Good morning! Time for a long overdue check in. I have still been going strong, and am now on day 40 of the 75 hard challenge! I will admit, some days are easier than others. It all depends on my own time management and the environment I am in. I have done some traveling and there have been days I have been on point with great time management and others where I was finishing up a run at 11:15pm because I needed to get in my last workout of the day (definitely not ideal!) I've had to make adjustments to workout routines, such as in Laughlin, our hotel didn't have a gym and it was 120 degrees outside, so I found the stairwell and climbed up and down 25 floors on repeat, adding squats every now and again until I got over 45 minutes (anyone that knows me, knows this is sooooo boring to me), even though that really sucked, it allowed me to stay on track with this journey I am on, and for the most part I am at a point where I find myself really enjoying it. Even more so I love seeing the results of it. I am only a little over halfway through right now, and I feel like I can already feel a mental change. Also some exciting news, I am down to my goal weight of 145, and over the moon excited because I was worried losing weight even if it wasn't very much would impact my strength, but yesterday I was able to squat 205 (which is currently my PR) 6 times, in my fire gear!!! Anyway sorry for the long update, I promise I will try and update more frequently so next time it won't be such a lengthy post lol.

“Resilience is biological. There is a specific region of the brain that scientists at Yale have linked to the 'will to live” and it is the raw biological drive to push forward when you want to quit. It's called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC). People who overcome adversity have a larger aMCC. Those who quit easily often have a smaller one. But here is the insight that changes everything. The aMCC only grows when you engage in friction. It doesn't grow when you do hard things you enjoy. It grows specifically when you do things you actively DO NOT WANT TO DO. The biggest mistake we make is interpreting anxiety or dread as a sign that we are on the wrong path. We think, "If this was meant for me, it wouldn't feel this hard." That is a lie. That resistance is a signal that growth is available. You are building the literal organ required for success.”

Anyone who has taken on this program understands the different challenges that we face throughout this mental toughness growth period that we have chosen to put ourselves through. I best describe anything and everything like a roller coaster ride to death. I continue to push and have more highs than lows in this amazing ride. Got to hang out with my gorgeous wife this weekend and battle the Spartan Sprint race alongside many other 1st Phormers, Transphormers, Legionnaires, and athletes. Day 85 of 100 August 31-day challenge 75hard

Morning interval run followed by an inclined walk on treadmill to hit my 50-minute cardio goal. Finished the day with leg day and StairMill. I wasn’t feeling it today but pushed through. One more day checked off ✅

Glad to be closing this great challenge/fundraiser out on top of 75hard. I have been doing this for the past 4 years I believe; all the money goes to a great cause. I will post it early so you guys can join me. This is also one of the workout programs in the app if it seems like something you might want to do on your own. Day 82 of 100-day challenge August 31-day challenge 30 for the kids 75hard