08/12/2021
Today is day 75 of my 75 Hard challenge! I did it!
For 75 days I have:
1. Worked out for a total of 90 minutes, at least half of which was outside
2. Drank a gallon of water
3. Read 10 pages of non-fiction
4. Taken a progress photo
5. Avoided coffee and alcohol
6. Ate within an 8 hour period each day, but I ate whatever I wanted
I decided to do this challenge earlier this year, for several reasons. One, I had gained about 17 pounds in less than two years and I did not like how my clothes were fitting. Two, thyroid issues run in my family, and I have a number of symptoms, and I saw this challenge as an opportunity to take action. And three, I wanted to do something that would help me to get in touch with my body, where I could get fit and take care of myself in a way that was loving, not based on self-hate, which I had to work through with my PTSD.
So what happened??
Between April, when I was at my highest weight, and the end of May when I began the challenge, I lost about five pounds through regular walks and paying attention to snacking. Since beginning the challenge, I lost another five pounds, and gained back a pound in muscle. It is also entirely possible that as my water intake drops beginning tomorrow to a more reasonable half gallon, lol, that I will lose more weight. Did you know that a gallon of water weighs 8lbs?!
I also have very excited to say that, not only do my clothes fit better, but I actually have muscles! Instead of my arms and thighs jiggling, they are toned and my tolerance for strength exercises has increased significantly. I am doing pushups, sit ups, squats, planks, and weights, and I am feeling so good! I have decided to continue doing mat work, half an hour a day on the days my husband and I don't go for a walk. I want to maintain what I have worked SO hard to achieve.
I have also noticed that my energy has improved. I don't have a "slump" midday, and while initially I was exhausted by 8pm, I'm back to my usual bedtime of 10pm and feeling good throughout the day.
Possibly TMI, but an unexpected benefit has been that my historically low libido has improved. I don't know if that's because my hormones are being regulated better because of the exercise, or because I'm just feeling good about my relationship with my body, but I'll take it!
If you google search 75 Hard, you're going to notice that a lot of people have very strong feelings about this challenge. Some people say that it is unhealthy mentally, others say it is bad for your adrenal glands. My opinion, take it or leave it, is that just as with everything else, it's not right for everyone. I thrive on challenges, and I liked that I could make it work for me. It was a good fit. But I'm not going to say that you should do it. That's up to you!
I found the hardest part to be between the second and third week when the excitement wore off and the routine got boring. Mixing things up made it easier and fresher. I also found that a gallon of water was easier to get down if I was sweating daily. Otherwise I was in the bathroom WAY too much! lol Finally, I found that with intermittent fasting, my appetite shrunk, and it became easier to do as time went on.
If you are looking for a challenge, and you're thinking about 75 Hard, feel free to reach out to talk more about it! For me, I am celebrating being done with a massage and a couple dark brews, but I am also excited for the lessons I have learned that I can apply to my life from here on out.
