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Day 15 Weigh in…
Heel is healed, school is out for the summer, so I can focus on complete life change. We’ve started doing a little shopping at a local roadside produce stand (Eli’s in RR). The fruits and vegetables are definitely better than the grocery store’s produce.
My book, Phil Robertson’s Theft of the American Soul, is phenomenal!!! That boy’s ’been there, done that’! Godly man…Godly Marriage…Godly family…Godly ministry!
I can definitely see a bit of change in the mid-section…but more importantly, I can see a change in my mindset. Health and wellness are starting to be a priority. #lifechange
This week’s results:
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Mental & Physical Reset!
So…last Sunday (10/15/22) I started a program called 75 hard. Details in a bit. The 75 day program was created by Andy Frisella. Frisella is an entrepreneur and podcaster who is big on foundational business principals, self development, mental toughness, physical fitness, and ‘Merica. Please note…his views of most things line up with mine…BUT the language he uses might be a bit too much for sensitive ears. He’s very passionate about what he believes in and is happy to call out people who attempt to take advantage of the people, the principals, and the country he loves…and that comes through in his colorful verbiage. With that being said, you don’t have to listen to him (ever) to participate in the #75Hard program. He created the program to encourage and build mental toughness…something that he believes is missing in America today (as do I). He believes that the man of the household has gotten softer, lazier, and out of touch with his family duties and that the “grit and determination” that once existed in the American male (and female) has been replaced with “an easiness to give up and let somebody else do it” mindset. Hence…he created 75 Hard.
The 75 Hard Program forces the person participating in the challenge (me) to mentally and physically change his/her life…form the inside out. It builds routine, which is something I like but unfortunately have turned from. I used to be extremely structured and routine oriented…but when you have kids, their routines become a priority and our routines take a back seat.
The program also forces you to hold yourself accountable. In fact, there are quite a few daily steps to the program, and if you “cheat” (we’ll cover what cheating is in a minutes) you have to start the program back on Day 1! Now you could easily keep going as if the “cheat” never happened…but you’d know deep down that you actually failed. This drives me (and those like me) to do my best and to do every aspect of the program so that I don’t have to start over. Many in today’s society will “cheat” and go about their day…not phased by the fact that not only have they let others down…they’ve let themselves down…and that’s a huge problem in today’s society. If integrity and ethics are not part of your mindset…then this program probably is not for you.
The program was also designed to get you back on track in the area of health. There is a daily “workout” portion of the program AND there is a daily dietary requirement. If you stick to these essential parts of the program, then after 75 days are up…you’ll definitely be in the “habit” of eating healthier and making room for exercise on a daily basis.
SO…let’s get into the details of 75 Hard! There are 8 Parts to the daily challenge and they are as follows:
- You must complete two 45 Minute Workouts (any workout of your choosing).
- One of the 45 minute workouts must be outdoors!
- You must follow a diet (any diet…it doesn’t matter what kind).
- You must drink 1 gallon of water.
- You must read 10 pages of a self help/non-fiction book.
- You must take a Progress Selfie each day.
- NO ALCOHOL
- and NO CHEAT MEALS (if you break any of these rules…back to Day 1)!
That’s it! Sounds easy right? Well…we’ll see. Keep coming back for progress reports AND to keep up with what other things God is walking me through! I know it will be hard (it’s not called 75 Hard for nothing), and I know there’s no way I can complete it on my own…but God can!
Blessings, ~Mitch
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Day 8 Weigh In…
One week into the 75 Hard Program. I haven’t worked this hard in a looooong time. My first 2 days of walking caused a massive blister on my heel. So I’m going to shift to weights for a few days until my heel heals.
The eating healthy part has not been an issue. We’re buying a Lito of fruits and veggies at the store and steaks, chicken, and pork too. Grilling a lot!!!
The one gallon of water a day has me peeing every hour on the hour it feels like. Ugh!
I know I don’t have the staying power to do this…but I’ve called on Jesus and asked for His strength to see me through to the end. I don’t want to “cheat” in any way…mainly because I don’t want to let myself down…but also, I don’t want to start over. I want this to be the beginning of LIFE CHAGE for me…and my family.
