bottle with electrolytes in it because I didn't want to slow down at the aid stations. Unfortunately, the first time I tried to take a drink, I almost knocked out a tooth. I was shaking so badly that I couldn't steady the bottle enough to get a drink. Maybe things weren't as good as they seemed.

Since I hadn't studied the map of the run course, I was surprised when we ran past the standard turn around point and continued on up the hill. Even though I was freezing, the course was beautiful and it took my mind off of being cold. Actually, running in cold weather, even with rain, is 100% better than riding a bike in the same weather ;-)

I closed in on a female runner with 42 on the back of her leg. Some people had body markings, others did not. She told me to go ahead and pass her and I replied "That's ok." I was focused on just running and watching where I stepped, not racing. I wanted to get out of this race injury free.

Post Race

Eventually I crossed the finish line. I was so happy, but the misery wasn't over yet. 

Happy face, happy race :-)

I went to the car and put on semi-dry clothes. I should have packed a warmer jacket for post race and an umbrella but I never would have thought it would be raining the entire time. I also didn't expect that it would be so cold. This is April in California, right?

I had HS scan the QR code for the results. No sense standing around if I didn't need to. The results showed me placing first in my age group. We were going to have to wait. I got a plate of pasta from the post-race food tent hoping that it would warm me up. It was lukewarm and after a bite, I handed the plate to HS. The snack bar was open for business, so we headed over to see what they had.

It was warm inside and the friendly lady at the counter brewed up a fresh pot of Folger's coffee for us. I couldn't wait to take a sip and finally feel warm. As we walked out to see where award ceremony was at, I tried lifting the paper cup to my mouth. I started shaking so badly that I splashed out half the coffee. HS tried to steady my hand so I could take a drink. I am not lying when I said I was freezing.

The award ceremony seemed painfully slow but eventually they called my name and I stood on the podium by myself. The only other female in my age group was still on the course. I collected my award and started the long trek to get my bike and gear...feeling happy that I didn't sit this one out, feeling even happier that I was headed home to a warm bath!

75 Hard Challenge - Weeks 3 & 4 Wrap-Up

I'm combining Week 3 and 4 because really I don't have much to report.

I feel like I've finally settled into the challenge. Things are starting to become routine and I recognize when I've missed something...usually my progress pic. I have one picture from a week ago, when I am ready for bed, in my pajamas. I know, it's not going to show much progress but the picture was taken and that's what matters.

Reading

The required 10 pages of reading continues to be a highlight for me. At the end of Week 3 I was midway through "Think Like a Warrior" by Darrin Donnelly. I found this book on a recommended reading list for 75 Hard. 

The rules say to read 10 pages of something non-fiction, educational that can be used to improve any area of your life (part of the reason I read the Bible every day). However, "Warrior" is definitely wrapped in a fictional story that relates to "five inner beliefs that make you unstoppable". So I read this quasi-nonfiction book and enjoyed it. I would have liked it better if the story was real, but if you've read the book, you know that would be impossible. 

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: Again, although this challenge is not a weight loss challenge, the weight continues to come off. Both weeks saw about a 2 lb. decrease and that made me really happy. My diet strategy is starting to become more focused. I started off deciding to follow the Mediterranean Diet. It's pretty opened ended...lots of fresh fruits and veg. I tried recipes. Some worked, some flopped but it didn't really feel like I was following anything specific. 

North African Peanut Stew
(mostly a vegetable stew with peanut butter mixed in, served over rice)
NOT a fan favorite, although I didn't think it was that bad.

 

I decided to clarify things a bit more in my head, so now my diet includes NOT eating after dinner. Dinner is the last meal of the day, no snacking. I have also eliminated refined sugar and sweets and for the most part gluten, but I'm not really hung up on the gluten thing...sugar is a big NO though.

The Bad: The only "bad" thing I can think of is that I have found myself chugging my last Stanley full of water at the end of the day. Everyday I start out with the best of intentions, but if I haven't started on my second one by lunch, I play catch-up right before bed and that is definitely not good. LOL

The Ugly: Ok, I hate calling any race effort ugly, and I'm probably only saying this because for once in a long time, I didn't get on the podium and there was a relatively small field of competitors in my age group. Nevertheless, the Lost Trail Half Marathon was not one of my better efforts. I walked at certain times when I probably should have been running. I tried to summon the determination David Goggins talked about in "Never Finished" but it just wasn't there. My legs were tired and I had no energy. (Maybe my double workouts were catching up with me?)

Taking a selfie mid-race is something I never do...
but hey, when you walked as much as I did, why not?

I thought about things I could have done differently after the race and moved on. No sense on dwelling on it. I just need to learn from the experience and try harder next time.

