My 75 Hard Journey

Hey, hey, hey, thank you for dropping by. If you’re reading this, you da mvp!!

Have you ever completed something so challenging you couldn’t believe you did that? That’s how I felt after I finished 75 Hard. It was surreal. As I’m coming upon my one year anniversary of beginning my 75 Hard journey I’ve done a lot of reflecting and still proud of what I accomplished. So I’m writing about it to share my experience and let you know it’s worth it! It’s worth it, to do that thing. Whatever that thing is. That thing that you know you need to do but have been delaying and making excuses for not starting. It starts with making choices and making changes. You can’t continue doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable if you want to push you toward your goals. In life, we get comfortable and complacent but then have the audacity to want something different and something more, but aren’t willing to do something different or something more. You can’t expect different results doing the same thing, isn’t that the meaning of insanity. One thing about change and choices is many times they hurt in the moment. You question what you decided to do, you curse the pain and the emotions but you know you are doing what’s best for you. Sorry I got on a little life tangent for a minute.

I’m going to share my reasons, my accomplishments, my takeaways, and my lessons learned. Overall, I stepped out of my comfort zone and I began doing things I never thought I would do. I grew and my completed life changed.

Let’s start with what exactly 75 Hard is. 75 Hard is a transformative mental toughness program. You must complete six daily tasks for 75 consecutive days without fail, if you miss a task you have to start over on day one, yes day one (do you know how many times I started at day one?). The daily tasks include:

• drinking a gallon of water

• working out twice (minimum of 45 minutes each, one workout must be outside, cannot be back to back, at least three hours in between)

• sticking to any structured diet

• reading 10 pages of a book (no audio books, no fiction books)

• taking a progress photo

• no alcohol

After reading the 75 Hard list, 70% of people (I made this number up in my head based on my experience after telling people I was doing it) say “I can do that” and guess what? I’m sure you can, but will you? Honestly most don’t make it past day two. I know I tried many, many times and failed by the end of day one. But not this time!! On April 1, 2023, I started day one and would continue to day 75. When I originally decided to do 75 Hard I had no idea of what I was in for. Day one was actually very easy, I was motivated, I was ready, and I had an accountable partner. Let me rewind, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Why did I decide to do 75 Hard? Well, honestly, I had been in a weird space in life. I was not in a good space mentally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I was unhappy, depressed, overweight, out of shape, and really in a space I could not continue to be in. I felt lost. I felt self destructive. It was time to make a change. I was at rock bottom. People looking from the outside would never know what was going on with me. But I was tapped out.

I felt like it would be a good challenge plus I really wanted to lose weight. I was close to my heaviest weight and I felt disgusting. So I guess my original intentions were strictly weight loss, not realizing I needed more than weight loss to help me feel better. At the time, I had two friends who completed 75 Hard and another friend who was starting on April 1 and I figured we could do it together, you know, have an accountability partner. It was the perfect time. I was READY!!!

Okay so back to it, day one was fairly easy, I was motivated, ready for change, and visualized day 75. When starting 75 Hard, I had no idea what was in store for me.

I started my mornings with an early workout, mainly toning/yoga/strength training and followed up with a quiet time of reading my 10+ pages. The first books I read were The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and Deep Work by Cal Newport. I read them at the same time. One reason I am so grateful for 75 Hard is that it forced me to read books. I never read an entire book for pleasure. I learned I actually really enjoy reading.

My outdoor workouts typically consisted of walking, walking/running, hiking, or some type of strength training workout in my backyard. I live in Southern California and the weather doesn’t get too bad during the winter, so my outdoor workouts weren’t bad. I give so many props to people on the East Coast who do 75 Hard in the winter, when it's 20 degrees or less outside. We often underestimate the importance of getting outside daily. These outdoor workouts were a game changer. Outdoor workout ideas: walking, running, hiking, yoga, stretching, weight training, HIIT

I am proud of myself because I started lifting weights. It’s okay to be proud of yourself. Clap for yourself. I found that I really enjoyed lifting. Like many women, I was concerned with getting bulky, but that’s not how the human body works. It takes a lot of training, meal prepping, discipline, and work in general to get the fitness model physique, so give them their dues and don’t think lifting 15 pound dumbbells will get you there. That’s hard work, so give them their flowers.

