75 Hard(ish)

For the past 50ish days I have done a "soft launch" of the "75 Hard Challenge". This challenge includes the following each day for 75 days.

• Drink one gallon of water 
• Two 45 minute workouts. One of these workouts takes place inside and the other is outside. 
• Follow a diet of your choosing.
• Read 10 pages of non-fiction/self-help.
• No alcohol
• Take a daily progress picture

I started this challenge right after Thanksgiving and it has been a refreshing approach to my redundant fitness routine. I love to be active and I find myself at the gym daily, but I love how the challenge is not only concerned with physical health. This challenge nudges the participant to get outdoors, to stay hydrated, to grow in self awareness, and practice some much needed discipline in our instant gratification world. 
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This is an extremely hard challenge and I only made it twenty-two days before I broke my streak by having a tequila and ginger beer. Now, technically, I am supposed to start all the way over with my "streak"....meaning, I have to go back to day one. However, that is not really my focus with this challenge. Instead, I am taking a softer approach to the "75 Hard Challenge". Each day, I have the full intention of hitting each mark for the day, but I am also practicing moderation and temperance by allowing myself to indulge in a drink ever so often. Some people would argue that this defeats the purpose of doing the challenge in itself, but I disagree. I think an important part of fitness and health in general is being in tune with your mind and body even if it falls outside of the protocols of the "rule book". 

The "75 Hard Challenge" has been a great gaurd rail in my daily practices and I have seen many positives. I have built muslce, my skin feels more soft and hydrated, I have read some beautiful words from beautiful authors, and I feel like my clothes are fitting better. 

I would ecourage anyone to give this challenge a try and to pracitce patience and mercy with oneself. There is no need to be perfect, but there is a need to step outside of ones comfort zone and practice full body self care. Furthermore, I love this approach because it pulls away from diet culture, which I abhore. There is no need to starve oneself or to make oneself smaller....instead, this challenge is concerned with strength, in all capacities.