75 Hard Challenge - Week 2 Wrap-Up

So far, 75 Hard has been an interesting journey. I think the thing I am enjoying the most is reading. Now, don't get me wrong, I consider myself to be a "reader" (more on identity later on) and I am in a book club, but I read fiction not non-fiction self-helpy type books. Yuck. Or at least that is what I thought two weeks ago.

Task #4 is designed to teach you a habit that will benefit you greatly from now, until the day you die.  You must read something that is non-fiction, educational, and can be used to improve any area of your life. Whether it be about entrepreneurship, personal development, or a job/career related topic ... you must read AT LEAST 10 pages each and every day. That does not mean you can't read more than that, but you must read a minimum of 10 pages. You must physically read those pages ... meaning audiobooks DO NOT COUNT toward your 10 pages for the day.

I tore through David Goggin's "Never Finished" in four days. Next, I picked up "Atomic Habits" this took me a bit longer (finished it a couple of days ago) only because I purposely limited my reading to a couple chapters a day just to make the book last longer! 

Another "must read"

Atomic Habits and Identity

One take away from "Atomic Habits" was that I need to change my identity in order to change my behaviors. 

"...true behavior change is identity change...Your behaviors are usually a reflection of your identity. What you do is an indication of the type of person you believe that you are - either consciously or non consciously...once a person believes in a particular aspect of their identity, are are likely to act in alignment with that belief... 

• The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.
• The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner.
• The goal is not to learn an instrument, the goal is to become a musician.  (See pg. 34)

Another aspect of "identity" is not letting one identity define you. "Lose that one thing and you lose yourself" pg. 248. (Talk about coincidence...this is basically the theme of my novel!!)

So, what is my identity or more importantly, what would I like it to be? What identity will keep me growing through this challenge and developing new, good habits?

• My goal is not to write a book, my goal is to become an author! 
• My goal is not to lose 20 pounds, my goal is to become the type of person that doesn't eat a bunch of crap or overeat.
• I like the runner identity from above :-)
• I do not want my identity to be an athlete, (because injury can take that away in an instance) I want to be the type of person that loves physical challenges and who is mentally tough. (stole that from the book too)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good: My consistency is paying off. I am down 5-1/2 pounds since I started. However, as I mentioned before, this is not a weight loss challenge. Weight loss is just something that happens as a byproduct of doing the tasks. Actually, I think I am finally seeing the tipping point of the small positive changes I made earlier this year. Hard 75 has allowed me to continue with those changes and add to them. I have to admit that not snacking in the evening (a horrible habit of mine) has been tough. 

I love seeing colorful progress on my habit tracker.

The Bad: Hmmm...struggling to come up with anything other than the drinking 1-gallon of water everyday. Don't misunderstand...I am drinking it, but there have been days where I'm chugging pretty close to bed time and that is not ideal if you are trying to sleep through the night! I am still trying to establish a routine - wake up and fill my 40 oz. Stanley - try to have it finished by 11am. Refill and try to have it finished by 4pm. Refill and finish by 7pm with a topper of 8 more ounces.

The Ugly: I didn't think the two 45-minute workouts would be that big of a deal. HS and I walk the dogs every day...rain or shine because they would not allow anything less. So no change there, work out #1 done and it counts for the outside. HS now even checks if we need to take the long way home so I can hit 45 minutes. 

My furry accountability partners

Typically I will do a second workout such as a run or swim or a ride. Again, no big deal. However, I have not had a day off for two weeks and I think on Sunday it was catching up with me. On my 8-mile run my heart rate was elevated right from the start and I was running slower than usual for a warm-up. I stopped to rest a few times while HS, who was riding next to me, seemed concerned. 

I tried to come up with some alter ego like "Goggins" (gotta read the book) but couldn't decide on a name that motivated me. At around mile three, running straight into a relentless wind, I lost focus and tripped. There was nothing to trip over, just me not picking up my right foot. I could feel my balance shift and I fought to catch up with my downward momentum, hoping my left foot would finally get out far enough to stop the inevitable. It didn't. As I started my decent into the dirt, I put my hands out and crashed down on to my right side and shoulder. 

I had HS take a pic at the turn around...still looking and 
feeling pathetic. Pick up your feet!!!

I picked myself up. HS stopped and tried to figure out what happened. I think he was concerned it was related to my elevated HR. I grabbed my knees and started crying. Which I think made him even more worried. I told him I was fine and that I just needed to regroup...which is what I did. After a few minutes, I started running (sort of) towards the turn around at 4 miles. I wasn't giving up that easily although the last half of the run turned out to be more of a run/walk but I finished the 8 miles.

Here's to week three...hopefully injury free!

75 Hard Challenge - Week 1 Wrap-Up

Last week BFF (aka Spell Checker) introduced me to the 75 Hard Challenge. After successfully completing 6 days (I stumbled and started day 1 over) I can honestly say that I believe this challenge was an answer to my prayers. Thank you again, BFF!!!

