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Beginning of a new week. This week should be as normal as it can be with the 75 Hard Challenge going on. Work will be slow so it will give me enough time to get the challenge done. Looking ahead the only problem I see is Thursday. I have to be in the field for my real job, probably 12 plus hours away from home. So the real challenge is going to be the second workout. I’m either going to get home and go to the gym or stop someplace and go for a second 45 minute walk in the middle of no where Texas. So at least I have a plan.
Today is just a Monday, and I have a case of the Mondays. I slept okay last night and got up on time, which is 6am for me. I’d like to make that earlier but with family obligations I can’t seem to get to bed before 1030 or 11. I heard the Jocko Podcast yesterday and he talked about going to bed at the same time and getting up at 430 in the morning everyday, with out an alarm! The guy is a machine, and really smart.
I’m hoping 75 Hard will turn me back into a man that can do incredible things like waking up early everyday, and lots more.
Today my legs hurt like I can’t walk up the stairs hurt. I did squats on Saturday afternoon as my second workout and road the bike hard with a friend yesterday morning, and did a walk this morning. Now my legs hurt to walk up the stairs. Tonight is deadlift, so I’ll see how well I can stand this afternoon. But I will get a workout in even if I have to do just the bar for deadlifts to finish my workout.
Water is easy to drink now. I just carry around a 64 ounce jug by Tal (amazon affiliate link) and fill it twice a day. It’s one of those super vacuum sealed ones that keeps water cool enough for me during the day. As it gets hotter I’ll just add ice.
I read 10 pages out of a self help book every morning when I get up. The kid is getting use to my quit time in the morning, but doesn’t like it. I just can’t read when his video game is going on or he is listening to a book on tape. Right now I’m two-thirds of the way through Atomic Habits (amazon affiliate link). It’s not bad, but nothing earth shattering yet. I think this 75 Hard Challenge is doing more for my habits changing then the book has yet. We’ll see.
My double workouts a day require me to plan my day better. Morning walk or bike ride, and then afternoon gym session (because I like the gym) requires a logistical mindset to put the most important things (my workouts) into my schedule first and make everything else work. Tonight I have a board meeting I have to be at, so I made sure to schedule my workout before that meeting and then I have enough time for both. If something has to go, it won’t be the workouts!
Pictures are easy, all I have to do is remember. I almost forget last night and was ready to go to bed and looked at my daily journal/planner and saw I hadn’t checked it off. So to the Bathroom I went and took my selfie in the mirror like is my tradition/habit. I haven’t figured out how to get them up on something yet, but will add them to the site soon.
The diet is going well. It’s cool to eat when I want to, it just has to be protein. So I got my wife on board for at least that part, and there is plenty of lunch meat in the house. I know it’s not the best, but some salami, turkey, and ham, wrapped in a piece of cheese is a great grab and go snack for me that fills me up more then anything else I normally eat. Breakfast is a protein shake and hard boiled egg or two. Lunch is a can of chili with onions and bell peppers cut up and added to it, with a lot of tabasco sauce to make it spicy. I find that spicy food makes me eat slower and feel fuller. Dinner is some meat and vegetables. I even had fajita’s the other night without the tortillas.
So all in all, it’s going well. One hard part this week, and the rest will be easy.
Are you ready to take the Challenge?
75 Hard I will conquer,
Ben Branam