Doing the Andy Frisella "75 Hard" Challenge

[Fox]

Maybe you have already heard of this challenge - the 75 hard challenge by Andy Frisella who runs The MFCEO podcast (I think the top business podcast for over two years).

Basically, the rules are:

1) Strict Diet – No cheating, not even 1 bite, and No alcohol

2) Two Workouts* per Day – 1 has to be outside and both have to be at least 45 minutes
(*this can mean jogging, swimming, yoga - doesn't have to be gym)

3) Drink 1 Gallon of Water per Day – Nothing but clear, plain water counts

4) Read 10 Pager per Day – From a non-fiction self-help book or business book

5) Take a Progress Picture Every Day – So you can see the progress at the end

For 75 days with no days off.


While it might seem like a fitness challenge - it isn't. It is a discipline challenge.

Andy explains it fully here:

75HARD: A 75-Day Tactical Guide to Winning the War With Yourself, with Andy Frisella - MFCEO290

What would it be worth to you if you could 100X traits in yourself like confidence, self-belief, discipline, & grittiness...& completely transform your life? These are not traits you are born with, but skills you develop. I've spent more than twenty years figuring out how to master mental...

andyfrisella.com

Let me say - it is harder than it looks. To do one day - easy. To not miss any days - very very hard.

First time I failed was cause I had a sugary drink on a date. I let a girl buy me a sugary Starbucks smoothie and wasn't being aware.

The second time (two days ago) I didn't do any reading cause I didn't have my day planned out 100%. I got sloppy with my time.


Is this challenge needed for you to be successful? Of course not.

But is it a great way to build some great habits, awareness, dedication, and discipline for those struggling with those things? 100%.

So if you feel like jumping in with me on this challenge post up.


Some additional rules:

- Don't modify any part of the challenge. This isn't a "well I did it this way" challenge. The rules are above and those are the rules.

- If you break ANY rules you go back to the start.

- Be true to yourself. The only person who gets anything out of this is YOU if you do it right. Pretending you did this won't help and will most likely hurt.

- No audiobooks ha. I still listen to them as I walk every day but Andy is clear that the 10 pages a day are to be read by you.


That is it:

Here are my past stats but I will consider today day one since I have to restart...





(started on the 23rd of May and failed twice since)


So who is in with me?
(or has already started)


-----------

June 2020 update:

- I completed the challenge at the end of 2019 just before New Years.
- Hands down the best thing I ever did for myself mentally and physically
- The biz gains were also massive and still building up from the progress I made

- I have dropped off the last few weeks from corona/other stuff so I am not back on it again!

Video here if you want to follow along and post up here too:

I am restarting on page 22 of this thread if you want to follow along/post up there.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I won't comment on the metrics of the "challenge" but doing ANYTHING within a process mentality for 75 days straight will change your life.

Accomplish this and you probably won't recognize yourself afterwards, either physically or mentally.

 

[fishgodeep]

Dia duit,

I am writing this while polishing a bar with my elbow in the Emerald Isle, Mother Erin, the land of Saints & Scholars etc. First drink since March and let me tell you lads and ladies the Guinness is mother’s milk.

Day 74 - 75 were interesting as I was flying half way across the world. Not exactly logistically advantageous I think you’d agree. So two days became one as I didn’t sleep, do you ever really sleep on a plane?

I chose to fast for the journey as I didn’t trust airport or airplane food. I didn’t want to cede control so kept it to myself. Say no to drugs and no to food when it’s questionable folks. It’s a very powerful feeling realizing how much control you really have when your willing to be uncomfortable. Seek discomfort. This has become a mantra constantly repeating itself along with the other voices in my head.

When I arrived at home in Ireland it was time to work. Mother of whoever you choose to worship do I ever love the work! I believe it was @KnightByDay who was saying he (or she, how dare I assume your gender) was becoming addicted to working out. I feel the same way. So I grabbed my wee brother who’s no longer very wee and hit the mats. Got many tasty rounds in. In the evening I went hiking with my wee wee brother (different one, more wee).

Wouldn’t have done any of this if it wasn’t for the program. Probably would have a made a bunch of bullshit excuses about being tired and went for a nap. This whole load of nonsense has been tremendous and I would instantly go into Phase 1 other than the fact I’m on holidays.

