At the end of last year – Christmas Eve, to be exact – I had this crazy notion that starting that day I was going to exercise at least 30 minutes every day. I’m now a slave to my iWatch’s activity ring, with a 30 minute per day activity goal, a 1,000 calorie per day move goal, and a 12 hour per day stand goal. I don’t always hit my move or stand goals, but I’ve focused on that activity goal.
I was on a pretty good streak of about 40 days from Christmas Eve to the beginning of February when I got the flu that was going around. Bam! I was out for the count and the streak was over. So on February 7, I picked myself up and started over on #day1 of my personal #nodaysoff challenge.
I must have lost track somewhere along the way, because I thought today was #day100 – a huge milestone! But turns out today is #day102! How about them apples?!
There have been so many obstacles along the way. Work is all consuming at times, so I’ve had to get up at 4am to be sure I took care of this goal first and didn’t get sidetracked by the day. Even while traveling I made a point to get it done. I’ve had terrible luck with a new treadmill I bought and the thing was constantly breaking down. (Thanks @bowflex) I strained my left calf a few weeks back and could barely walk. I e had multiple injections to deal with my stupid back. And just life in general tried to get me off track.
But I kept getting up, lacing up, and showing up.
What’s been the result? In total I’m down about 50 pounds. My doc is no longer threatening to put me on cholesterol meds – although a change in my eating habits probably helped with that. I’m off my high blood pressure meds. I feel stronger and I’m in better shape than I was in my 20s. My wife keeps yelling at me to buy jeans that fit (I like my jeans “roomy,” thank you!). I’m more focused and carry a sense of accomplishment with me daily. Am I special? Hell no. I’ve just committed and made this important.
I’ve been told “rest days are important.” I’m sure they are. But I’ve yet to plateau, bonk, or regress. I keep improving, even without a single day off. I’m not sure why, but it’s awesome. The way I see it, I’ll get all the rest I need when I’m dead.
If you have a goal, just know you can do anything you put your mind to. Anything. I’m nothing special (maybe a little crazy). But just try.
You’d be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Here’s to the next 100 days! See you out there!
#nodaysoff
