Part 2, day 30
Stats:
- Weight: 73.7kg
- Energy: Who is she?
- Favourite exercise: Anything with the cable machine
Tiredness has become my new normal. This change in energy was more of a sudden drop than a gentle decline. Think cliff not hill. I have two theories about my unexpected fatigue, the first being that it’s simply part of the challenge. This tiredness is what makes the 75 hard a mental toughness program, having to push through workouts and keep to your diet while mentally and physically drained is (obviously) hard. It’s the core of what this program is, as it intentionally pushes you towards making decisions that you don’t want to make. Whether that's skipping a Sunday roast (sorry mum) or waking up at 5am to squeeze in your workouts before work.
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What's the second theory?
In one word. Hormones.
Now this idea came from a discussion I had with my gym girlie Lisha, as we work out together at least three times a week, so she's been with me since the beginning of this journey. While I was in the middle of a set, struggling to lift a weight I’ve been hitting this whole time, she dropped the bombshell. The Luteal phase. If you are like me and unsure about what it is, let's break it down.
The luteal phase describes the hormonal changes in the second half of your menstrual cycle, it's essentially where progesterone is introduced to the mix of steadily increasing estrogen. The impact of this new hormone is the increase in core temperature, rise in resting heart rate and breathing rate. Oh and it also likes to break down tissue, which means if you’re looking to build muscle, think again. While researching I came across several different remedies to this (very) annoying situation. The first is to slow down and focus on low-impact activities, like yoga or meditation. The second being adjusting your diet to include more fatty acids and complex carbs. The third is to just ride it out, listen to your body, knowing that it won’t last forever. Great options, I know.
Honestly, coming to day 30 has been an uphill battle and the fact it's properly going to get worse is something I’m mentally preparing myself for. Do I still think this challenge is worth it? Still yes, even if it's more reluctant than last time. I have found that pushing through the tiredness and still hitting my targets, even if it's the bare minimum, is more rewarding than just sitting around. I don't, however, think that I will see as much progression at my next check in. This is because my energy and hormone levels won’t stabilise until day 40. Make sure you check out part 3 to see who wins. Me or my hormones.