This post is all about 75 HARD before and after Day 30.
At the time of writing this post, I’m on day 33 of the 75 HARD challenge. In this post, I’m going to tell you all about my thoughts, feelings, and results that I am currently experiencing.
If you haven’t read my 75 Hard challenge review after 15 days, I would start there! I talk about what 75 HARD is, what the point of it is, and how I felt through my first 15 days of the challenge.
75 Hard Before And After Day 30
Here, I dive into each of the 75 HARD challenge requirements and tell you how I feel about each of them now that I am 30+ days into the challenge.
Two 45-Minute Workouts
Since one of the workouts has to be outside, I have started running and walking more in the mornings (especially walking).
I had no idea how much I would fall in love with my morning walks. Now, I wake up each day craving them. They are such a peaceful way to start my day and they make me so happy!
This has also been helping me get to the beach more (I live .5 miles from a beach in Florida), which I’ve really been enjoying.
While my outdoor workouts are typically walking and running, my boyfriend and I have started playing pickleball, too. We both LOVE pickleball and it is such a fun way for us to get exercise.
For my indoor workouts, I’m trying to prioritize weightlifting with the Whitney Simmons Alive App. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you are someone who wants to get into weight lifting, this is such a phenomenal app!
It’s easy to use, easy to understand, and really helps you get out of your comfort zone and have a bit more confidence when it comes to weightlifting.
I’ve seen great results with it so far. I want to keep with it long-term to become stronger and more toned.
I will say, though, that I’ve been struggling the last two weeks to get myself to the gym for my weight lifting workouts. I think I prefer cardio for working out (even though the results from weightlifting are so much better for my body, personally). Not sure – I’m hoping this is just a phase I get over soon!
I’ve also gone to Orangetheory, and tried a Fit Body Boot Camp class with a friend. That was so hard haha but a great workout. I also did a cycle class recently. I’m not a big cycle fan, but I can’t deny the fact that it’s a good workout.
View this post on Instagram
An example of my daily workouts during 75 HARD
This morning, for example, I walked on the beach for 45 minutes. Then, my boyfriend and I will play pickleball tonight!
Drink 1 Gallon Of Water
Drinking a gallon of water each day isn’t nearly as daunting as I thought it would be. If anything, it’s just something that you have to be mindful of throughout the course of the day.
If you’re not mindful of it, you will have to chug a half gallon around bedtime, which really stinks haha. This hasn’t happened to me exactly, but I have had to chug about 40 ounces before bed a few times, which isn’t ideal either.
The later you are drinking your water, the more likely you are to wake up in the middle of the night. I’ve woken up in the middle of the night to use the restroom almost every single day of 75 HARD so far. Not ideal, but it is what it is, I suppose!
Here is the water bottle that I use and love for 75 HARD:
Stick To A Diet
You get to choose your diet with 75 HARD, so I gave up the two things that I figured I struggled with most: sweets and fried foods.
I really thought I would struggle with this more. I was OBSESSED with sweets going into this challenge (like, daily runs to the gas station for lollipops, gum, candy, weekly ice cream runs, and dessert after dinner most nights, etc.) but there is something about this challenge that has squashed the temptation.
It’s odd – I have tremendous self-discipline when I’m being “challenged” (like with 75 HARD) but if it’s just me, myself, and I holding myself accountable, my self-discipline isn’t nearly as dialed in.
Anyway, I occasionally have thoughts like “I wish I could eat that ice cream cone that my boyfriend is eating” (lol) but the desires aren’t strong and they go away quickly.
I’ve already planned out my first sweet after I finish this challenge, though. I’m going to my favorite ice cream shop (Whit’s Frozen Custard) to get myself a medium whitser (it’s like a blizzard from Dairy Queen) with chocolate chip cookie dough bites and hot fudge. Only like 40 more days to go… lol.
No Alcohol Allowed
I haven’t had alcohol in 2023, and while I don’t really miss it, there are moments where I wish I could be drinking here and there. They are rare, though, and I think I have less of them as time goes on.
A lot of restaurants offer mocktails (or breweries offer non-alcoholic beers) which is really nice! If I don’t go for water right away, I’ll get a non-alcoholic drink, but I usually don’t get any more than that.
By the time I finish drinking that non-alcoholic drink I start thinking “what’s the point of this?”, “what exactly am I consuming?”, and “I don’t feel like spending money on another one of these…”, and I switch back to water haha.
I’m saving so much money because I don’t buy alcohol. Like, soooo much. And I’m so much more productive. If I go out with friends, I know I can come home and do a bit more work if I want to because I won’t be tipsy/drunk.
And the next morning, I get to feel like myself. No hangover, headache, hangxiety, etc. It’s really such a relief to not have alcohol in my life right now.
Sometimes I think, “what if I never drink alcohol again?”. It crosses my mind often and I haven’t made a decision on it yet, but I can see it happening. I can also see myself drinking again… so this is TBD.
10 Pages of Reading A Nonfiction Book
I’m currently reading “Effortless” by George McKeown and I’m really enjoying it. It’s all about taking the essential things that we must do in life and making them as easy as possible for ourselves.
If you are a perfectionist (or a recovering one lol) you will LOVE this book. It gives tips that you can easily apply to your own life. The recent tip I read was: if there is a project that you are working on, and you’re really overwhelmed by it, ask yourself, “what are the minimum steps required to complete this project?”.
