Why I started 75 Hard and what I thought I signed up for

This reflection comes from my first week of 75 Hard. I’ll share what changed once I finished.

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Like a lot of people, I already know the basics of how to take care of myself. Drink water, move your body, eat real food, sleep. None of this is revolutionary. The problem isn’t knowledge. It’s life.

Life comes at you fast. Work gets demanding. Pressure builds. Deadlines pile up. And taking care of yourself becomes the thing you’ll “get back to” once things calm down. I know this because it happened to me.

The last time I remember consciously thinking about my weight, I was around 160 pounds and trying to get to 150. Three years of a high-pressure job, long hours, and lots of sitting later, I now have knee pain and I’m 210 pounds. Something had to change.

A fresh start (and a slightly unhinged decision)

Moving to DC felt like a reset. A new city, a new chapter, a chance to be more intentional. My health was right at the top of my mental bucket list. The weekend before we moved, I was talking to one of my best friends and, almost on a whim, I said: “Hey, I’m thinking of doing 75 Hard. Would you do it with me?”

If you’re not familiar, 75 Hard includes:

• two 45‑minute workouts a day (one has to be outdoors) 

• a diet you choose and stick to, no cheat days

• a gallon of water a day (that’s 128 oz)

• 10 pages of non‑fiction reading

• one progress photo every day

You might be thinking, “babes… one workout outdoors? It’s winter.” Yeah, I know. But KC said yes. One thing about KC: he’s always down, and I love him for that.

We were both on board, and later brought Deb into the challenge. We thought we signed up for a fitness challenge, without realizing it was more than that.

Five days in, I knew this was different

By day five, I was already surprised it wasn’t as hard as I’d built it up to be. Not because the workouts were easy, but because I wasn’t arguing with myself about them. Between the workouts and the book we decided to read (The Defining Decade), it became obvious that this challenge wasn’t really about getting in shape. So my curious mind started to wander and I looked into the history of 75 Hard, who created it, and why.

So… why 75 Hard?

Andy Frisella created 75 Hard because he was frustrated with “do your best” culture where people didn't actually do their best. His belief was that most people don’t fail because they’re incapable. They fail because they negotiate with themselves. “I’ll start tomorrow.” “I’ll make it up later.” “Just this once.”

75 Hard is designed to remove negotiation. Every rule exists to expose the excuses we make, the corners we cut, and the promises we don’t keep.

What the rules reveal

 I’ll keep it brief: 

• Two workouts a day force planning and follow‑through when motivation is low.

• One outdoor workout removes control. The weather, especially on the East Coast, doesn’t care about your feelings.

• A diet isn’t about the food. It's about making a decision and honoring it without loopholes.

• No alcohol removes an easy escape hatch.

• A gallon of water rewards consistency and fights off procrastination unless you want to pee through the night.

• Reading 10 pages trains focus and daily self‑investment.

• The progress photo gives you the opportunity to face yourself every day.

• The restart rule: miss one thing, start from day 0. Why? Because “mostly” is where promises quietly fall apart.

One week in...

I know it’s early, but even seven days has taught me a lot.

Motivation is unreliable.
I am not motivated to work out when it’s freezing outside but I’m doing it anyway. And oddly enough, I feel great once I find my rhythm.

Discipline is trained.
By day five, I noticed myself setting clearer boundaries. Going to bed earlier. Saying no to things that would sabotage my energy. Doing things I said I would do, even when it was inconvenient.

Confidence comes from kept promises.
This one surprised me. I’ve always liked a clean space, but in the past I’d tell myself I’d do the dishes in the morning. Now, if I say I’ll clean the kitchen at night, I do it. Keeping promises to myself is starting to feel like part of my identity.

What surprised me

75 Hard is about honesty, paying attention, and doing the small things consistently, even when no one is watching. I don’t know how this will change me by day 75. But I do know that seven days in, I feel more present, more sure, and more capable than I did before.

So, yeah. Just thought I’d share. Wish me luck. I’ll keep you updated 🤍