This week’s results:
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The Theft of America’s Soul by Phil Robertson
I’m currently participating in the “75 Hard” challenge. If you’re not familiar with that challenge, I’ll go more into depth at a later date. BUT…one aspect of the 75 Hard challenge is that you have to read 10 pages of a non-fiction book each day. I’m currently reading “The Theft of America’s Soul” by Phil Robertson. In my personal opinion…it’s one of the best books I’ve read. NOW…don’t get me wrong…I’m dyslexic, so the number of books I’ve read can be counted on one hand…maybe two.
This book has kept my attention since day one. To the point where I’m typically reading more than 10 pages a day. That’s saying a lot for dyslexic who generally falls asleep after 5-6 paragraphs because my brain is tired of having to constantly make mental corrections throughout the sentences I read. But this book is engaging!!!
Phil Robertson starts off by outlining the life he led before Christ entered the picture…and it ain’t pretty. However bad you think your life is…there’s a good chance it will suffer from comparison. Next, he goes into detail about his split with Miss Kay and how that and other events lead to his salvation and the initial stage of his relationship with Christ. Then Mr. Robertson proceeds to lay out how, with God’s help, he was able to start Duck Commander. In addition, he talks about the people he used to hang out with before he accepted Christ as savior and their reactions/thoughts on his salvation and how his example of Godly living led one of them to a relationship with Christ on his deathbed. That’s as far as I’ve gotten in 5 days…which is how long I’ve been doing the 75 Hard challenge.
Take Away (up to this point): Phil explains that even though he and his family have been extremely blessed, the Devil still attacks. BUT through faith, they’ve been able to conquer the battles AND because of their deep faith in Christ Jesus they know they have already won the war. He is about to shift gears and bring it all together as he discusses today’s culture war in American…and I can’t wait to read about his thoughts on that.
Phil’s life story is a great example of “I can’t…but God can”. I would encourage you, if you’d like to know more about what it’s like to find your calling and strength in Christ Jesus, to read this book. Although it’s been out since 2019, the message (to this point) is still relevant today…and is actually timeless. Robertson’s experiences are relatable and has the power to encourage each of us no matter what obstacles we are facing. Again…I’m only half way through the book…but based on what I’ve read so far, this book makes me Happy, Happy, Happy!
~Mitch
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Men! Time To Step Up!
…BUT GOD CAN
We are under attack! What’s worse, in this day and age when lost Americans need Christians to step up and share the gospel, we’ve become lazy, complacent, and have totally misplaced our masculine and feminine core that make us unique! The purpose of this blog is to in some small way do it’s part (with God’s help) to correct the current trajectory of men & women in America! From getting back on track physically to regaining our Christ centered focus mentally, this community will do all in its power to help encourage men and women to be the best God needs us to be!
God Bless America!!!
HEADS UP LADIES…all the biblical truths, healthy and physical ideals, mental fitness strategies and all content I cover on this particular post is focused at men…but have value for women as well. Furthermore, ladies, what we cover on this blog is just as much for you as it is for your husband, father, son, boyfriend, or any man in your life. This post is more of an insight into what God has placed on my heart lately as it pertains to the current state of affairs of todays Christian men…and men in general. So please feel free to enjoy this post AND make sure you get the men in your life to pony up and read it as well! After all…behind every good man is a great woman!
Lately, God has been laying the current state of men and manhood on my heart. Men aren’t standing up for “manly values” and they aren’t promoting the importance that men have on the lives of children and the future of this great country. America was built on the shoulder of great men. Men who radiated masculinity. They had to! Their bravado, self-confidence, and forceful demeanor built America and transformed the landscape of the continent. There were things they did that were unethical, immoral, illegal, and dehumanizing…but overall, their intentions were good, noble, and in the best interest of the country. Don’t get me wrong…there were great women who also helped raise this great nation, and there were amazing women who stood behind (and supported) these men of honor, ethics, and national pride. Behind every good man is a great woman…I totally understand that! BUT…this blog targets men and how we can better be the men that our families need us to be…our community needs us to be…and most importantly, our Father in heaven needs us to be!
