We’re 38 days deep… deep deep. And honestly? I don’t think a single word exists that truly encapsulates what this challenge feels like. Going in, I thought the hardest part would be drinking a gallon of water a day. But every single day has thrown something new at me—a fresh challenge, a different resistance, and an even bigger reward.
Some days, the struggle starts right at 5 AM. I wake up, stare at my ceiling, and silently ask God, the universe, and literally anyone who will listen: What have I gotten myself into? Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I recite the mantras I committed to at the start of this journey and, reluctantly but inevitably, drag myself out of bed by 5:20 AM.
Some days, waking up early is the easiest part. Walking to the gym before sunrise feels peaceful, the streets are still, the doormen cheer me on, and yoga at dawn feels like a literal blessing. But then, the mental challenge sneaks up on me at 2 PM—when I’m craving that second cup of coffee and remember I can’t have it, or when picking up a nonfiction book feels like one more thing on top of endless research papers.
And then, there are the other days. The ones where I think… Why didn’t I do this sooner? How is everyone not doing this? (Usually, this is the post-1-hour-gym-sesh high talking, lol).
Regardless, as you can probably tell—this challenge is a cathartic rollercoaster.
But it’s also one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Everything I Know About Love & 75 Hard
Right now, my biggest takeaway isn’t even about the workouts, the discipline, or the gallons of water. It’s something I picked up from Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton.
After reading Atomic Habits, I wanted something a little less prescriptive—something real, something raw. And this book gave me exactly that. I cried, laughed, reminisced, and journaled my way through it, all because of the stories Dolly told.
More than anything, this book reminded me that the relationship we build with ourselves is the one that truly matters. 75 Hard is a challenge, sure, but at its core, it’s about learning to show up for yourself, even when you don’t want to. And I think that’s the real magic of it.
So if you take anything from this little reflection—it’s to go pick up that book.
And for much more coherent thoughts… watch the video below.
XOXO,
BT :)