I see some of you arguing over inconsequential things and making things overly complicated which is confusing. I’m a knuckle dragger and as such love simplicity. If your interested in doing the program, do it and update in the thread accordingly. If your not interested in the challenge, don’t do it and don’t comment on people who are.

But maybe I’m missing something, there’s clearly some clever clogs out there with loads of studies about water poisoning and over training. Brilliant, enjoy your reading your studies. The rest of us are seeking knowledge through application, some may even call it process . Anyway to the ‘doers’ out there keep pushing forward and remember if your doing something worthwhile people are going to criticize you.

Here’s some pics to show results:

Day 1 - Day 75



To those who do and those who comment know that I truly love you all. But perhaps consider a little less talking and little more action.

 

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[Johnny boy]

My current routine as of yesterday

30 days of a dopamine reset

No entertainment such as movies/tv/music

No porn - no sex

No sugar or carbs

Go to bed at 8pm and wake up at 5am

Eat only during a 4 hour window during the day

Cut out stimulating activities so no riding my motorcycle

Stretch and meditate 3x a day

No hanging out with friends

Its a strange thing to cut out all the stuff you turn to when you need a boost. It makes you confront everything in your life because there's nothing else to do.

 

[Fox]

Back to day one.

The meal prep service I used had a dessert with it - which I ate.
Weak behaviour justified with some nonsense.

Look someone reading this thread might be like "who cares about eating one dessert - you have been doing great". But that is where it starts. First, it is a dessert, then its a day off, then it's a few days off and some beers, then it is an "easy month or two", next you are right back where you were a few years ago.

I know cause I have lived like that for ten years - make progress, tapper off and enjoy myself too much, then end up back where I started. I have gotten much better but its still my biggest issue.

I know I got the "skills" to be a multimillionaire. I can see ways to deliver massive value, I can help others and make a big impact, I love to work and enjoy the process. But yet I am not. Why? Discipline.

Discipline to control my thoughts and my actions. To say NO when I need to. To make a sacrifice NOW so I can see real progress later. I committed to 75 days with no sugary food or desserts and I failed. If I can't do something that simple how am I going to manage the temptation that will come massive success? I probably won't which is why I have historically always stalled once I get over 100k a year - I get comfortable.

That is why I get so pissed at people on here trying to modify this challenge. You don't even see that is where it starts. I relate to it cause I did that also - it's just one, it's nearly the same, it kinda counts, I can start tomorrow, at least I am not doing _____.

Next thing a few years have gone by and you are wondering what the hell happened. Where are all those big goals you were working on? They fell through the 10,000 gaps you created when you BS'd yourself daily.

Your big goals are they massive things that you can prop up with a bit of work here and there. They are made of sand and any little gaps you make they are going to slip through.

And I am DONE HAVING GAPS FOR THINGS TO SLIP THROUGH.

> If you are modifying this challenge in ANY way you need to start again properly
> If you are leaving ANY gaps for things to get through you need to 100% fix them NOW
> If you think this challenge is nonsense yet still haven't made that much progress over the last year then maybe you need to rethink things

I don't like coming on here posting this stuff and showing everyone I failed but I just think it is what I need to do to fix this stuff. For good. And I hope it gets someone else to take action also.

 

[Fox]

Okay so even though I am on attempt number 5(!) I havent missed a workout or running/walking session in a full month. And apart from one sugary smoothie, my diet had been 100% also.

So this is the day I started...



I had been injured for a month and in general, was feeling a bit run down.

This is from today...



It's hard to show the mental progress side of things as easy as fitness but I feel the same progress also. I have been listening/reading over 2 hours a day which has been great.

I think this is the hardest I have ever pushed myself and I am 100% committed to finishing without a single "slip".

I am really starting to feel the compound effect of what is possible with work, discipline, and 100% consistency.

*apologies for the douchey topless pics

 

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[KnightByDay]

Hey everyone. Figure I'll add my experience to show solidarity with you all, and hopefully give some useful tips and/or inspiration.

Today is day 32 for me, first attempt. It also marks the first time since the age of 13 I weigh <200lbs.



I started the challenge at 214.6lbs, now down to 198.8 as of this morning (for context, I am male, 26 years old, 6' 3" - highest ever weight was 280lbs a couple years ago). That's an average of 0.5lbs a day for those counting.