For a man, life can be demanding. We’re expected to be the strongest, both physically and mentally. We’re expected to have the answers for what ails our family. We are expected to hide our pain and our stress and show the world a confident smile. We are expected to provide for loved ones AT ALL TIME. And we’re expected to do all of this in a manner that brings honor and glory to our father…and our father’s father. It’s a demanding job, but it’s the job we were made to do.
Ever since Adam was placed in the garden by God, we’ve been expected to take care of this planet…and all things in it. We were put in charge of all the animals, the plants, and the slithering beasts on the ground (and in the trees). We are the caretaker of this amazing planet. It’s in our DNA. The DNA God created inside us. That is the man’s purpose! It’s our calling! Again, women have their purpose and calling too…but I’m highlighting men in this post.
A-Train and Evesville chillin’ in the Garden! As I look around, I currently see this truth to be lacking in men today. Men are lacking the self confidence to stand up and say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”! Enough feminizing of the male sex! Enough trying to tame men (whatever that means)! Enough trying to do away with masculinity!!! Enough “gender” manipulation! God created men to be men and women to be women. If you’re a man…embrace your manhood and be awesome at it! If you’re a woman, embrace your womanhood and be awesome at that. Don’t change because you think you were meant to be the other sex! I have news for you…if you were meant to be the “other sex”…God would have MADE you the other sex.
Men must stand tall and firm TOGETHER in an effort to stop corporate entities and politicians (form both parties) from re-defining “lifestyle” and “gender” and enacting laws that only exist to suffocate the model of family and country that God has laid out for us and that our forefathers proudly fought for with selfless sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears to protect. We must stand against worldly attacks by the father of all lies (Satan) who only exists to tear down good (the good of family, the good of country, and the good of God) and replace it with evil in the form of worldly desires.
As men, we must lead the healing in the area of race and culture. We must promote character, honor, and ethics as a means to measure a person…not by their skin color or country of birth. Nowhere in the bible does it say that justice and prosperity only exist for the white man…or only for the black man…or only for the brown man. NOPE!!! God’s grace, love, and mercy exist for EVERY MAN (AND WOMAN) regardless of skin color or cultural background!
As men, we need to understand that it is our job to protect our family…as a man! It’s our job to provide for our family…as a man! It’s our job to make sure that our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the children throughout our communities are safe and sound, and that they have a manly and masculine example of what it is to be a man who is capable of any and everything through Christ who strengthens us! Our sons need to see our example of what a man is so that they can learn strength, resolve, vigor, and what it means to be a man above reproach. Likewise, our daughters need to see examples of what a Godly man looks like so they will know what kind of man God intends for them to marry…that’d be men who will set them on a pedestal and protect them at all costs. Sadly, more and more children are finding themselves without a father. That is a tragedy. There is no father to help them understand how to control anger…how to be a gentlemen…how to treat women…how to utilize their God-given talents to bless the Heavenly Father and bless the world. Mothers can only do so much. Young men…boys…need that father figure who will model what it means to be a man of integrity, honor, and discipline. All one has to do is turn on the T.V. and witness the results of fatherless boys (and girls) in the 5 O’clock News. It’s tragic!
As men, we’ll go through life and we will hit roadblocks. We will eventually come to a realization that we can’t meet certain needs. Family needs. Job needs. Community needs. Self needs. BUT…we have a God who loves us and is willing to give us the power to rise above the areas we are lacking if we simply ask. Where we can’t…God can. As men, we will feel defeated, angry, sad, and extremely tired, and in those times we need to understand that we can’t conquer the situation…but God can! He can use us to do incredible things in the lives of family members and people throughout our community.
Gentlemen, the fact of the matter is there will be times when we can’t make more money to provide for our family. There will be times when we can’t do the necessary repairs to our cars that will get us to work tomorrow. There will be times when we can’t defeat the stranglehold of addiction that keeps us slaves to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and other vices. There will be times when we can’t change a loved one’s heart in an effort to rebuild a damaged relationship. There will be times when we can’t say the right words that will ensure us the new promotion. There will be times when we can’t raise our children with a heart and mind to serve others. In those time, we need to take comfort in knowing that we can’t…BUT GOD CAN!!
