I Finished 75Hard... Here's What I Learned

That's right. I finished #75hard .

It was August 21st and I had just finished a 4-Day Member/Guest Golf Tournament which is probably one of my favorite events of the year. I was tired, looked like shit, and didn't have the energy I would usually have once we wrapped up. ?Sidenote, we won our flight.

The scale was in a place that I had never seen it before (265ish). A couple guys asked how it felt to be in the group that it was "tough to tie your shoes". And the towels in the clubhouse didn't wrap all the way around without help holding it with my hand.

I hadn't felt physically well in over a year, which also pulled on the mental side, and for the first time I was starting to feel the fire and the motivation start to wear off. "This is just part of getting older" , "Get used to it" "(grunts and groans)".

I'd had enough - I knew I had more left in the tank and I wanted to figure out if I could dig down and get it. I am a challenge and competitive junkie by trade and if I was going to make a big change, I wanted it to be something that not only physically tested me, but also mentally would drain me. Being taunted or pushed has always been my biggest driver and hearing about Andy Frisella’s #75hard challenge felt like it was the answer.

I immediately started looking at the calendar and figuring out if it was a good time.??I caught myself RIGHT in that moment dealing with what had been dragging me down for some time.?“Am I motivated to do this right now??What things are coming up that I have to be able to have a drink at, or go out to dinner??Can I dedicate the time right now?”?I decided in that moment that I wasn’t going to “try” #75hard ,?I was going to do it… and I was going to start right that second.?

What is 75Hard??75Hard is a mental toughness challenge that has several tasks that you have to achieve each day.?The toughest part is that if you miss ANY of those… you start right back at day one.?

1)?Two?45-min workouts each day.?One of which HAS to be outside

2)?One gallon of water per day

3)?Follow a strict diet or meal plan?(NO Cheat meals,?NO Alcohol)?

4)?Read 10 pages of motivational non-fiction book every day.

5)?Take a progress picture every day.?

I took my first picture – saved it – sent it to a couple of my closest friends and told them that I had to face the man in the mirror for a little while.?

It was on.?

It started with weighted-vest works out, and long walks at night.???Getting a gallon jug so I knew how much water I was taking in.?Making sure I had the right items to eat every day.?And trying to schedule around an already busy family and work life.?

Days started to chip away.?I remember getting a week in and starting to have it feel a little more like a routine.?I have to thank people like Dan Koppen ,? Gary Goldberg ,?and Ryan Reid for giving me just enough taunting, but also motivation to keep the gas on the floor.?Also a few people in the office had successfully completed #75hard and hearing their stories were extremely helpful.?

A couple milestone moments:

Day 10…?The mirror starts to look different.?Being so hydrated not only increases the number of times going to the bathroom, but your skin starts to look better and you start to feel healthier.??

Day 32: ?First big snag.?Due to prior poor eating habits, I passed a kidney stone.?Without a doubt – worst pain I’ve felt in my life. ?Take a listen to the Past Our Prime Episode to hear the full story.?Guess what??I still got the two workouts in that day and hit every part of the challenge (with the approval of the doctor).?This was the perfect time for this to happen.?Close to half-way through, needing to find a little extra driving force to continue… I’ve never felt older than when I was laying in the ER, and I’ve never wanted to feel younger.?

Day 44: ?I traveled for work.?Out of my comfort zone of home gym, Peloton, work gym, and known running route.?I turned the Moxy NYC and the financial district into my gym and running area.?Gym in the morning, runs at night.?I brought the weight vest along with me.?

Day 48:??I was exhausted and almost called it off as I could not get the energy to hit the last indoor workout.?I ended up getting on the bike at 11:35PM and pushing through a 45 Min ride.??

Day 61:??I was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.?A normal occurrence for a couple celebratory drinks.?I turned them down and that was tough.?The end started to feel very much in sight after that weekend and I felt good about what I was creating.??

Day 75:??A sense of accomplishment poured over me all day.?The outdoor work out air felt fresh, and being on the bike I felt powerful.??It was over, but I felt like it was just starting.

A few things I learned about myself:

I thought fancy water bottles would help track the water intake.?No.??Old school Gatorade squirt bottles were the best way for me to drink water and not feel like I was forcing it.?It felt comfortable, probably from my time as an athlete.?

I don’t need alcohol.?This felt good to find out.?I was in plenty of experiences where I had just as good of a time having water or club soda and felt fresh and without toxins in my body the next morning.??Will I drink again??Yes.?Will I understand how it affects my body??Yes.?

Eating.?I was so used to eating to feel full.?During 75Hard I learned how to eat to feel nourished, not full.?There are many things I can improve upon in this category, but leaps were taken on diet.?

Lifting weights is mandatory.?Something about the competitiveness with a partner in the gym, the feeling you are moving weight around, and getting a sweat because of lifting was freeing to me.?Experiencing those gains daily and watching the weights increase and the max reps go up made me feel accomplished.?I also lift during the middle of the day and it puts a whole new energy in my for the afternoon that maximizes my potential at SquadLocker .?

I like to read.??I forgot that I liked to read because of all the other distractions we have now.??Devices, Netflix, and access to screens everywhere.??Blowing through a good book feels great.?I am not a speed reader.?I read at the pace that I speak.?I found myself though far exceeding the 10 pages a day and getting lost in a couple chapters at a time.?

Tasks on your phone.??I created tasks on my phone that automatically notified me to do things and I have increased that to family, and work life now.?

-???????Remember how your body responds to not drinking

-???????Text someone you haven’t talk to in a while to see how they are

-???????If you did push-ups right now how much better would you feel?

Simple atomic habits that help make you 1% better every day.

?So, we are here.?Completed.??Crossed the finish line.??What’s next?

There are 3 Phases to continue with 75Hard and I may do those.?What I have done is sign up for two triathlons and one half ironman for next summer.?There will be barriers and fears to conquer in training for those.??I don’t love to swim, and I hate looking in the water when I am swimming (I don’t know what’s down there).?I am terrified to ride the bike on the road for fear of being hit by a car or flying over the handlebars.?And when I run long distances, I count my steps in my head.??A long way to go, but having the dates set on these gives me a reason to not quit on myself.

10,000 +?Ounces of Water

0 ounces of Alcohol

75 progress pictures

75 days of caloric deficit

8 Books read (Mind Gym, Tough as They Come, 75 Hard, Endure, Blink, Atomic Habits, Discipline= Freedom, Extreme Ownership)

35 Peloton Rides, 44 Weight Training Days, 50 Runs/Walks, 21 Boxing Workouts.

My biggest problem coming into this challenge was that I was always waiting to be motivated to get it done.??Motivation can wear off or be non-existent at times.?Discipline doesn’t go away.?It is there with you every day.?Get your feet on the floor and do what you must get done for the day.?Period.?#75Hard ?