This question will help you cut through the noise, pressure, and stress and help you focus on doing the absolute essential to get the project done.
Check out “Effortless” by George McKeown on Amazon:
Before “Effortless” I read “Meditations” by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. This book was packed with wisdom and I liked it a lot. My only struggle was that even though it’s been adapted since, it was written 2,000 years ago so the language was hard to follow at times.
Check out “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius on Amazon:
It was a really quick read, though, and I’m glad I read it. Especially since I really admire the teachings of Stoicism which was mainly what that book was about.
Progress Picture
The smartest thing I did was set up my tripod so I can just pop my phone in it every day and take a picture. This makes it so much quicker and easier especially on days where I just don’t feel like it lol. It takes me 10 seconds tops, now.
Here is the tripod that I use for my progress photos:
Side note – I love this tripod for many other things like taking videos of sunrises, filming content, and taking fun pics with my friends. It’s great!
75 HARD Tips
1. There is something to be said for sharing your journey on social media. I think there is some accountability that’s gained from not wanting people to see you “fail” (just being honest from a basic human-mind standpoint lol) but also when you show up each day and then post content about it, it’s a constant reminder to yourself of what your priorities are.
2. Try to finish your gallon as early in the day as possible. This isn’t easy, but the earlier you finish your gallon, the less likely you are to have to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
See my 15 Day review of 75 HARD for my other tips.
My 75 HARD Challenge Review After 30 Days
People always ask me, “what’s the hardest part about 75 HARD?”. I used to say the two workouts a day, but now, it’s just the fact that you have to be SO MINDFUL and intentional every single day for 75 days.
Some people may say that’s a great habit to get into, and I’d agree, but it’s also a little exhausting haha.
Some mornings I wish I could just wake up and not move my body, not chug water, not read, etc.
View this post on Instagram
Do I have any regrets about starting 75 HARD?
Absolutely not.
I am so glad I started. So glad I’m drinking more water, have more confidence, seeing physical changes, saving money, reading more, learning that I love my morning walks, getting to the beach more often, AND I think all of these things are rubbing off on my boyfriend, too lol.
I think he’s eating healthier, being more active, saving money, etc., also, which is great!
Someone on Instagram asked me some variation of the question, “do you feel like the energy it takes to do 75 HARD takes away from your energy to do other things in your life?” and my answer is: quite the opposite, actually.
Because I have to be so intentional with my time and because I’m getting in better shape, my increased intentionality and confidence is spilling over into other areas of my life.
For example, I’ve been very productive and focused with my work the last 30 days as compared to the previous 30.
Some days I’m definitely tired or sore. But I have been listening to my body, and when those days roll around, I do my own version of a recovery day which usually looks like a walk outside and yoga inside.
75 HARD is not a perfect challenge
I can see where some people would really struggle if they’ve had previous issues or problems with body image, etc.
I’ve been avoiding the scale the last few days. I find that it’s not really healthy for me to keep looking at it when it only changes ever so slightly.
Also, I hurt my knee about 6 months ago. I thought it was better healed by now, but I’m noticing that the running that I’ve been doing has been aggravating it. Hence why I’ve started walking more.
I think if you have struggled with your body, or if you are injured or hurt, that 75 HARD isn’t something you want to start.
If you do, you should check in on your mental and physical health each day to make sure that you are still going about 75 HARD in a way that is truly healthy for YOU.
My 75 HARD Challenge Results After 30 Days
Physical results
The physical results of 75 HARD have been really positive. I haven’t lost much weight at all (2 pounds) but I am more toned and have lost body fat. I also just feel less… puffy (especially in my face). I’m much more confident than I was before I started. My confidence was definitely dwindling before when it came to how I felt about my body.
While I’m not eating sweets and fried foods, I’m still eating the same amount of calories that I was before, and I think that explains part of the reason why I haven’t lost much weight.
I’m not tracking my calories (I’ve never been very good at that) and I’m happy with the changes I’m seeing despite the number on the scale staying relatively the same.
I believe it comes down to the fact that the quality of my calories are so much better. While I’m still eating quite a bit of carbs (that’ll never change lol), eliminating sweets and fried foods has me consuming a lot less sugar and fat and a lot more protein.
In summary – I’m seeing body composition changes. As in, changes in body fat and muscle tone.
75 hard before and after Day 30 progress picture:
Mental results
I will say – 75 HARD has helped me save SO much money. Why is this a mental result? Because I’m currently at a point in my life where spending less lowers my stress levels.
I’m much more confident, like I said before.
I’m proud of myself for pushing through, even on days where I don’t feel like it.
And in general, I’m happy I started this challenge even though every day I think about how much longer I have to go lol.
More 75 Hard Tips
Make sure to read my tips if you are going to try 75 HARD for yourself:
- 27 Crucial Tips For Surviving The 75 Hard Challenge
- 20 Best Book Recommendations For The 75 Hard Challenge
- 75 Hard Challenge Review After 45 Days
- 75 Hard Challenge Workout Ideas For Guaranteed Results
In these posts I talk about the 20 best book recommendations for 75 HARD, as well as workout ideas and crucial tips in general so that you can get through 75 HARD successfully.
This post was all about 75 HARD before and after Day 30.
Other posts you might like:
75 HARD Challenge Rules and Review After 15 Days (2023)
Orange Theory Review and 8 Tips – BEGINNER 2023
10 Insanely Helpful Orange Theory Tips