God can equip America’s men with the knowledge we need to rise above our circumstances. God can give us the health to overcome sickness. God can produce much needed money (typically from sources we’d never imagine) for us to feed our family and pay our bills. God can give us the strength and resolve to beat our addictions. God can bless us with the thoughts and words we need to lead others to victory or reconcile long lost relationships. He can even give us the words to speak (and the actions to take) that have the power to change a person’s heart and see them come to a loving relationship with Jesus Christ!
Philippians 4:13 assures us that when we are met head on with circumstances that are beyond our control and beyond our strength and knowledge to overcome…that I can do ALL THINGS through Christ Jesus who gives us strength. At the end of the day, it’s not our mission to attempt to overcome our fears, problems, and doubts on our own…because, as much as we don’t want to admit it, we can’t…BUT GOD CAN!!!
~ Mitch
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But God Can: My Healthy Lifestyle Journey DAY 1
Welcome to my blog “…but God can”! Over the past few months, God has been working in me in the areas of health and nutrition, family relationships, being a better husband, being a better dad, being a stronger (physically and mentally) Christian.
Big boy from the front! As I’ve approached this day, I’ve asked God to give me the strength to “be a better person” both spiritually and physically. I know without a doubt that I can’t make myself lose weight. I can’t make myself eat health. I can’t make myself exercise regularly. I can’t make myself build better stronger relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. I can’t…but God can!
As sit here writing this I know without a doubt that I will have to call on Jesus my savior for help…strength…and the resolve I need to change my unhealthy habits and replace them with habits that will make my life better, my family’s life better…and bring glory to God.
Big boy from the side! Currently, I’m considered morbidly obese…or as my doctor puts it, “Wow!” It took a long time for me to get my body into this mess…so I expect it will take a long time to get it back into fighting shape. And I’m beginning to understand that and I’m really OK with that.
I understand I’ve made poor choices, and those choices were and are my responsibility. I’m owning that. Nobody made me eat all of the pizzas, cupcakes, cookies, candy bars, hotdogs, and chips. I did that! Nobody made me drink all of the Cokes, Dr. Peppers, beers and sweet tea. I did that! I’m upset with myself…I’m disappointed with myself…but I forgive myself. Time to move on. What God has in store for me going forward physically, spiritually, and mentally is what matters. Forgive, forget, move forward!
I’m 51 years old and I’m an unhealthy mess. I wasn’t always that way. I’m my youth and through my 20’s I was strong as an ox…physically fit…farm boy with the strength and stamina to get the job done…ANY JOB DONE!
Over the years I just let go of that active lifestyle and traded it in for the sedentary and complacent lifestyle. Well, that’s all about to change.
In an effort to prepare for my healthy lifestyle journey, I’ve been lowering my caloric intake over the past month as I know without a doubt lower calories is going to be my “diet” of choice. I’ve also begun the ritual of stretching in the mornings when I wake up. This has really been mainly because I want the flexibility I had when I was younger. My old body has gotten so stiff! Ugh! But, with God’s help, I will restore those healthy habits so that I can better serve him.
In researching how to start living a healthy lifestyle, I stumbled across the 75 Hard Program by Andy Frisella. The program is meant to challenge and change unhealthy physical and mental ruts we get ourselves into. It forces you to step outside your comfort zone and create a 75 day regimen of exercise, “dieting”, reading, and water intake. It’s focus is on an overall mind shift, from unhealthy habits to healthy habits. Oh…and no alcohol or “cheat meals”. If you do either of those…you start over.
I like structure, so I feel like the 75 Hard program will be just what I need to jumpstart my healthy living habits.
I encourage you to follow my journey…heck…even join me in the journey to better health. I look forward to your encouragement AND being able to encourage you as together we build a life that will benefit us, our families, and most importantly, allow us to better serve the God who loves us…and wants us to be at peak performance. I understand that alone, I can’t do it. You can’t do it! We can’t do it! BUT GOD CAN!
Pivot Then Live It: The Blog
Mitch Fairchild 
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