In this particular challenge, I am working to see how “fit” I can become before I turn 50 years old. That means I’ll have 117 days to do what I can to lose weight, boost strength, and improve stamina.
I know that a little over 16 weeks isn’t a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. Still, if I accomplish even a handful of my goals, I’ll be in the best shape of my life. That’s kind of sad when you think about it. But as a professional desk jockey, I don’t often focus too much on physical fitness.
That all changes in 2026, though. I have a lot that I want to accomplish.
What the Fit by 50 Challenge Entails
The idea behind this particular challenge is to see what I can do for myself before turning 50 this July. I don’t simply want to lose weight, as I am also working toward improved physical prowess. For one thing, I don’t want to wheeze while moving the couch.
I describe the particulars more thoroughly in the starting post of the challenge. But I figured I’d create a quick list so you can see what I’m working on accomplishing.
So, what are the main goals this time around?
- Keeping Myself On Task
It’ll be difficult to stay on track for 117 days, as I tend to peter out relatively soon in a challenge. - Keeping My “Points” in the Green
I’ve created a point system on the spreadsheet. Keeping them green entails getting more points than the minimum that I want to see on any given day. - 100g Average Protein Intake per Day
Essentially, I want to focus on eating more protein, as it contributes a lot to my health, especially as I get older. - Under 15% Body Fat
I’d love to see what I look like with abs, as I’ve never been an example of health and fitness. - Breaking Some Personal Records
I would love to set a lot of new personal records, according to what I have saved on Exercise.com. Most of these are bodyweight exercises, but I will also try a few weight-lifting records as well.
Collecting the Data
Like always, I am collecting some data. There are various points that I’m keeping track of, and many of them should help with future blog content. Not to mention that I like to know what I’m capable of handling, how it makes me feel, and where my boundaries are for eating and exercise.
The sections that are higlighted a light green are numbers that have been recorded. Anything that is white is an estimate based on previous entries.
The “Point Difference” column is the point calculation for the day minus 850. Ideally, the number should be green for each day. But if it is red, then it means I didn’t make enough points. The goal is to keep this number green every day.
Why am I using 850 points as a base? After running several tests, 850 points is a good goal to have in my case, and it’s based on a total for exercise time, the amount of weight lifted for the day, total steps, and how many calories I burned compared to consumed.
If it starts to feel too easy, I’ll increase the base point to dial up the difficulty.
Fitness Update Posts
I write weekly updates regarding this challenge and how well I’m doing over time. They are arranged by the newest post first. So, if you’d like to follow along, reading from the bottom up is the chronological order of the content.
- Fit By 50: Week 1 – Did I Really Gain 3.4 Pounds?
No matter how much I try to hedge my bets while planning a great week of fitness, life has a way of tipping the scales. But did I really gain 3.4 pounds in the first week of my Fit By 50 challenge? - Case Study Challenge: Can I Get Fit by Fifty?
As I am working on Spring Cleaning, I’ve decided to run a parallel case study and challenge to see what I can do before I turn 50 in July. Let’s call it a birthday present to myself, one with ultimate importance.
Results:
As this case study challenge is ongoing, I don’t have much to tell in terms of results aside from the data above. However, this page will be updated once the case study is complete, which will be sometime during the last week of July.
How Do You Challenge Yourself?
I am constantly challenging myself, whether it’s weight loss or writing. I’m not content with the status quo and am always looking to improve myself one way or another. I guess you could say that I am in a constant state of evolution.
In this case, I want to be more fit by the time I hit 50 years old.
In any case, never be afraid to challenge yourself. It’s a great way to explore your potential while having objective information about what you’re capable of handling.
Always strive to be the best version of yourself.