Of course, many people may look at this challenge and say that it is arbitrary and stupid and there is no reason to do it or even stick with it, but I say they are wrong. Yes, it's not a training plan that you are compelled to stick with so you can cross the finish line of a race or get a PR at an event. It's not a diet promising miracle weight loss. It is a mental challenge. A toughness challenge. A hard challenge.

I believe I was introduced to this challenge for a reason and it is in my heart to complete it. I am very pleased with my progress and I am excited to see the changes over the remaining 69 days.

Adding a Post-it every night before bed

Difference of Opinion

Since Saturday afternoon (Day 5) was set to be busy and because we were hosting a Super Bowl party on Sunday, I decided to switch my long run to Saturday morning (still have races to train for). We walked the dogs and after we got home, I changed clothes and headed out on my run. Two things disqualified my walk from the challenge:

1) It was less than 45 minutes

2) It was done right before the run.

Note: There is a lot of conflicting info on the two workouts rule. I have been operating with the belief that they have to be separate and distinct, with a break in between, and at least one of the workouts has to be outside. I have read Reddit posts from people saying the workouts have to have a 3 hour separation. Here is the wording for Task 2 from Andy Frisella's website...

Nothing about the time between workouts
https://andyfrisella.com/blogs/articles/what-is-75-hard

So, when we got home Saturday evening after two appointments in Stockton, I climbed on the trainer and did a 45 minute ride in Zwift. It wasn't a programmed workout or anything too hard, but is was separate and it was the full 45 minutes.

Of course, HS found this to be irritatingly stupid. Why didn't I just walk longer in the morning? You ran for over two hours, isn't that enough? Most people don't run that long. Why not count the run as two workouts?

I tried explaining the rules of the challenge but was just met with more of the same queries. At the Super Bowl party, he even tried to get BFF's opinion on me not counting my run as two workouts. I think he was hoping to get her to admit I was being too strict about the rules. She may think I'm crazy, but she is the last person to ask about me sticking with something. Besides, this whole thing is her fault LOL!

Out of all my answers to the questions asked, I think the most telling was about who was tracking the challenge. The person tracking this is me. This matters to ME! I could cheat the rules (as I understand them) but I would know. I would want to start over. Everyone has different reasons, goals, measurements for this challenge (just check Reddit if you don't believe me) I am sticking to mine and only mine.

Weekly workout summary

Yes, I could count a short workout or say my 2 hour run is twice as long as two separate 45 minute workouts, but in my heart I will have known I haven't followed the challenge. I went to bed Saturday night, tired but feeling proud of my accomplishment. The job got done no matter what and I controlled what I could control (when and where I did my workout and what the workout was). This is the whole point.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Good: I consider myself a reader and I generally love books. However, I usually lean towards fiction or books about how to write a book. I have never been really into motivational, self-help books (unless you count the Bible). When I started 75 Hard, I was fortunate enough to have a book on my shelf ready to go, "Never Finished" by David Goggins. The challenge calls for reading 10 pages a day, I finished the book in 4 days. It was a great read and I could feel it stirring the embers of wanting more from myself. If you are doing the challenge, this is a MUST READ!

Must read!

Good: Weight loss. Although this is not a weight loss challenge or diet, I have lost 3.8 pounds since last Monday.

Bad: I wouldn't say it's entirely bad, but I struggle with the whole gallon of water. Yes, I am drinking the full 120 oz. plus a little extra, but I have a hard time drinking consistently throughout the day. If I could just sip a little every now and then, I wouldn't end up gulping an insane amount right before bed. This is something I hope to improve this week.

Ugly: The only ugliness was Day 1 (the first one). I failed on the workout timing and on the drinking water so I owned up to my shortcomings and decided to start over the next day. This was fairly easy with only 24 hours wasted and I wonder if I would be so willing if I was 61 or 71 days into the challenge. Honestly, if it's day 71, I'm drinking the gallon of water even if I'm about to put my head on my pillow ;-)

This Week

I am looking forward to settling in to the challenge as I sit here sipping my water. 

The book I am reading now is called "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and I will probably be looking for a new read by the end of the week. This book is almost just as interesting as "Never Finished" and I am learning so much about how both good and bad habits are formed. I think 75 Hard is giving me the opportunity to work on my habits and hopefully create new healthy ones by the time the challenge is over.

While reading about habit stacking and temptation bundling, I have decided that writing/working on my book needs to be factored in somewhere. I'm trying to decide on timing and location so I won't have any built in excuses or stumbling blocks. I think I will work on my book for 30 minutes after lunch in the living room. 

Today is off to a good start...time to go take my daily progress pic :-)

75 Hard Challenge - Day 1 (Take 2)

Well, let me start by saying I am thankful that I screwed up on Day 1 and not Day 74 because if you are familiar with this challenge, if you mess up, you start over! 

