On January 13th, 2026, I started 75 Hard, the medium version.

Today is Day 40.

I’m halfway through, and I’m 20 pounds down.

That still feels a little surreal to type.

But what’s changed the most is not just my body. It’s my discipline.

I didn’t start this because I hated how I looked. I started because I was tired of feeling inconsistent. I was tired of saying I wanted more for myself but not fully following through. After everything this past year held for me, the loss, the rebuilding, starting a new career, stepping into a completely different season of life, I needed something that grounded me. Something that depended only on my effort.

So I committed.

For me, 75 Hard means reading 10 pages every single day. It means following a structured diet. Mine is a calorie deficit with high protein, around 150 grams a day. It means no alcohol, and I’ve actually been sober since January 1st, 2026. It means five workouts a week for about an hour and a half. It means drinking enough water and making sure I sleep at least seven hours every night.

Nothing extreme. Nothing flashy. Just structure.

Some days I feel strong. Some days I feel tired. Some days I am on the incline at 8.5 reminding myself that showing up is enough. Some days I push the StairMaster and surprise myself. Some days I lift and realize I am stronger than I was a few weeks ago. And some days I go simply because I said I would.

Twenty pounds down is real. My clothes fit differently. I feel lighter walking into rooms. My stamina is better. My recovery is better. I am fueling my body instead of fighting it. I am not starving myself. I am not chasing something unrealistic. For the first time, this feels sustainable.

The biggest shift has been mental.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking if I was going to work out and started asking what time I was going. I stopped debating whether I would drink and just decided I don’t. I stopped negotiating with myself.

There is something powerful about keeping promises to yourself.

And I want to say something honestly.

If you feel uncomfortable in your body, if you feel low energy, if you feel frustrated every time you look in the mirror, you are allowed to change that. You are allowed to want more for yourself. You are allowed to take ownership instead of waiting for motivation to magically appear.

No one is coming to save you. But that is actually empowering.

You get to decide.

It does not have to be 75 Hard. It does not have to be extreme. It just has to be consistent. Small habits. Repeated daily. Long enough to change you.

Being sober this year was not some big announcement. I just started January 1st and kept going. The clarity has been unreal. Better sleep. Better recovery. Sharper focus. I feel like I am operating at full capacity, and that confidence carries into every other area of my life.

There is no dramatic before and after yet. No big reveal. Just 40 quiet days of showing up.

And that is what is changing me.

Halfway through this challenge, I do not just feel lighter physically. I feel stronger mentally. More grounded. More in control. More aligned with the version of myself I keep talking about becoming.

Forty days down. Thirty five to go.

If you have been waiting for a sign to start, this is it.

Pick one habit. Commit to it for 30 days. Stop negotiating with yourself. Keep the promise.

You deserve to feel strong in your own life.

– Aileen 🤍