The part of this challenge I've found most difficult is working out twice a day, though to be honest now that I'm in the rhythm of it, it's not too bad.

To prepare for this challenge, and something I highly recommend to those struggling with consistency, I bought a notebook and water bottle specifically to help with tracking the daily requirements. Here is page one of that notebook which I filled out the day before:



As you can see, the diet is pretty strict. Drinking a gallon of water throughout the day helps combat any hunger from the intermittent fasting.

I highly recommend you put your diet and the rules of the challenge, in writing, in the front of your notebook and not in a phone list or calendar. This solidified to me that this challenge is real, with defined rules that I have agreed to abide by.

The water bottle is a 1000ml Camelbak, which gives context for how I track my water intake below.

The way I track the daily challenge activities is modeled after Andy Frisella's Power List. I highly recommend you listen to that podcast as well.



As you can see from day 1, I write out each activity for the day when I wake up, then put a line thru it when I've finished the task. After all the tasks are done, I draw a checkmark and circle it as a mini-victory for that day.

The way I track water intake is also critical, I would never remember how much I drank otherwise. The bottle is 1000ml, so I need to drink 4 full bottles to hit my daily water intake requirement. Every time I empty the bottle, I put a slashed line thru the next empty box.

I've added a few more things to my list that I need to do every day, separate from the challenge but all in one place.



Other than having a dedicated notebook and waterbottle you keep with you the whole time, the other piece of advice I would like to give is this:

Take this challenge seriously. It is hard. In my opinion, you have to make this challenge your number one priority.

Re-listen to the 75Hard Tactical Guide podcast, episode 291, to see what I mean. Vaughn talks about skipping the superbowl party because he didn't trust himself not to cheat. Andy talks about telling your friend you can't go to their birthday party because you can't trust yourself yet to not eat birthday cake.

This challenge requires sacrifice, dedication and discipline. For me, it has absolutely been worth it so far. If you want to reap the benefits, you must sow and water the seeds (at least a gallon a day ).

 

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[Fox]

Okay, so a proper post (multiple topless pics incoming )...

6th May 2018...



I felt and looked quite rough. Had lost a lot of focus and drive.
I think this pic was my fitness low point - it is quite embarrassing to post here tbh.

24th May 2019 - Day #1, Attempt #1 of challenge



Not much better than above. I had been back in the gym here and there from mid-2018 to mid-2019 but hadn't made a whole lot of progress. Probably my diet/sleep being off was still holding me back a lot.

Day #216, attempt 16 of the challenge...



This was on the Swiss/Italien border just a few days ago. I was having a bit of fun with my daily progress pic but it was a cool moment also - got to snowboard in amazing conditions for a week with my brother and it was probably one of my coolest vacations yet.

Final day pic...



I flew back to Poland on my final day and did my walk in some light snow and my final workout here in the house (got a nice basic home gym set up for days I don't want to go to the real day).

My final reading was Unscripted which I have now nearly fully reread. It has been hitting me quite hard this time and was the perfect book to finish this challenge on. Thanks @MJ DeMarco as always.

---

Overall I am glad to be finished but it has actually been a little bit of down moment too.

Looking at these pics it is great to see the physical progress but I feel like I now see how much progress I could have been potentially making in other areas - and haven't.

So my finishing feeling with this challenge is that of satisfaction but also some regret. I regret I didn't start being this focused a long time ago in fitness but also in business and life in general.

I am coming into 2020 with a determined mindset - apply what I learned here to everything and step up my game. I want to look back at my whole life at the end of 2020 and see the same kind of progress I made above.

Any challenge questions let me know but those are my main thoughts for now.

 

[Fox]

If you don't want to do this challenge and don't see the value go start another thread with what you are doing.
Let's see who is where 3 months from now.

Back to the challenge...

This is day 7 of attempt 5 and there is NO WAY I am going to fail this thing again.

Everything is getting front loaded...

- Water intake starts the moment I wake up

- Reading is done before my morning 45 workout (forest run/walk)

- Second water starts when I get back (I get through 1.5 litres doing the first workout)

- First progress pic is taken before I shower (I take two everyday cause I prefer after I workout but the first pic is back up)

- Diet is the easier one for me > I cook all 90% my own meals and I just don't buy junk. If I eat out I only even look at this super healthy hipster vegan places - they don't even have anything bad I could order. Problem solved.