I chose an elimination diet that I created, which I eliminated something every week, incorporating in a high protein, low carb diet. I originally was thinking of doing a 1200 calorie diet but I hate counting calories. I cut out candy and sweets completely. Candy and ice cream are my weakness. All I wanted on Day 76 was a bag of gummy bears. I started making oatmeal banana cookies to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Week one elimination 

• No bread

• No fried food

Week two elimination 

• No potatoes

• No rice

Week three elimination

• No pasta

Week four elimination

• No soda

• No tortillas

Week five elimination

• No sweetened beverages

Beginning week seven, I started more of a keto type diet because I hadn’t been losing weight and I wanted to lose 20 pounds during 75 Hard. The scale continuously fluctuated. Not showing any real weight lose until about week eight. I was only down like five pounds, which was putting me on track for 8-10 pounds at the end.

One thing I realized is how important diet and exercise are in your life. Especially diet. You have to select the right diet for you. You can’t be plant based, keto, paleo (whatever diet) but feel like shit all of the time, that’s your body telling you something is missing. The right diet and supplements are key. So listen to your body.

75 Hard is not easy, I cried many times. There were days I didn’t want to do that second work out but I had to. There were days I didn’t want to drink a gallon of water, but had to. Can you imagine you’re only half way through your gallon and its like 8pm? Then you’re pissing all night. But there are no excuses. There are going to be days that you don’t want to but you have to.

I finished 75 Hard on June 15, 2023. I’m not going to say, as I write this, I haven’t gained some weight back, stopped reading as much, and eat carbs. The biggest life change is strength training, I strength train about 5 times a week. I’ve had many life changes since completing 75 Hard (most have been very hard and emotional, but necessary). As I write this it’s I am ready for more growth and more glow. So, I’m thinking of doing 75 Hard again, maybe the same dates April 1 to June 15.

While doing 75 Hard I made a lot of life changes. During this time I had a lot of clarity and discernment. Although I had a lot of tears during this time, I felt like I was on top of the world when I finished.

One thing I learned is that alcohol 100% lowers your inhibitions and you do things while drinking that your sober self would NEVER do. Things that were fun while drinking were no longer fun when I wasn’t drinking. Things that I would have agreed to while drinking I no longer agreed to. I am so grateful for giving up alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I love an occasional drink but I know I’ve made terrible decisions while drinking. Nothing too drastic and life changing, just a few stupid decisions I would not have made sober. During 75 Hard, I did enjoy mocktails, like “virgin” bloody marys (basically spicy tomato juice), and non-alcohol Coronas (definitely got made fun of for drinking those).

During this time I was able to get clear and make life changing decisions. I most definitely owe getting clear and my life changing decisions to 75 Hard and Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. When reading Trust Your Vibes, Sonia talks about how toxins like alcohol and bad food weaken your aura and intuition and I believe it. Without 75 Hard I may not have finished the book, I may have not made the decisions I made. My life would likely be different right now and when I say different I mean the same.

I learned my cup was empty and I couldn’t continue pouring and not getting my cup filled. Often we are on auto pilot and don’t realize our cup is empty. We don’t realize that some people are constantly taking from our cup and not pouring into our cups because we are natural givers.

75 Hard was life changing from the journey to the completion. The 75 days were challenging, full of tears and temptation but I owed it to myself to show up everyday. People will try to get you to take one drink, to have one chip, who’s going to know they say. You’re going to know. People often tempt you because you they don’t understand your vision and they aren’t supposed to. It’s your vision. Just remember your tribe needs to encourage you and motivate you, not sabotage you. During 75 hard I cried many times, some tears of pain, some tears of joy.

My Day 75 was supposed to be the best day, the most exciting day but someone made it about them and I had a terrible day. But that day and Day 76 solified life decisions I had been thinking about for a long time.

