Day 23 of 75 Hard brought one of the toughest food challenges yet — college football game day! We had company over, and the temptation was at an all-time high. From queso dip to mini pigs in a blanket, it felt like a true test of discipline.

While I did enjoy some of the healthy, delicious options we made, I stayed committed and skipped the queso, pigs in a blanket, and even the drinks — though I won’t lie, I was seriously craving a crisp margarita or glass of wine. Watching everyone else eat, drink, and celebrate definitely gave me a little FOMO, but the satisfaction of sticking to my goals felt even better in the end.

As for my workouts, I got a little more creative today and spent part of my second workout playing laser tag outside with my kids. It ended up being a lot more of a workout than I expected — running, ducking, and laughing the whole time. It felt so good to be having fun and getting in some cardio at the same time. We followed it up with a yoga session to finish off the 45 minutes and wind down together.

Key Lesson of the Day: The hardest moments of temptation are often when your discipline grows the most.

📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff — https://jonacuff.com/do-over-2/
🧘‍♀️ Yoga with Adriene — YouTube Channel
🏃 Couch to 5K App — App Store
💪 Growingannanas — YouTube Channel
🎧 Andy Frisella — REAL AF Podcast
🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean — Spotify
🎧 Steal Like an Artist Audiobook by Austin Kleon — https://austinkleon.com/steal-audiobook-trilogy/

References & Links

⚡ Note: Sorry for the delay in episode uploads! I’m catching up on the technical side and will be releasing a larger batch over the next few days to get back on track.

Day 22 of 75 Hard felt like a smoother day overall. I managed to complete everything without too much trouble, which was a nice change of pace. Lately, I’ve been doing walks for both of my 45-minute workouts — great for staying consistent, but I’m starting to feel the push to challenge myself more and add variety.

Tonight also brought a reminder about balance. I chose to watch Harry Potter with my family before doing my final workout at 9pm. Not ideal timing, but sometimes the memories matter more. The important part is still showing up — even when it’s late, even when it’s not perfect.

Key Lesson of the Day: Balance doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly; it means continuing to show up for both your goals and the people you love.

📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff — https://jonacuff.com/do-over-2/
🧘‍♀️ Yoga with Adriene — YouTube Channel
🏃 Couch to 5K App — App Store
💪 Growingannanas — YouTube Channel
🎧 Andy Frisella — REAL AF Podcast
🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean — Spotify
🎧 Steal Like an Artist Audiobook by Austin Kleon — https://austinkleon.com/steal-audiobook-trilogy/

References & Links

Day 21 Recap: Today was a pretty average day — I managed to complete all of my tasks without too much struggle. But I’ve been thinking a lot about balance lately.

As much as I love this challenge, I’m constantly trying to figure out how to give it my all and still be fully present for my family. I find myself sacrificing bits of quality time to squeeze in workouts or finish my reading, and sometimes it weighs on me. I think this challenge hits differently when you have kids — it forces you to look hard at how you spend your time, who you give it to, and how often you truly prioritize yourself.

But I also believe that no matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in, we all have the time in our days to invest in ourselves. It just takes intention.

Key Lesson of the Day: Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📘 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

• 🎧 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 20 Recap: Today tested every ounce of willpower I’ve built so far. We went out as a family to celebrate my son’s birthday at Texas Roadhouse — and if you know, you know. Those endless baskets of warm, homemade rolls with cinnamon butter are dangerously good. Sitting there while everyone else devoured them was almost too much to handle.

But I stayed strong. I focused on my own plate filled with veggies, sipped my water, and reminded myself why I’m doing this in the first place. Small wins like this are what the challenge is all about — building that discipline muscle even when it’s uncomfortable.

Otherwise, it was a pretty average day. I pushed myself a bit harder and completed a Couch to 5K workout outside, which felt amazing. I’m also almost finished with my current book, Do Over by Jon Acuff, and already have my next one lined up — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I’m genuinely excited to dive into that one next.

Even though I’ve lost some weight, I’m holding off on checking my progress pictures until I’m halfway through. I don’t want to discourage myself if I don’t see a big difference yet — I’m trusting the process and staying consistent.

Key Lesson of the Day: Discipline means saying “no” even when the rolls are warm and the butter is sweet.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📘 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

• 🎧 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 19 Recap: Today was an office day, and I really crushed it! I fit in a solid lunchtime walk for my workout, packed healthy leftovers for lunch, and stayed on top of my water goal — most of it was gone before I even left work. I ended the night with my progress pic and some quiet reading time while my husband was reviewing his fantasy football waivers… whatever that means.

After work, a few coworkers and I went out to a local bar and grill for a rare get-together. It was my first night out with friends since starting the challenge, and honestly, it was tougher than I expected. Everyone else was ordering cocktails, cheese curds, and soft pretzels while I stuck with a healthier mocktail. Having something in my hand that looked like a drink helped, but it was still hard to match that same “night out” energy without alcohol.