- I got a big glass wardrobe in the office and I got it all written out to track it


This new switch up covers all the gaps I had before.

Also to show how this links in with work it is something like...

Wake up at 6:00am
Read and out the door: 6:30am
Finish walk, progress pic, shower and breakfast: 830am
Work and then gym: 3:30/4pm
Done

I got 4 till 9 to do whatever and then start winding down for bed.

 

[Sander]

Did my walk inside today. I'm used to do the walk outside every day.

Forgot all about it later, when I got on my indoor bike. After af couple of minutes it got to me "hey, this should be an outdoor workout".

So when I laced my running shoes, my wife said "shouldn't you be biking?"

"Nah, forgot this second workout must be outside".

She couldn't understand why I couldn't just get on the bike and do the second workout of the day indoor.

"But it's not playing by the rules" I said.

She didn't understand it. But I got my run in the book.

 

[KnightByDay]

Day 75.

I'm about to read my 10 pages and hop into bed, then I'm done. I may do another post about my thoughts and experiences later in the week, but for now I'll share my progress pics as promised. (Gratuitious manboobs warning)


Left: 214.6lbs - Day 1
Right: 189.2lbs - Day 75

Although I'm proud of my progress I'm not happy with where I'm at yet physically. I am confident now that I will get there, eventually, thanks to this challenge. I feel like I have proven something to myself, and I'm excited for the future.

Good luck to everyone still grinding away, and anyone thinking of doing the challenge... just do it, but be prepared for what it really takes.

 

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[Fox]

Hey everyone - I am still doing well and on track to finish by the end of the year.

I think the people who have finished have given some amazing lessons and I got nothing new to add there.

Some of the random observations I have made about this challenge:

- Its really funny to go on dates and not drink, eat sugar, or stuff your face with terrible food. People literally can't believe it and the difference between what is now normal for you and crazy for someone else definitely exists. Add in being in a new country and not speaking the language and you feel like you are from another planet.

- Walking outdoors every day makes you feel a little crazy. I am literally in the woods everyday solo for an hour. Coming into a Polish winter (where hardly anyone walks outside unless they have it) it is a funny feeling. I feel like I should buy a dog ha.

- It is really hard to gain weight in this challenge. It is a great thing when you want to lose weight but if you are naturally trim it's really really hard to not get super skinny. I have had to bump my daily calories a lot and am still dropping kgs. My bf % though is probably the lowest it ever is.

- You start to learn that nearly every obstacle or excuse you had in life really only comes down to your mindset. How you think, act, and allow yourself to feel is the cause that changes every effect in your life.

 

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[Fox]

Done.

Full write up soon.

 

[fishgodeep]

Day 49

This shit isn't fun anymore lol. This is my third (and final) attempt. Here's what I've learned:

Day 1 - 5
This is when excitement and motivation is high. It's fresh, it's like a new relationship, your as nervous as you excited. But you still need to get over the 'hump'. You jump on Instagram, make some inspirational posts get a few likes and comments from your mates.
"What's that challenge called?"
"Is there an app?"
"I'm starting Monday"

Day 6 - 20
This is when motivation peaks. You've gathered momentum, created new habits. Your unstoppable. You even start thinking it's easy. And likes keep pouring in. But you start to notice something. None of your mates are jumping in. Or they're doing it wrong, not following the instructions. Constantly making substitutions and justifying them. Oh well their loss you think, you've got this. I mean it feels easy right?

Day 21 - 50
Motivation starts to wane then eventually disappears. It's not fun anymore and it's no longer easy. The likes and comments are dropping off as well. Your friends have moved onto the next thing. None of them joined you or they did for a day or two then tapped out. And now what are you left with?

Motivation - that fire has all but burned out, now you notice how tired you feel

Validation - no one online cares anymore, something else is trending

All you have left is discipline. Discipline hangs around long after motivation F*cks off. Discipline will see you through. But you must be diligent, you must constantly work at it. Day in, day out. Left foot in front of right, right foot in front of left.

This has truly become a grind. And I love it lol

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

Guess what ppl? Tomorrow I am on Day FIFTEEN!

