I want to pose a simple question that could change everything:

Not a week. Not a month. But one full year to focus on the one thing you’ve been wanting to do for yourself. 

Your health, your energy, your strength, your confidence.

I asked myself this question in April 2024 when I decided it was time for a major reset. I wasn’t feeling like me anymore. I had gained weight. I felt off track. I didn’t feel strong, confident, or energized and I knew I needed to make a change.

So I gave myself a year. Just one year.

My goal? Lose 50 pounds of body fat. Not with a crash diet, not with extreme workouts, but with daily habits I could stick to. I didn’t shout it from the rooftops. I didn’t even tell most people. I just made the commitment quietly and started showing up.

And here’s the result: By April 2025, I had lost 35 pounds. I didn’t hit the 50, but I wasn’t mad about it. That’s 0.75 pounds per week, and I was proud. Most importantly, I felt like myself again.

People started noticing. But more than the number on the scale, they noticed me. They said, “You look like Heather again.” And I thought, “Yeah. I feel like Heather again.”

In June 2025, I turned 48. And I decided that this next year, Level 48, was going to be about continuing the work I had started.

I call it Operation Fit AF. Not just physically strong, but mentally strong. Spiritually grounded. Focused. Consistent.

It’s not about aesthetics or getting “shredded.” It’s about building a body and life I can feel proud of now and at 80, 90, or 100.

I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon. I’ve done bodybuilding competitions and triathlons. I love doing the things. And I want to keep doing them for decades to come.

I got the idea of “one year” from a mentor back when I was training to be a teacher in Wisconsin. She told me:

“Each school year, just focus on one thing. Get really good at it.”

That advice stuck. And I’ve used it throughout my life, from earning a PhD to making big career shifts.

Because here’s the truth: The time is going to pass anyway.
You’re going to be 40, 48, 55, 61 either way. So why not be fit AF while you’re at it? 

I started posting about Operation Fit AF on TikTok and Instagram, and women started replying:

This is not about age. This is about levels. Whatever level you’re at, you can join me.

I’ll be sharing daily videos, longer podcasts like this one, and blog posts like this to help inspire and support you as you build your own strong, balanced life.

Because this isn’t just about the scale. This is about you, feeling like yourself again.

That’s what Yoga Strength Academy is all about. And that’s what Operation Fit AF is about too.

If this speaks to you, let me know what level you’re at. Follow me on Instagram or TikTok @HeatherMonthie. Or leave a comment below and tell me:

What would change if you gave yourself a year?

Let’s find out, together!