Why I am doing the 28 Day Challenge

The other day I had someone ask me "why use the Wilderness Athlete 28 Day Challenge instead of something more sustainable?"  My answer, this works for me.  I have tried various meal plans, I have done the weekly food prep, I tried a ton of different things, but nothing has worked for me over the long haul like this program.  For those that don't know, my meal plan consists of a Wilderness Athlete Meal Replacement Shake twice a day, breakfast and lunch, two healthy snacks and a sensible dinner.  Following this plan, plus my workouts, I have dropped 8 pounds, 2-3% body fat and 5 inches over the last 3 weeks....... I'd say that is working for me.  On top of this, my runs have improved and I'm definitely gaining back some strength.

To explain a little more on why this plan, versus the typical meal prep, works for me, it comes down to personal preference and time.  Most days I don't have time to cook breakfast, but I can drink a shake on my way in to work.  Unlike most people, I don't have a set lunch time, or any actual "lunch time", but I can always find time to drink a shake.  Another issue is I hate reheating food, and without regular access to a microwave, reheating my lunches doesn't work for me and it's tough to eat a salad as you're driving.  I also hate eating the same things over and over again..........all of you that eat chicken, rice and a vegetable every day, several times a day, more power to you!!  I'm not really sure why I can drink two shakes a day, 7 days a week, and not eat chicken and rice everyday, but I can't.

Don't get me wrong, we do prep and plan, all of the nuts and jerky I eat as snacks are pre-measured and are grab and go.  Obviously the shake mix is measured out a head of time, so it's grab and go as well.  The morning prep usually consists of cutting up some fruit, berries or vegetables, throwing some deli meat into a bag or spooning some nut butter or cottage cheese into a container.  As far as dinner goes, with the exception of Logan, we all eat the same thing, so this is helping all of us eat a little healthier.

Overall, I think it all boils down to what works for the individual person and what doesn't.  The owner of the gym we go to happens to be a nutritionist.  When she has talked about helping my wife with her nutrition, the first step is to track what you eat and what works and then make changes to really dial in what works instead of making drastic changes that may or may not work.  That's what I've done, I've taken what works for me and really dialed it in and I'm seeing the results I want.

Setting goals and avoiding temptations

When I started this, it was because of the class project but knowing me, I needed more of a reason to get it done and give it my all.  In looking at it I had to think, what are my goals?  I have set a lot of goals for myself since 2011, a majority of which I have reached and the rest I've come close to.  One of my first goals was to run a 5K, and I've lost count of how many I've done now.  I've gone on to set goals of running a sub 36 minute 5K and I'm currently at 38 minutes for a PR.  I've run a 10K, two half marathons and a marathon.  I've deadlifted 490lbs, I've squated 350lbs.......the only goal I've never set for myself is when it comes to my weight and this time around I need to set one and chase after it.

My plan is to follow the 28 Day Challenge for a total of 12 weeks and be brutally honest with what I take in the hope of  losing an average of 3 pounds per week.  Could I do more, sure, but trying to do more may hurt me in the long run.  When I started this last week I weighed in at 281 pounds, today, after one week I'm at 275 pounds.  There will be a lot of weeks I may only lose 1 or 2 pounds.  Thanksgiving will fall during this 12 weeks and there is no way I'm going to walk away from my wife's homemade turkey dinner and that's where the self control and avoiding temptations comes in.  I've already fought some pretty bad temptations and this is only week one.  I've also been brutally honest when it comes to my intake.......Saturday I went to the UNR football game and got to go the sponsors tailgate with all you could eat BBQ and all you could drink beer.  I did partake and I logged it all the best I could.  Sunday I did a little 5 mile run and had a donut after, which was tracked as well.  So I can see where I failed.  Those are going to be special occasions and won't be a weekly thing, they will be rewards and they will not be in response to stress.

Yesterday I had one of the most stressful days I've had in along time and I was able to fight my cravings.  Yesterday my son had his 3 month post cancer treatment scans and the hospital has the best breakfast burritos ever and I wanted one.  I was also craving a soda.  After his scans, he wanted McDonalds for lunch and how can you tell a kid fighting cancer who hasn't eaten in 16 hours no?  But I didn't do it, I didn't give in to my temptations!!  I wanted it but I didn't give in because stress eating is a killer........stress is a killer when it comes to losing weight and that's where I have always failed and that's where I'm not going to fail this time.

As always, you can follow my food and exercise on My Fitness Pal and photos on Instagram.