Today marks day 50 for me on the 75 Day Challenge…
If you missed it, 50 days ago I started a 75-day challenge that consists of 5 things you have to do every day…
Two workouts per day, 45 minutes each, one has to be out outside
Follow a diet, no alcohol, no sweets
Drink a gallon of water every day
Read 10 pages of personal development every day
Take a progress picture every day
As I approach the final 1/3 of the challenge, I reflect with 5 big lessons…
1. It’s Not About The Weight Loss
I’m pretty open about always struggling with my weight.
I always have, probably always will, and I’m okay with that.
A lot of people see this as a weight loss challenge.
Although I have dropped about 10lbs and 5-6% body fat, that’s not why I did it.
Sure, like the rest of us, I want to drop some body fat and not have this “dad bod” but I’m really doing it for my internal self.
Committing to doing things every day for 75 straight days.
If you miss a day, you go back to day one.
A lot of people ask why you need to take a picture every day.
“That’s stupid, you won’t notice anything every day.”
Although that is true, I believe it’s less about the picture, and more about committing to doing what you said you would do, doing something small and boring for 75 straight days, and not letting the details, the small things, slip through the cracks.
It’s never been a weight loss challenge.
2.Better Family Time
By far the hardest part of the challenge is the two workouts, one being outside.
Although challenging, this has been the most rewarding part of the challenge (usually the hardest things are the most rewarding).
Typically one of my workouts is a strength training session in the gym every day.
So, for the other one, I keep it light and usually do a trail walk or a walk on the beach.
The best part?
Megan, Kaden, and Champ (my dog) have joined me for about 50% of them.
That’s at least 25 extra hours that I get to spend with them.
Kaden loves the trail walks or pointing out the birds at the beach.
Plus, Megan and I get a quality hour to walk together.
It’s been a win-win, and normally I would have used that hour to get more work done, but instead, I get to spend it with them.
3.No More Cravings
In the beginning, the no sweets and no alcohol was hard.
I’m not a big drinker, but I love my IPA’s, and when the family is over or football is on the big screen, I thoroughly enjoy a cold one.
I also have always been a big sweets person.
I “needed” to have a piece of dessert almost every night.
That was tough to work through, especially with a wife who is 7 months pregnant, if you know what I mean :)
I noticed about two weeks ago (~35 days in), that I couldn’t care less about the sweets or the booze.
Megan would be eating ice cream right in front of me and I didn’t crave it…
This past weekend we had Mel’s wedding, and the sweets and booze were plentiful, but I didn’t even have a desire or an urge.
I don’t think I would have had that same feeling two weeks ago, so it’s interesting to see how it changes.
4. There is no 99%
I talk a lot about 1% Better, heck I’ve written a book about it, and centered my entire brand message around it.
However, I think there’s something to be said for going 100%.
We hear a lot about small changes, having “cheat days”, and everything in moderation.
Although I still think that is best for long-term success, I am really enjoying for a period of time going as hard as possible.
There is no “just today” when it comes to skipping a workout or having a cheat meal.
We know that behavior can lead to a slippery slope where “just this one” turns into “just today”, turns into “I’ll start on Monday”, which leads to waiting until January 1st.
I’m really enjoying the mental push of no room for error, and not letting that little devil slip in at all.
5. It’s all in the planning
I know everyone has their own personality, there own preferences, but I also know that if we fail to plan we should plan to fail.
By far the biggest thing I’ve done for this challenge is plan.
I map out my week on Sunday nights, I have a schedule for both my workouts, my reading time is scheduled and I make sure I have a backup plan if something pops up.
I reevaluate every night, mapping out the next day based on what changed or was added onto the schedule.
I try to be proactive as much as possible, not reactive.
These final 25 days will be the hardest as I’m traveling for half of them.
A different routine, no gym access, a different environment, but I have a plan.
That doesn’t make it easy, but it does make me ready.
There’s always going to be a reactive component to our lives, but there is a lot we can plan for, a lot we can be proactive about.
I’m excited to finish up these last 25 days and do a recap.
Sharing things like this, along with people checking in, has made me stay extra accountable, and I appreciate that.
1% Better.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Doug Spurling