75 Days - a Gift and a Challenge

As I have gotten older, I have realized just how precious time truly is and in turn, I protect it vehemently. I work full time in an industry that has an extremely busy season during the first 4 months of the year and I am also in school to (finally!) finish what I started so many years ago. As you can imagine, there is not much left for my children, my friends or myself so I carefully choose who gets my precious free time. But time can also be a huge benefit.

I was a stay at home mom for over 16 years, then went back to work super part time at a job that had great hours so I could still be with my girls after school. Just before COVID, I had begun walking in my neighborhood and found that I loved the solitude it allowed me. Every day, I would put on my headphones, listen to music and just enjoy the outdoors. I slowly began adding an extra loop here and there and before I knew it, I was walking over 4 miles each day.

During COVID, I was able to convince my daughters to work out with me each day so we started a 6 week beginner program and began a routine that helped us get through the worst part of the pandemic. We laughed and had fun while strengthening our minds and bodies; it was a very sweet time for me as a mom.

I continued working out and walking, even after my girls and I finished the 6 week program, incorporating better foods and eating habits into my diet. I felt fantastic and looked better than I had in years, and because all of these transitions happened over the course of a year or more, it felt natural and I was able to slowly create better habits.

Unfortunately I got divorced in 2021 and went back to work full time. This shift, plus the fact that I lived in an area that wasn't as conducive to walking, led me to resort to old habits and all of my progress was lost over time. It was disappointing to say the least, and I was constantly trying to get back into my old habits and prioritize my health. I had fits and starts over the years but it wasn't until August 2024 that I locked in.

I was at a point where I was tired of feeling bloated and heavy, tired of how I looked, and I just needed  kick in the pants. That's when a friend posted on social media that she was going to start the 75 Hard Challenge and put out the call for others to join in. I knew it would not be easy but I also knew this was exactly the push I needed. Without a second thought, I told her I was in.

I won't go into the day-to-day of it but I found a good rhythm that worked for me - I would wake up at 4:45 each morning during the week to do a 45 minute strength training workout, I had a gallon of water that I carried to work with me to insure that I met my intake goal, and after work I would do a 45 minute walk around my neighborhood. I checked the boxes each day and slowly began to see changes. I was re-reading I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi as well as Own Your Money by Michela Alloca, as I truly love personal finance and couldn't think of a better topic for my nonfiction reads.

The last day of my challenge was October 25, 2024. I had lost 30 pounds and felt incredible. But the physical benefits weren't the best part of this challenge. For the first time in years, I was putting myself first. I was prioritizing my needs and wants, carving out time in an already busy schedule. I took away so much more from this challenge than losing weight. For example, I noticed that by making one decision, I saved myself from having to make a dozen more. During this challenge, alcohol was forbidden and while I am not a heavy drinker, knowing I wasn't drinking allowed me to not have to make that decision each time I went out. The same was true about my diet - I knew that I wasn't eating certain foods so I didn't waste time looking at the dessert menu.

I think the biggest takeaway for me was that I blew my own mind. I was so incredibly proud of myself for not only getting through it, but thriving. I already have plans to do this challenge again and while there were many times I didn't think I could do it, I'm excited about the prospect. I'm excited about the challenge. I'm excited to impress myself all over again.