Day 3 Recap: Challenge Complete!
The final day went smoothly. I started with two cans of sardines for breakfast (with Tapatio sauce) and the same for lunch, plus water throughout the day. The simplicity of not tracking calories or measuring portions was a relief. No guesswork, just eating.
In the afternoon, my family and I visited Irvine Spectrum to see the toy houses, and though my wife and son grabbed a pie from Pieology, I felt no temptation—another win! Walking around helped me get my steps in, which felt great, especially as I’m recovering from foot surgery. Walking has been key, both physically and mentally, helping me rebuild strength and mental well-being.
By evening, I was feeling a bit dehydrated, despite drinking lots of water, and ended up with a slight headache. I had two more cans of sardines before calling it a night.
Exercise and Results: I kept my workouts light—walking, 60 push-ups, 80 squats, and 80 sit-ups each day—since I’m still healing from Lisfranc surgery. Walking was the easiest and least strenuous activity.
I started the challenge at 202 lbs and ended at 193.8 lbs—a loss of 8.2 lbs. This drop was likely influenced by dehydration, common with keto-like diets due to low carbs. So be aware the weight loss can vary and by no means will everyone see massive losses in the course of 72 hours.
Final Thoughts: Is it sustainable? Maybe, but eating sardines long-term isn’t for everyone. Plus, I experienced “keto sickness,” with tiredness on day 1 and headaches on day 3, making it tough to stick with. Also, constipation throughout entire period.
Would I continue a keto-like diet? Probably not. I prefer a balanced approach that includes healthy carbs like fruits and vegetables. With a 2-year old, being limited by a Keto diet would probably not be in his best long term interest (see Pie above). My hopes are that if I continue a healthier lifestyle, he’ll also want to follow suit and eat better.
This challenge reinforced that weight loss is largely about diet. I was surprised by how much my body changed in just 72 hours. Since COVID, I’ve struggled with weight loss, but this reminded me how crucial diet is. Back in 2017, when I was at my healthiest, I followed a mostly pescatarian diet and maintained a low resting heart rate—which my doctor was worried since I was not a marathon runner! Now, it’s more about just getting back to a healthy weight.
So, if you’re looking for a quick 3 day challenge, I’d recommend giving this a try.
No responses yet