Before starting 75 Hard, I recommend listening to the Andy Frisella podcast on 75 Hard and checking out this website https://thetinylife.com/75-hard-challenge-rules-and-guidance-to-crush-the-next-75-days-and-leave-the-excuses-behind/

Shout out to Gladys and Mel, I would not have done it (when I did or maybe at all) without you. One of the books I read, Miracle Morning talked about getting an accountability partner.  God sent me one, really two, that I didn’t even have to look for. Thank youuu Rashi for the book! Also, thank youuu Rachel for taking me to have my first meal/martini after I finished and really everyone who respected my journey.

All of this to say, when you tell yourself “I can do that”, Yes. You. Can. Accomplishing anything is on the other side of discipline and consistency. Life is going to throw curve balls. There’s always going to be something that will get in the way or a reason you can’t do it. You have to be stronger than your excuses.

Noteworthy Days:

• Day 30: I felt really proud of myself. My growth, the changes I've been making to better myself regarding my diet and exercise 

• Day 55: The first time someone asked if I was losing weight

• Day 56: I got real. I had a surreal moment at the gym, like I’m doing this shit.

• Day 60: I finally noticed weight loss, the scale finally showed some weight loss, life felt good like I was starting to flow

Biggest Lessons/Takeaways:

• Throw out the scale, I weighed the same on day 42 as I did on day one. Can you imagine the disappointment? On Day 46 I was down 3 pounds. And then one day I was down by 12 pounds. It was crazy. However, although the scale didn’t budge, by Day 13 I started seeing results/changes in my photos.

• I am bigger than my excuses. When you tell people you are doing 75 Hard they tell you 101 excuses why they would but they can’t do it. 🙄 If I learned anything about people, they will make every excuse as to why they aren’t doing shit.

• Weights are necessary.

• Discipline and consistency are key if you want to accomplish anything.

• Get out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is a goal crusher. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

• Follow through with your commitments.

• Be better, do better.

• Listen to your body. Your body will talk to you. Like one night (during week one), I ate a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup for dinner. I felt like shit the next day. Joint pain. Puffiness. We should not be eating stuff like Campbell’s chicken noodle soup out of a can.

• If you don’t make lifestyle changes your results won’t last.

• Have people in your circle who care, who uplift you, who tell you the truth, who root for you.

• The 75 days are going to pass whether you do it or not so you might as well.

Accomplishments:

• Read 4 books - This is an accomplishment for me because I never read books. I always hated reading. In school, I read for answers, I read out of obligations, not to enjoy it. I never read a book cover to cover. How insane is it that I am 39 years old and can’t recall reading a whole book???? Now, I love it. It took me 39 years to enjoy reading. I am grateful that I can read. That I've been afforded the opportunity to read. My ancestors could not read, wore forced to not read. Some people can’t read. I can’t believe people take reading for granted.

• Trust Your vibes

• Miracle Morning 

• Alchemist

• Deep Work

• Lost 12 lbs (Starting weight: 180, Ending weight: 168, Continued weight loss: 161)

• Became more disciplined. There’s no excuses. No I’m tired. No I’ll do it tomorrow.

What did I miss most? Gummy bears 

What's next? I occasionally have alcoholic beverages. I initially planned to start 75 Hard again in January 2024, however, I decided I am going to work on lifestyle changes that I can do forever which would incorporate the 75 Hard tasks. I have gained about 8 pounds back, from my continued weight loss. My weight is still the same as when I finished 75 Hard. I do strength training about five times a week. I am planning to start doing two workouts (45 minutes toning/strength training + 12000 steps/45 minutes cardio) at least six days a week, read 10 pages daily, stick to a high protein diet, limit alcohol/fried food/pasta/carbs/bread/rice/soda/juice/sugar/candy/snacks. I will listen to my body more. I cut out foods I don’t feel good eating after. But sometimes that mouth pleasure is just too good.

Would I recommend doing 75 Hard? Absolutely 175%. It’s life changing.