How did we make it to 100 days.... Oh yea, we made it!!!!!!!!

A lot of talking to myself. I can think of many times during the 100 day challenge trying to convince myself to workout, or to eat another meal, and to take another protein shake. The talking wasn't done in an attempt to motivate, but a way to vent to myself. Through discipline, I knew I would workout but talking to myself allowed me to work through my daily issues and make sure I stuck with the program.

Sharing my story with others. As I progressed in the 100 day challenge, I began to share with others. Whether through this blog or in person. I realized that I became a source of motivation for some, and now that it was out there I had to finish. Too many people asked and consistently were checking in, so I was stuck in the matrix of making sure I didn't let myself down but also them. They became indirect accountability.

Have a direct goal that you are trying to achieve and track that progress. I wanted to have a very defined body, as well as specific lifting goals as far as weight. I took photos and tracked the weights that I used during lifting. This helped with showing me the progress that I was making during the challenge and gave me the motivation at times to keep going.

Setting the example. We don't always feel like we have an example to set for others but you never know who is watching. As a gym owner, I have high expectations of myself and I don't believe that our members should support our gym if we aren't walking the walk. We have to remember that we must first live up to our own standard, but also the standards that we ask of those everyday around us. I often tell our members, "would you go to a barber with bad hair?" ........ The answer is no, so they shouldn't come to Peak City Athletics if we aren't leading by example. That doesn't always mean 6 pack abs though. 

So what now, we will be releasing a program that is designed for individuals to achieve their 100 day challenge. And we will be opening the newest version of Peak City Athletics gym.....(if you read this blog, yes we are opening up a new location! This is the first time we are publicly stating this) Coming soon... We are always aiming to give the people more. This is just the beginning. And last check out my final progress photos. My legs look great!!!

Life gets busy. Kids, errands, work, etc etc etc. With only 24 hours in a day, why would someone want to spend the small amount of solace they have throwing around heavy pieces of metal and sweating profusely.  

At some point enough is enough. Enough I'll start tomorrow, enough I don't have time, enough I'm too tired. It's time to take control of your life and prioritize YOU! But how?

Set boundaries. Say no to helping others, say no to going out EVERY weekend, say no to taking that extra shift at work.

Sit and be still. It's okay to not do anything. Once the house is clean and all of the daily duties have been done and met, be still. Lay down, watch a movie, have that glass of wine. Turn your brain off momentarily for the time you have to mentally recharge.

Ask for help. Those of you with kids, tap into your support system and let them know what you need so you can find that break or peace and time to be you.

This isn't an advice column, this is a real column. All of the above(except no kids yet), I have taken part of more than once during my 100 day journey. I'm renewed, I'm refreshed, I'm happy. I still struggle too.

So what has working out and this "new" lifestyle done for me.
1. Amazing body 
2. Self confidence/reassurance
3. Raised the standards that I have for myself 
4. Lived experience and relation with those who struggling with fitness and nutrition and the process of "getting back"

We are currently at day 75. 25 days to go. The crazy part about this all is that I'm a gym owner, former Division 1 and pro athlete and this shouldn't be an issue right.....? But it is because I am you!

If you are just joining/reading about Coach Jamil's 100 day journey check out previous post below to follow the full journey.

Injuries, self doubt, social life, travel, work, life. I have been given every opportunity during the first 50 days of this 100 day challenge to quit, but here we are. Why haven't I given up, what's driving me to keep going....

Sept 30th CU vs USC(football). My wife and I were invited by friends, who were alumni of both schools, to tailgate and enjoy the festivities surrounding the game. Tailgating= Lot of Alcohol and Food...WTHeck. Okay,  let's plan. The game was an early one 10am, so I knew I would need to get up early meaning we would be meal prepping. Oh and I still have to workout..

Meal 1: Breakfast prepped
Meal 2: Mid lunch (meal I ate before getting out of the car and walking to the tailgate) prepped
Meal 3,4,5.......: How are we going to do this..

While I'm okay with being uncomfortable, I'm not walking around with a meal prep bag at a tailgate going for miles and miles, so we're going to figure it out. Imagine me in a bar (with that fit on.. because I can dress well!) with a meal prep bag strapped across my shoulders.... yea alright.

During this challenge I have mastered a new skill. How to read nutritional labels and know the "exact" nutritional facts of specific foods. I put that skill to work in the best way on this day. Meals 3,4, and 5. Raw hamburgers (cooked, a lot of those!), salads from local stores, qdoba chicken bowls, and a protein shake from a local Safeway, we did it! But I still needed to workout.