I know. I still have a long way to go but..

If you haven’t been paying attention to my epic girl saga, this is my fifth attempt.

I’ve gotten all the way to Day 13 twice before, but never to fifteen, UNTIL NOW BABYYYYYYY!

I’ve actually worked out every single day for 41 days straight! And I’m still alive!!

I’ve been thinking a bit today and I would like to ask for your forgiveness. I have been SO bitchy. It’s ridiculous!

Anyhoo. I have decided to change my attitude and make being grateful and thankful a discipline instead of just a feeling. Sooo..

I’m grateful that I live in a city where doing this challenge is relatively easy. My gym is phenomenal. The park where I walk or run in the mornings or with the kids is public, safe, massive, and half-shaded. It has ponds and a little river.

I’m grateful that I am now officially a size six and have more than enough gym clothes that fit and are not hideous.

I’m thankful that my body could handle doing the workouts even when (maybe especially when) I was feverish and feeling icky.

I’m really glad I can afford protein powder.

I’m thankful that my job lends me the flexibility and cash to make this possible.

I’m really grateful for you bunch of internet humans who are with me on this journey.

This year my phrase of the year was “Sowing Seeds” because I’ve been developing my business and learning several things.. but I haven’t been purposeful about my attitude WHILE I do stuff.

I need to change that.. so I am.

Hugs to everyone! We are SO going to have an alcoholic beverage and specialty fancy cake someday! Somehow!

(And maybe some gummy bears... rofl)

 

[Fox]

It's great some of you are doing other things to improve yourselves but this is a specific challenge thread. Coming in here to criticize the rules (when not even doing it) is patronizing. it isn't a fitness challenge - it is a discipline challenge.

How can you every reach your goals when the bar is set too high?

I respect your progress with not drinking but take it to another thread and stop giving people an out who have already committed. If you fail the challenge you fail the challenge. This isn't some safe zone from the realities of failing. You either 100% complete this or you fail. That is the whole point.

Would you join a thread about completing a marathon and start telling everyone running is bad for your knees and it is fine to just walk on a treadmill instead?

This isn't a fitness debate thread. It is a specific challenge thread.
One that has already been proven to work by the people who finished it.

I truly think anyone on these forums can complete this - if they are committed. The rules are not unsafe and it is manageable. But it requires real change and discipline.

If you are in - great. If not then please start a different thread with your own progress.

 

[Fox]

I think that the challenge not being what you would usually do is a good thing.

If we all picked our own challenge we would be doing stuff that didn't push us.
We would be doing the things we already are doing and calling that success.

The water isn't as much as it seems if you are working out and spread it over the day.
(Also my skin is 100 times better than when I first started)

- The picture forces you to face reality.

- The book means you got to make active and engaged time to learn.

- Workout indoors is obvious enough. Workout outdoors forces you to get outside and face the elements.

- And a clean diet, with zero deviations, has a lot of good lessons in health and discipline.

To me it makes a lot of sense and seems very well thought out.

 

[GoodluckChuck]

Done! Finished 75 Hard two days ago. I was getting really tired of it near the end. Just two weeks ago I was thinking I didn't want it to end. What a freakin rollercoaster...

Such an amazing feeling checking off the last box on the last day and going to bed. There was definitely a huge confidence boost the next day when I knew that I did it. I won! Also a huge weight lifted off my shoulders as there were no longer huge consequences for doing little things like not drinking a sip of water...

I'm writing a pretty long post about some lessons I learned and I wanted to share some charts here. I input all my tracked data from my notepad into Google Sheets and made some graphs. Not huge progress but it's really cool to see real progress on a chart. Check it.


I rate my mood and energy level upon waking on a scale of 1-10


You can see on day one I woke up at like 3:45am... I guess I was excited haha! I don't use an alarm clock.


I didn't lose a ton of weight because working out was putting on muscle and muscle weighs more than fat. Still lost a few lbs.

 

[Fox]

I went for my usual forest walk yesterday and found out there was some kind of race on. After seeing two people run by me I thought I'd try to follow them for a few minutes just for the laugh. I ended up getting into the middle of a little pack of about 10 people.

