Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Michael Brockbank
Well, the Fit By 50 challenge kind of dissolved rather quickly. Just as I was getting back into the groove of things, my world was turned upside down. It’s been a rough couple of months, but I think I’m ready to give it another go.
I may not succeed in every challenge. But at least I am consistent in never giving up. I still believe that I will eventually succeed, as long as I can keep my head in the game.
That’s been my problem with every challenge thus far, actually. I often come out strong and then get derailed by a variety of things. Now that I’m 50, fitness is a bit more pressing. Well, at least living healthier than I have been.
My cholesterol is through the roof, I have secondary polycythemia, and I hurt my back bending over the other day. Not to mention that I’ve gained so much weight that I am nearly back at where I was when I moved to Los Angeles for six months back in 2016.
Still, I am hopeful, despite being more stressed than I’ve been in quite some time. However, my therapist seems to think I should exercise more to help reduce the stress and burn off some fat.
100-Day Fitness Challenge…Again
Did you know that there are only 100 days until Halloween? What better way to ring in my favorite holiday than to see just what I can really do to myself during that time? I know, I’ve tried the “Hot for Halloween” thing before. And I can’t really guarantee that I’ll succeed this time.
On the upside, though, I might be living in Maine, which will greatly reduce a lot of physical and mental strain on me. The lower altitude, higher humidity, and cooler temperatures are ideal for my physical condition. Being surrounded by trees and water while being in an environment that rains consistently is good for my mental condition.
Since I am essentially starting over, the entire situation may be the kicker to get my ass in gear this time around.
Setting Up the Page and Spreadsheet
I figure I would just re-use the original 100-day challenge page and rework the spreadsheet. I really like the point system I created, and am going to try to maintain that for the long haul.
It’ll be a bit difficult, really. I am in the middle of moving and balancing full-time school. Not to mention trying to get all of my stuff 2200 miles away, including the animals. But if I choose healthier snacks and keep an eye on the intake, I should lose quite a bit before Halloween.
Anyway, I’m working on revamping the page and spreadsheet, so they may be a little off until I’m done. I plan on sharing the page through push notifications once it’s up and going with the new information.
A Lot of Hurdles This Time
This challenge is probably going to be one of the most difficult. Not because of setting unrealistic goals, but because of all the things that are going on at the moment. Looking for a job, an apartment, and moving across the country is going to take a lot out of me.
Why don’t I wait until I am situated instead? Because of how much weight I’ve gained. I want to put a stop to it now and start working on various aspects of self-improvement.
I’m tellin’ ya, it’s been a very rough couple of months. Healthier eating and exercise should help with the mental load.
The Goals for This Challenge
Because I have no idea how the next few weeks are going to unfold, I’m not going to make a lot of grandiose goals or set high aspirations. If I am driving four days to Maine, I’m not going to get a lot of exercise.
So, I’m going to try to keep it simple this time around. At least until I know where and how I’m going to land.
For now, I’m going to work on two things: Keeping calories low and squeezing in any kind of exercise every day. The goal is to keep my points in the green every week, but as I said, there are a lot of things going on at the moment.
I also want to keep working on eating more protein throughout the day. I’ve found that I am significantly more energetic and focused, especially if I start the morning with around 30g or so. I added them to the point spreadsheet and am working to keep the weekly average in the green.
If possible, I want to work on keeping the carbs below 200g per day. This will be somewhat difficult, considering that I will probably wind up eating a bit poorly for the next few weeks, since I will be traveling and homeless.
It’s Gonna Be Tough…
Things are such a mess right now, and I have no doubt that this is going to be a tough challenge to handle. However, I need to do something to keep myself moving in the right direction. Remember, my blood work came back with some questionable numbers that are freaking a few people out.
I really don’t have time to wait until my situation improves. The things I need to change should have happened years ago.
For the time being, I’m going to work on breaking some bad habits, screwing my head on tighter, and getting the momentum going to lose some weight. Theoretically, I should hit around 200 pounds by Halloween, but that also depends on how much muscle mass I put on.
So, I’m going to try to take everything one day at a time until I have a stable job and a place to live. I can’t really make a lot of plans or schedule much until I know what’s going on. Yet, I can choose to eat better, hit the gym periodically, or play the Oculus on a daily basis.
I would love to start 50 off working toward various aspects of self-improvement. The only one stopping me is me.
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