At this point it's 6pm and I'm getting nervous, I didn't bring clothes to workout in, I look like I play for the team so maybe I could sneak into the athletic facility and steal some gear and get a workout in, man what do I do!? Also, the party is just getting started. The game is over and the after parties and streets are crowded...yeah I'm done for. But I can't we've come to far.

"Googles the nearest gym.." Crunch fitness(5 minutes away). But what about clothes? Oh it looks like there is a local running store right next to the Crunch fitness "In motion running." Shoutout to my wife for the great idea. I walk into the running store and explain my situation, I literally told them about the challenge lol, and that I needed the cheapest pair of shorts possible, $35, yeah y'all trippin! The person at the cash register paused and looked at me and threw in a 30% discount... we up!!!!! I promised them a shoutout in this blog because that was true compassion and I really appreciated that. Shoutout In Motion Running store in Boulder, Colorado. 

Time to workout. Usually I'm at Peak City Athletics, but we don't have a location in Boulder yet.. so Crunch let's get it. Free 3 day pass, now I know God is showing out! I get my workout in and everything in the world makes sense again. Today is accomplished. We get back to partying, loving life, and making memories with friends.

This day taught me so much about will. We WILL find a way when something is important to us. No matter the circumstance, WE CAN IF WE WANT TO. What if I applied this WILL to other aspects of my life.. Epiphanic moment..." if I apply this WILL to other areas in my life I wonder what could happen... I mean I already know, we're halfway there!

Check in photo (Day 1 vs Day 50).... Those legs are coming in, let's gooooo!!!! It is Day 50 and I have worked out 56 times. I still don't know the next time I'll check in, but just know, we comin.......

If you are just reading my story for the first time don't worry, you can check out previous blog post below. 

I don't think I'm going to make it........ That's what I say to myself everyday as I embark on this journey. What's the journey you might ask?? On August 19th, I made a decision to push myself to the limit in a way I never have in my life up to this point. I made the the choice to workout and eat perfect (designed meal plan) for 100 days straight.

"The Proust Effect" or "involuntary memory," a term coined by 20th century writer Marcel Proust, explains the curious phenomenon of a memory triggered by smell, taste, or even a sound. The sound I heard and felt on August 19th 2023, was one that shot me back 10 years prior to a place where my life started again. 

After sitting in a jail cell for 6 months and being acquitted of most accusations that had been made against me as a college student, I began the journey of  starting anew, something we all experience in some phase of our life in one way or another.

As a student athlete, I was blessed because of my God given academic and athletic abilities. Because of this I was afforded the opportunity to continue my schooling at a new school, Alcorn State University. I chose this esteemed school because its where God led me, but I would need to get ready. As I sat for those 6 months, without any type of training regiment or routine, my body withered away. I was a shell of my old self. But I knew it would be okay because if there was one thing I was good at, it was self motivation and determination to achieve a goal. I weighed about 200lbs now down from 240lbs ,and I felt weaker (physically) than I could remember in my life.

So I got to work......

4-5 times a week, twice a day most days, for the next 100 ish days you could find me in the gym working out, focused and driven to get to my goal. But I don't think I had a goal. What I had was a "state of being "that I wanted to obtain and that was to be in the best shape in my life and overly prepared for the 2013 college football season. 

I cried because it brought me back.......

On Aug 19th, 2023 while bench pressing in Peak City Athletics' gym tears ran down my face, The Proust Effect. I was shot back to 2013 like a time machine while performing a bench press and feeling the weakest I could remember. That first workout in 2013 after those long 6 months is something I will never forget and on this day I was right back there vulnerable and weak and now another chance to "go to work."

Today is day 30 out of 100  (have currently worked out 36 times) and I don't know if I'm going to make it..... 

Here are my rules to these 100 days:

Workout everyday, sometimes twice. (workouts always consist of lifting weights and running, no body weight only workouts).

Perfect eating. (a designed meal plan that will lean my body out, while also allowing me to build muscle)

No alcohol... (the hardest of them all, no need to explain)

I don't know the next time I'll check in with you or if I'll check in again at all. I don't know if this is to motivate, scare, or entertain you. I'm not stopping though.

​Oh...(here's a progress pic).. And don't worry I'm working on my legs more than my upper body.. Peak City gym members know lol. We'll have to show those off in the future....maybe