How I Completed 1000 Reps In 100 Days: My Personal Journey

In late October, I was invited to join a (global) fitness challenge. I’d been looking for new avenues to test my athleticism, so I consciously said yes when I heard about this 100 Day Challenge. I knew the challenge was not going to be easy as the repetitions increased in number, however, I wanted to see was possible.

I like metrics, I like seeing what my body is capable of.

This was the 100 Day program:

100 Day Challenge = 1000 Reps Protocol

10 Exercises total

4 Mobility

6 Conditioning

Fitness tools: ViPR , sandbag (or similar tools). 

Day 1 - 1 rep each = 10 reps

Day 2 - 2 reps each = 20 reps

Mobility

1-Upper Cut

2-Rainbow 

3-Cross Body

4-Foot Sweeps 

Conditioning

5-Prone Lateral Drag

6-Sagittal Flips 

7-Crawl Push

8-Halo

9-Forward Pendulum

10-Lateral Tilt

Sadly, I do not have a ViPR, so I used my 6’ foam roller, which helped with extra long arms for the mobility exercises. The foam roller didn’t weight that much, so I had to use another 24” foam roller for #6 conditioning drill.  I just made sure to strongly engage my glutes with the pelvic thrust.

The 100 Day Challenge began on October 23, 2022, hosted by John Polley. I started the workout out strong, paying attention to proper form and alignment. I found the mobility and conditioning exercises were fairly easy, even when adding reps each day.

In November, the holiday season, life got busier with my teaching schedule and holiday festivities.  I traveled to see family, brought my equipment with me, so that I could stay focused on my commitment. I don’t get to see my family very often, so Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal, and it’s my favorite holiday. I enjoyed the festive gathering, yummy 😋 holiday food, 🍷wine ….and more 🍷wine….and maybe some 🥃 bourbon too 🤔

The next morning…. I really didn’t feel like ‘working out’…I wanted to linger in bed before the day started.  Maybe I was feeling the effect of my indulgence from the night before.  Procrastination was at the forefront of my mind, yet I knew the consequence would be the deal breaker.

But how often do we ever feel like working out?  Most of the time, there’s something fun or enticing or interesting to do than putting forth physical effort. If we counted on just on the idea of ‘do I feel like working out’ most of us would…..

NEVER 🙈 DO 🙉 IT 🙊

It’s a different mind set.

However, I made a commitment to myself and to the private group to be accountable to complete the ‘physical’ work — no matter what.

Happily, I completed my post-Thanksgiving Day 295 reps and felt good about myself.

After my holiday travels, I become sick, very sick. I didn’t have Covid, but it was bad enough……I had everything - bacterial and sinus infection, terrible cough, Migraines, these days were awful and difficult, I didn’t want to get out of bed, teach yoga, work out - nothing!  I also lost my voice for 3 days.

December was crazy.

I was concerned how I was going to continue with the Challenge. I kept thinking, I’m not at the half-way point, how on earth am I going to continue while feeling so terrible?

I kept thinking about my personal commitment, was I really going to stop? After ALL those reps that I pushed through?

I honestly couldn’t live with myself if I stopped - even just one day. It’s a 100 Day Challenge.

Feeling exhausted, weak and in pain, I made a decision. 

I decided, to perform each exercise much slower, focusing on one rep at a time, taking breaks as needed, so that I could complete each day of the challenge.

Into the third week of December, I slowly started to feel a little bit more myself, my regular energy and stamina wasn’t there yet, but at least my sinus infection was nearing it’s end.

As the reps increased 570, 571, 572 becoming more difficult….I had to make some quick changes so that I could physically continue.  The room I was working out in, was getting hot and claustrophobic, the heat permanently set at 70º with no windows; I felt like I was suffocating.  Plus, I needed more floor space for drills #6-Sagittal Flips and #7-Crawl Push.  Happily, I remembered the top floor storage area with access to windows and the community deck was available, the perfect workout spot! I wish I’d thought about much sooner! With the usual cold December /January weather, I didn’t practice on the deck, but having the door open while I was breaking a sweat enabled me to breathe better ……and not die! 🥵

Christmas🎄 morning I can tell you……..I was NOT excited to exert 640 reps, especially after being so sick.

However, again, I sucked it up, got dressed and to work! Afterwards, I leisurely enjoyed a hot satisfying cup of mushroom 🍄 ☕️ coffee.

You know when there’s pivotal moments in your life that you remember the tiniest detail?  I had two, during the challenge.

Day 85  (with 16 days left of the challenge)
This day really kicked my assasana!

Day 94 I almost missed ONE day…….with a really good excuse; but I seriously could not live with myself if I didn’t put the work in. 

 
Recap the ‘obstacles’ that I encountered:
-doing the challenge in a 🌡️ heated room

-being very sick 😵 the whole month of December

-feeling defeated 🏳️ with Day 85

-being heavily 😵‍💫 sedated on Day 94

What I learned along the way….
Humans can do hard things, many hard things, whether it is physical, mental, spiritual or emotional, it all relates to being human.  Just because it’s a Tuesday or a Friday doesn’t make anything easier.  We all have LIFE stuff that comes up —unexpectedly, that challenges us to face the hard stuff — the loss, the fear, the heartbreak, the sorrow - all of it. So when committing to do something for YOURSELF or another, be aware that accountability is ESSENTIAL to making through.

When I changed my approached to fully and completely focus - mentally be present, doing ONE rep at a time, and not thinking wow, I have 76 more reps to go, it really changed everything for me.  It’s MENTAL, the mind that can either talk you out of something or convince you to do something.  Pay attention to what’s going on in your mind, who’s dominating the conversation. Make a decision that will bring pride when you look in the mirror. This approach enabled me to be accountable to myself and my (public) commitment.  Plus, how I will approach challenges going forward.

So my heartfelt 💕 note to you; when something challenging, something difficult comes up or you decide to pursue something that is physically challenging, just focus on one step, one rep at a time and you will make it through.

YOU can do hard things.
xo Janel 😘

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo  ~ far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ~ Jodi Picoult