Still, I left feeling proud. This challenge is about discipline, and tonight reminded me that I can still have fun and stay on track. It’s not forever — and the benefits I’m building are worth way more than one night of indulgence.

Key Lesson of the Day: Growth means learning to stay aligned with your goals, even when the environment doesn’t make it easy.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📖 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 18 Recap: Kind of a boring Monday overall, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need to stay consistent. I managed to complete all of my tasks today without much struggle — which honestly feels like a win.

Even though my physical book for the challenge isn’t Steal Like an Artist, I’ve been listening to it as an audiobook during my outdoor walks, and it’s been hitting me in all the right ways. One thing that really stuck out is how hard it can be to keep working at something when you’re not naturally good at it right away. That is so me. I tend to lose momentum when I’m not instantly great at something, especially when it comes to my artistic pursuits. That’s something I’m really going to work on — staying in that “amateur” mindset and giving myself permission to keep learning.

I was still feeling sore from all the digging and hauling I did yesterday, so I took it easier for my indoor workout — just walked on my walking pad and knocked out some work while I moved. The weather’s still super hot, but I’m reminding myself that winter is coming (any Game of Thrones fans out there?) and I should embrace the warmth while it’s here.

Key Lesson of the Day: Keep showing up, even when you’re not great at something yet. Consistency turns amateurs into artists.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 🎧 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 17 Recap: Today was a productive weekend day that left me feeling accomplished and strong. I decided to use both of my workouts to tackle an outdoor project—removing a stubborn tree stump. Between digging, pulling, and hauling dirt back and forth to fill in the hole, I got a solid full-body workout and definitely felt it everywhere.

Thanks to all that activity, getting my gallon of water in was no problem. I often struggle with motivation on the weekends after a long workweek, but today I felt a renewed sense of energy and focus. I did feel a little guilty about removing the tree though—my kids and I just watched The Lorax recently, and it definitely made me second-guess my decision.....

Food-wise, I brought back an old favorite—the burger bowl—which is simple, healthy, and always satisfying.

Key Lesson of the Day: Progress doesn’t always come from traditional workouts. Sometimes it’s about channeling your effort into real-life tasks that move both your body and your goals forward.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📖 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 16 Recap: Today was a family day at the zoo! It was full of quality bonding time—and all that walking definitely covered my outdoor workout. I got most of my tasks done early in the day, including reading and my indoor workout, which made the rest of the day more enjoyable.

I was tempted by a giant pretzel (who wouldn’t be?), but I stayed strong and said no. I can feel myself getting better at resisting temptation and sticking to my goals. I did have to chug my water once we got home, but overall, it felt like a smooth, successful day.

Key Lesson of the Day: Progress isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about building the mental muscle to say no, even when it’s hard.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📖 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

Day 15 Recap: Another challenging day with the kids home from school, but today I leaned into multitasking and made the most of every small pocket of free time. I read my 10 pages while waiting for pasta to cook, took my progress picture while the peas boiled, and simplified meals to reduce mental load.

During my indoor workout, I stayed productive by using my walking pad, hopping off every so often for squats, lunges, and pushups—turning a simple walk into a next-level workout while still getting work done. It wasn’t easy, but I proved to myself that even on the busiest days, I can still make progress.

Key Lesson of the Day: You don’t need perfect conditions—just small, intentional moments of effort that add up to big wins.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📖 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

  Fast Like a Girl book

Day 14 Recap: Today was tough. The kids were home from school while I was still working a full day from home, which is always a challenge since my husband works in the office. My youngest especially craves quality time with me and has a hard time leaving me alone, which made it even harder to balance work, parenting, and the added pressure of 75 Hard.

Tasks stretched across the entire day — I read my book in pieces over 14 hours, and water consumption was painfully slow. But despite the chaos, I still managed to complete everything. Moving forward, I know I’ll need a better plan for days when the kids are home, but for now, I’m proud of not letting the day get the better of me.

Key Lesson of the Day: On the hardest days, consistency matters more than perfection — even if it takes 14 hours to finish your reading.

References & Links:

• 📖 Do Over by Jon Acuff (official page)

• 📖 Steal Like an Artist (audiobook info)

• 🎧 75 Hard Daily Podcast by Jonathan McLean

• 🎧 REAL AF with Andy Frisella Podcast

• 🧘 Yoga with Adriene – YouTube Channel

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Apple Store)

• 📱 Couch to 5K App (Google Play)

• 🤸 @growingannanas – YouTube Workouts & Stretching

• 📱 75 Hard Official App – App Store

  Fast Like A Girl by Mindy Pelz (Amazon)