I had only started as a little joke for myself but I didn't want to quit with a few people around me so decided I would just stay going. Ended up running around 35 minutes up and down all sorts of trails (it was a kind of mud orientation race). They looked like fairly experienced athletes so I was pretty proud of myself ha. At every checkpoint, I would hide behind someone else and just mutter some stuff cause I didn't have a race number.

I ended up doing a full lap of the circuit (I think around 7km) and only two people got past me while I managed to pass a few others out.

What kept making me laugh so much was I was holding my 1.5 litre bottle of water, was wearing a massive Irish rugby jacket, and had just had breakfast ha. Meanwhile, I am stuck in this pack of athletes with all the pro gear and headbands etc. Some of them asked me some stuff in Polish but I hadn't a clue what they were saying - "ya buddy" with a big smile.

I think overall my self-confidence and my enjoyment of every day are going way up.

Today is #24. Ain't no quitting now

 

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[KnightByDay]

I will stick to 45-60 min of exercise a day until I see the merits to ramp it up.

We aren't here to sell you the challenge. If you want to do it, join us, we're happy to have you. If you don't, then don't come in here expecting us to justify why the challenge is the way it is. No substitutions. It is a discipline challenge, not a fitness challenge, for the 1,000,000th time.

 

[Fox]

I am back to start again.

This is attempt #9 by now I think.

I was in Ireland for two days and forgot to read on one of the days. I was hanging out with people I had not seen in a long time and forgot all about it.

I have mixed feelings about how many times I have failed. So far this challenge has gotten me in the best shape I have probably ever been in, reading more than I have ever read, more focused and driven than I have ever been, and my business is seeing massive gains.

Yet I keep failing.

That is cause it is really really hard. For me anyway.

For me it isn't about the drive to succeed - for example, I still haven't missed one work out session. I have had days where I was in the woods running at 6 am in the rain. That isn't my problem.

My problem has been following the plan and staying on track. I want to succeed but I allow myself to get distracted. I don't remember the daily plan, I forget to follow the process, I am not paying attention.

It has been a slap in the face that I am not making the progress I could have been making in life if I had been more aware. Even though I have failed this challenge many times now I have still made massive personal progress so far. But that isn't enough - I need to finish this thing.

So I am back again. I probably seem like a total mess posting on here by now but I don't care - I will keep going till its done 100% correct with no short cuts or excuses.

Day #1.

 

[Fox]

Aaaaagggghhhh

Was feeling like a champ yesterday crushing everything, ended up having a great evening talking business with some friends here in Poland, and then went to bed late.

Forgot to read 10 pages.

Not much point in having a list of you don’t check it before finishing the day. Rookie mistake since I had tons of time to get those pages read.

So today is back to day one (attempt five).

I made a promise to do this 100% with zero excuses or comprises so it’s back to the start again. Seems so far the area I need to work on is awareness - my drive and motivation is high but I’m not paying attention to the details.

 

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[Fox]

Did my first ever podcast today. For a business with 2.3 million users.

It was a big step and I don't think I would have taken it apart from the momentum I have been getting through doing this challenge. I can feel big things coming!

Do the small stuff every day and eventually it is big stuff.

 

[Fox]

Day 25 today.

From the very start it’s actually day 45 I believe. I haven’t missed a single workout or outdoor session in that time.

That’s two months to go from unfocused and looking pretty rough to feeling way better and setting new gym records.

I can’t overstate how much better I am feeling in all areas but I will say it’s still a daily struggle. But I just go do it and shut down the inner “loser” voice that wants to go laze on the couch and browse IG. He ain’t in control no more ha.

Only 50 days left.

And then phase one hahaha.

 

[Fox]

@Fox Damn dude... by the time you finish the challenge you will have seen some major improvements no doubt. Hell, you might never complete the challenge, but you'll be a shit load better for it!

Well, its day 102 today haha.

day one...




Today...



I know I have failed a bunch (now on attempt 11!) but at the same time, it has been exactly what I needed. I didn't deserve to complete this the first ten times and I am still working on improving as much as I can. Hopefully, this time is the one but maybe I got more to learn.

My goal with this has always been to get me to the level I need to be at - for me. So as much as I like the group support here it's up to everyone to get themselves across the line.

I need this for me so I will keep going until its done.

