Healthy habits are the main topic of the new year. I guess you could say I am doing a soft version of the 75 Hard challenge. The rules are basically this: every day you complete the following; consume 1 gallon of water, do 2 workouts ( at least 45 minutes each, 1 has to be outside), read 10 pages of a book (suppose to be personal development), follow a diet (can be anything you want), and take a daily progress picture. Yeah sounds hard right, that’s kinda the point. Well, I can’t commit to that scale of a challenge right now so I have started a *soft* version. Also, the idea is to do this challenge for 75 days but I am more adopting these changes as a lifestyle.

Here is what I am doing daily: consuming 1 gallon of water, doing 1 45+ minute workout (if I get to squeeze in an outside walk I am doing that as a bonus), reading 10+ pages of a book, my ‘diet’ is intermittent fasting (I am doing the 16:8), and taking the daily progress photo (when I remember). It has been very doable (minus the week I was fighting Covid). It also helps that my sister is doing this with me!

I have made these healthy changes this month because, well, it’s the beginning of the new year but also because we are starting the process of having baby Garrison #2 so I am doing everything in my power to help make it happen! I feel like I live a fairly healthy life already. Honestly, I drink a freaking ton of water and only the occasional sprite or sweet tea. I try to work out every day that I can. I am intentional about the food I put in my body. But there are things that I can always do better. So as a way of sharing and keeping myself accountable I thought I would talk about those changes here.

Mental Health

One thing that I am focusing big time on this year is my mental health. IVF, on top of everything else, can be a huge mental battle. I am taking my mental health more seriously this time around because of a few different reasons. 1. I experienced anxiety really for the first time after I had Brinley. I want to make sure that I have a really strong foundation going into this transfer. 2. Regardless of what I am going through I have to show up for my family. I don’t want to let any stress or overwhelm affect how I am around my husband and my daughter. They deserve the very best version of me. So this requires me to take my health, and mental health into my own hands and do everything I can control because there is a lot out of my control during this process.

So I already mentioned that I drink a ton of water all day long but I was curious how much I actually drink and I am shocked. I set a goal to drink half my body weight in water every day and then bought a gallon-sized jug to help me track it. Well, let’s just say I crush that jug by like 3 pm. Needless to say, I am not worried about my water intake at all. I am always thirsty so I literally always have water with me. Hopefully, that isn’t a sign of an underlying issue. *nervous laugh*

The daily workout is my favorite part. I love to work out anyways but especially if it is part of a challenge. I have recently started going to a kickboxing class and it is amazinggg! So much sweat, so many burned calories, so much fun! If you live in the Greenville area and want to check it out, let me know. I can get you the hook-up! I also have been doing my at-home Beachbody workouts as well as runs and walks.

My second favorite part is the reading! I love to read and had put it on the back burner when I had Brinley so it has been so nice getting back into it! I have already finished my first book of the year. I’ve made it a habit to read before bed. It is a nice way to settle down after a busy day. And it stops me from mindlessly scrolling, which is TERRIBLE to do right before bed.

The diet thing is a whole new world for me. I usually don’t have enough self-control for diets, but Becca suggested we try intermittent fasting, and here we are. The hard part is making it to 11 pm before I eat anything. I am a big breakfast eater so it has been rough. But the 7 pm cut-off has been SO good for me! We usually don’t eat dinner until around 6:30 and by the time we all get done, it is 7 am I don’t have time to eat dessert. It has definitely helped cut back on my sugar intake! I was kinda addicted to sugar before starting this so there is already a win!

Other Healthy Changes

Besides the soft 75 hard stuff I have been following a plan to read the New Testament in a year and it has been so great! I do it on the Bible app and I have been loving it! I have also started writing out scripture in an effort to memorize more! Another change I made this year was taking control of the content I am consuming. I am going for less social media, more newsletters, and blog posts. It has been fun!

I gotta know, have you tried the 75 Hard challenge? Or anything similar to it? Let me know in the comments! Anyways, I will update you as the year goes on! Stay healthy my friends!