Seventy-Five Hard-ish?

Well, more like ‘mildly’ hard as I complete a full day of the 75 Hard Challenge. You know how it is. Your hip and only daughter suggests engaging in something the two of you can do together and before you know it, you’re drowning in heaps of water and tethered to a lavatory. All day. Even as I write, I am sipping on half of the gallon I should have consumed for the day because I simply knew that that was where my personal challenge would lie.

Lemme back up. Two days ago, one of the apples of my eye introduced a Tik Tok challenge called, 75 Hard. For 75 days (approx 2 and half months), you have to give up alcohol, read 10 pages of a motivational nonfiction book every day, take a progress picture of yourself each day, do TWO 45-minute workouts a day (one must be outside), drink a gallon of water a day and follow a diet of your choice. Any diet that works or worked for you. Atkins, Paleo, you get the idea. Of course, if you already have a decent regimen, just keep on keeping on!

So yesterday, we both purchased groceries in preparation, and we ate what we hoped to be our last naughty meal until the New Year. In hindsight, the choice to start at the literal precipice of the biggest 3 holidays of the year where bubbly and “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes. Chicken, turkeys, rabbit. You name it!” are flowing was diabolical! But hey, I haven’t lived to eat for a few years now, so we’ll see how long we can stick with it. Or rather, noncommittal ‘I’ can stick with it lol

The point of the exercise is less about losing weight (which is a certainty) and more about disciplining your mindset to focus better on your health and commitment to fitness. To be honest, after I completed my graduate degree in May the intent was to concentrate on shedding these last stubborn 20 lbs along my journey anyway. So, what the heck? My thoughts upon completion of the 1^st day are…not bad.

I surprised myself, actually. I religiously eat an organic banana once a day in the mornings at 8:30a. And then at 10:30a, I eat about 12 cashews and an organic apple anyway. And yes, a regimented diet works best for the eating disorder I have struggled with my entire life. Lunch time is usually a portioned leftover. Today, it was lentil soup and 5 crackers which is the serving size. All the while, I am trying to pace myself with water having taken in 32 oz and about 5 trips to the bathroom so far. I know this will level off as my bladder gets reacquainted with the volume.

Overall, half way through the day I was 5lbs lighter at my doctor’s appointment. I know this to be water weight and level off as well, but it was still encouraging. When I first got home after work, I napped in my recliner–sure I wouldn’t make it to a second workout. But then I caught a second wind and made it! Tomorrow’s mission is to step up my water game, but so far so good. – Dr. T

What about you guys? Any takers? What dietary regimens have you had the most success? Please let me know in the comments!