I got massive respect for people in the 30-75 day range. It is a big achievement that others will think sounds simple but it is not. Especially when most of us have 100s of other things to do also.

Anyway, just a little update. Hope everyone else is cruising or about to get going!

 

[Fox]

This morning kinda sucked. Got up early but someone called right away.

I ended up burning an hour on a call I could have just taken later (or not at all).

After the call the excuses came rushing in "dude just walk later - it will be nice in the evening".

I was arguing with myself for maybe 15 minutes about jumping right into work or leaving the house to walk.

Eventually, I just shut my brain off and went out the door. Had a decent walk and am somewhat back on track with my day now.

Just got to cut out that inner loser voice when it comes up and stick to the plan.

 

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[Primeperiwinkle]

Currently on day four after re-starting (for the second time). Feeling good.

I know we've talked a lot about the challenges we're having completing this, but let's talk a little about what benefits we're seeing as we journey through this.

As I've said before, drinking a gallon of water a day is a challenge, mostly because of the many restroom visits I need to make. A benefit of that is it literally forces me to stand up from my desk and take a little walk a lot more often than I did before.

Another benefit is that now when I get home from work instead of plopping down on the couch to play Sudoku on the phone, I pick up a book because I know that if I don't do the reading then, it won't happen. Of course, I used to tell myself that I'd just play for 5-10 minutes to relax, but often that would stretch to 30 minutes or more.

Although the scale is down about five pounds from when I first started (6/12/19 - man, just thinking that I could be on day 17 instead of day 4 is frustrating and motivating at the same time!), I haven't noticed much in the way of physical changes - still waiting for those washboard abs to show up!

So, what are the greatest benefits that you've seen in your life since starting this challenge?

I’m gonna go ahead and thank you. I’ve been thinking about this ever since you asked.

I think these count as benefits.

Seeing the sky go purple in the morning while listening to the birds and the frogs sing hallelujahs.

Walking in the dark while my nonverbal scowl changes to a little smile cuz I’m actually doing this thing.

Hearing my boys (9 and 6) laugh hysterically and command me “Don’t look mama! Don’t look!!!” in every candy section of every grocery store.. basically them 150% supporting me and being gracious about it.

Waking them up in the morning with kisses instead of them waking me up because we’re gonna be late if I don’t get dressed and rush out the door RIGHT NOW.

Avocados in all their glory and the fact that I am cooking more and more.

Spending time actually praying.

Being so tired and relaxed down to my bones because I pushed myself so hard in my workouts that I’m chill af lately. Mostly. Lol.

 

[Fox]

Today is going horribly but I will get it done.

Slept terribly and woke up in a cold sweat for some reason - pillow was soaked.

So got off to a bad start and my morning was sidetracked right away. Only doing gym now and still got to do my “morning walk” this evening.

One thing you notice is how fast a day can fall apart once you lose momentum. It becomes a challenge to get things on track and moving forward.

I think today is 21/22 so around 3 weeks in now. They aren’t all easy but I didn’t think they would be

 

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[Fox]

It's really important, but I don't get this.
I am missing the reason why it needs to be a gallon, not matter what size I you are. It means the challenge is much easier for the very big guys.

Then listen to the dozen podcasts which says specifically not to change anything.

Guys if you are jumping on the thread without listening to any of the podcasts then your advice is going to be way off. The main point of this challenge is you don’t change or adjust ANY of the rules and you follow everything 100%.

This isn’t a fitness challenge - it’s a discipline challenge. Changing things automatically means you broke the rules = you 100% fail.

Everyone is free to do whatever they want but don’t try talk about a modified challenge in this thread - it isn’t 75 hard and anyone doing the challenge for real is just going to ignore it anyway.

It’s one gallon of water a day.

No more posts on “can I” modifying anything - it’s very very clear you can’t if you listened to the podcasts on this challenge.

 

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[Fox]

I got what is probably best described as a lot of “anger” today.

I’m angry at myself for accepting such BS behavior and second best effort for a long time and not doing as much as I was capable of. Seeing me struggle with just basic stuff shows how weak I allowed myself to become.

I haven’t lost the challenge or anything but it’s been a tough day and I can only blame the habits I have allowed to form over time. The old me is getting squeezed out and some days it’s tough.

Maybe I’m hitting that “no fun” stage you guys were talking about ha!