Looking forward to adding 74 more Post-Its!

I think my biggest mistake was diving in head first without a clear plan. I had decided to follow the Mediterranean Diet and to stay gluten free (just because I thought that would help me lose weight). In my shopping haste, I picked up a pack of mint double-stuff Oreo cookies because they were gluten free. And I don't even like Oreos!!! I think I panicked about the thought of not having any sweets along with the whole "no alcohol" thing. I ate three of the cookies last night and stopped, figuring that was a victory of some sorts, although it clearly wasn't following the Mediterranean Diet. Fail!

My next mistake was realizing that I had probably only drank about 30 oz. of the required 128 oz. I then tried some fancy math and started adding the partial cans of sparkling water and then my coffee to try and bring my total intake up, and I still wasn't even close. I grabbed a glass and was going to start pounding water right before bed before decided that I didn't want to be up all night going to the bathroom. I resigned myself to starting the challenge over in the morning. Lesson learned.

Starting Over

This morning, before I got out of bed, I popped in my Air Pods and listened to Andy Frisella's podcast about Hard 75. If you are considering this challenge, I recommended listening to this first. Andy is the creator of Hard 75 and he explains that this isn't a diet challenge it is a mental challenge. He also explains the rules in more detail than you will get from a quick Internet search.  

Link to Episode #208

As I said, I am thankful I figured this out after only a day. 

75 Hard Challenge with My BFF

Yesterday morning I was excited to be meeting my BFF and her hubby for brunch after church. It had been a few months since we found the time to get together and I was really looking forward to seeing them. I was also thinking about how I could bring up the fact that I wanted start a diet (again) and was desperate for an accountability partner. I was sure she would say "Yes" if I asked, but I didn't want to force her into anything.

We met up at our favorite Mexican restaurant and when the waiter came to get our drink order, she said she was just having water. Perfect! I ordered water too knowing that I didn't need the sugar or calories from their delicious strawberry jalapeño margarita. I told her that I had just finished "Dry January" and she said she wasn't drinking because of something called "75 Hard". Over our meal, between all of the catching up, she explained the challenge to me. I was definitely interested and so grateful that my accountability partner just landed in my lap without me even having to ask her!

Everything You Need to Know

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/75-hard-challenge-and-rules 

The Rules 

1. Follow a nutrition plan of your own, no alcohol or cheat meals
2. Two 45 minutes workouts per day - one must be outside
3. Drink one gallon of water per day
4. Read 10 pages of a non-fiction, personal development focused book
5. Take a progress picture every day

Do this for 75 days. If you mess up go directly to jail, do not pass "go"...in other words start over again!

My Commitment

1.  NUTRITION Due to my training, I would be hard pressed to eliminate carbs (ie Keto or Atkins)...I need some fuel to keep going. So I think I will stick to the Mediterranean Diet. I think this is the healthiest option and it will work best for HS. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801

I am also going to take a page from BFF's playbook and eliminate sugar and gluten. I have made this switch in the past and felt much better for it.

As for the alcohol...I just finished "Dry January". I survived and I realized that I missed the habit of a glass of wine, not the actual wine. This weekend (Feb 3) I had my first glass(es) of wine since Dec. 31. Even though I didn't go absolutely nuts, I still woke up not feeling as good as I did without the wine. So I've been asking myself, is it worth it? I really think the sugar in the wine messes with me because I get sugar hangovers and this is how a couple of glasses of wine made me feel.

2. WORKOUTS  I'm almost doing the workouts now. My first 45 minutes (which is always outside and rarely skipped) is our daily dog walk which is typically around 45 minutes. Done! My second workout will be based on my training plan and will often be longer than the 45 minutes. I guess my real challenge is going to be doing this for 75 days with no break. Obviously, there will be recovery days where my workout will be something nice like yoga but still technically a workout.

3. WATER Ok, the water drinking is going to be a big challenge. If it was diet 7-Up, no problem, but plain water. A whole gallon??? I know my body and skin will thank me, but it just sounds horrible. LOL

4. READING I currently wake up and read my bible every day and I 100% believe that it is the BEST personal development focused book so I will continue doing this. Although I will be extending the prescribed reading in my "Bible In a Year" version to the full 10-pages. I think I will also start reading "Never Finished" by David Goggins since it has been sitting on my shelf collecting dust for a while (I'm not even sure where it came from).

My "Must Read"

5. PICTURES Last but not least...the daily pictures. I am going to find an ideal spot and set up my camera just to make it easy. I know from doing P90X and taking progress pics that they really can tell a story after the fact. The first photo, not so much...so don't expect to see my progress pics any time soon!

One Day at A Time

As I start day one...today...February 5, I already find myself already looking too far in the future. Next Sunday is Super Bowl and I'm already worried about snacks. I've got to put that aside for now and just be thankful that BFF will be there for support!