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.