Day 75 - Final Day - Some thoughts
Hey Guys, Today is day 75 for me and it is a bitter sweet ending. I thought I'd share a few thoughts as I close 75 Hard out. This has been one of the hardest things I have committed to in a long time and being stretched physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually was deeply needed. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for a cheeseburger tomorrow, but I think I'm going to miss having to check those boxes each day. I'll certainly be taking a few of them with me as I move forward. I'll break down my experiences on each daily required task below and then some final closing thoughts. Reading: I've read more in the last 75 days than I have in the last 10 years. That has been one of the coolest and thought provoking experiences. I've knocked out 5 books, a few that I will revisit, and am on my 6th now. Reading has provided a space for me to slow down, be alone with my thoughts and alone with myself. It's also encouraged me to pick up journaling, which has served as the ultimate way to wind down before bed. Working Out 2x/Day: This has been the most fun and most annoying part of the challenge. A lot of times it was more than two 45 minute workouts. The time it takes to get to the gym, do your workouts, come home and clean up, really took a ton of time and planning. The worst days were when I've had to travel for work. I'd find myself getting off a plane at 10pm, rushing home just to get a jog or a fast walk in to close out the day. Personally, this one took the most sacrifice on my end because of the time it took up. I am happy to say that I'm now running up to 8 miles again, faster than I've been in a long time, muay sessions feel great and down about 13 lbs from when I started. Big shout out to Coach Alex! Wouldn't have been able to get through these workouts with you and the other coaches. Diet/No Cheat Meals/No Alcohol: Dieting has always been tough for me because I've never had a real reason to do it. I've always been lean and my regular activity keeps me in decent enough shape. I purposely chose a diet that would allow me to go to a work lunch or dinner and get sushi, a grilled chicken salad, or something like that. This part of the challenge has been one of the best changes for my household. We meal prep breakfast and lunch each Sunday and then cook 3-4 dinners/ week throughout the week for the most part. This ensures I'm getting enough calories throughout the day and it takes such a mental load off of me just knowing it is already done. Because of the meal prepping, we are eating better food and are saving a noticeable amount of money by not eating out. This is definitely something I will take with me beyond the challenge. Regarding alcohol, I rarely miss it. I’m definitely going to open a nice bottle of wine tomorrow, but I could honestly never think of it again and it wouldn’t change my daily life.