How My 75 Hard Transformation Inspired Me to Build a More Sustainable Challenge
- Meg Anderson
- Sep 28
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 6
Like many people, I first came across the 75 Hard challenge online during the COVID pandemic. It seemed like everyone was doing it- posting daily updates, before-and-after photos, and stories of how it was changing their lives. I was intrigued, and had always loved a good challenge. I was looking for structure, discipline, and a push to focus on self growth after graduating from college, so decided to tackle it in August '23 at the same time I was beginning my career in NYC Finance.
And I’ll be honest: 75 Hard transformed my life.
It gave me the discipline to move my body every single day, to abstain from alcohol among a heavy-drinking culture, to prioritize reading and personal development, and to prove to myself that I was capable of more than I had ever realized. It was the kickstart of my journey not just to fall in love with working out, but to ultimately become a NASM CPT and start my own fitness coaching and events business, Pink & Powerful. But that took months and years after Day 75. The day I finished the challenge had me wondering: what comes next?
Because while 75 Hard will teach you discipline in a powerful way, it’s also extremely rigid. There’s no room for rest, flexibility, or adjusting when life happens. If you miss just one task, you’re supposed to start completely over. While that is the whole point of the challenge, it felt unsustainable as a long-term approach to fitness (or self development in general).
In the months and years that followed, I started playing with my own self-created challenges. And eventually, the idea for 77 Aligned was born.
My 75 Hard Transformation
Doing 75 Hard while starting a brand-new, challenging chapter of my life was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. When my new life in NYC felt overwhelming and stressful, the challenge taught me to lean on fitness, reading, and inspiring podcasts instead of numbing out at the bars with friends. Even when colleagues poked fun at me for tracking my macros or ordering water at happy hours, I built the self-confidence to stay true to my goals. On the days I felt exhausted, I still drank the water, read the pages, and checked the boxes. That discipline became the foundation I needed to navigate post-grad life with strength and resilience.
But there were also downsides. Life isn't meant to be lived with every single day looking and feeling identical, and I started to realize that while I could push through for 75 days, I wanted something that would actually last. I didn’t want to feel like I “failed” if I had to miss a day because I was sick or if I chose rest because my body needed it. I wanted a challenge that not only built discipline, but also taught self-compassion and long-term alignment.
Why I Created 77 Aligned
Taking the elements I liked about 75 hard (habit-building and consistency) and leaving behind the extreme rigidity, I designed 77 Aligned: a challenge built for real life. Instead of the focus being “hard,” it’s about alignment with our higher, or best selves.
Living in alignment means building daily habits that connect you to your bigger vision, not just checking a box for the sake of it. It’s about learning more about who you are at a deep level, and making intentional choices that get you closer to becoming the best version of yourself- without demanding perfection every single day.
The number 77 came naturally: I love the magical aspect of repeated digits (also called angel numbers), and that 75 hard was a bit longer than the 66 days science says is needed to build a habit, just to really ensure things really stick.
Instead of being rigid, it’s designed to leave room for flexibility and grace. It’s about working on your mind, body, and soul in a way that makes sense for you, but there are no "rules" in terms of how to successfully finish the challenge. It's up to the needs and personal goals of each individual.
Something else that can be a struggle for many is the isolation that often comes with doing something like 75 Hard. That's why I created my 77 Aligned group coaching program that allows women to complete it together, so they have built in guidance, encouragement and support every step of the way.
77 Aligned encourages movement, mindfulness, and personal growth, but also allows room to listen to your body and adapt as needed. To me, that’s the real key to lasting change.
How to Create Your Own 77Aligned Challenge
You don’t have to follow someone else’s exact formula to change your life. In fact, the best challenges are the ones that are personalized for you and your goals. 77 Aligned allows you to choose the habits that will best serve you in whatever season of life you're in, and that lead to lifestyle changes that last long beyond "Day 77."
If you want to do your own 77 Aligned challenge, here's how to get started:
1. Choose 3 - 5 daily or weekly habits that support your mind, body, and soul.
Be sure to follow the "SMART" habit framework for good goal-setting: goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable (or Aligned!), Relevant, and Time-bound (this one's taken care of for you- 77 days.)
Examples could be:
Move your body 20 minutes a day (any style of workout)
Journal for 5 minutes in the morning or evening 5 times per week.
Read 10 pages of a personal growth book every day.
Take one aligned action step towards your dream career each day (send an email, make a linked in post, etc.)
Practice one act of self-care or mindfulness each day.
Spend phone-free time with a loved one twice a week for at least an hour.
2. Focus on progress, not perfection.
The goal isn’t to “never miss” but to show up with intention. If you need a rest day, take it - that’s part of alignment.
3. Add in reflection.
Challenges are about growth, not just discipline. Set aside time each week to check in with yourself. I personally like Sunday evenings to prep for the week ahead and reflect on the week behind.
Self-discovery prompts to guide your challenge:
What are my top 3 wins from this week?
How "aligned" did this past week feel? Are there any habits I want to increase or decrease the intensity of?
Which habits make me feel most like my best self?
If I wasn’t worried about what anyone else thought, what's a new hobby or skill would I most want to try right now?
How do I want to feel at the end of this challenge, and what small steps today will get me closer?
Creating a challenge this way gives you structure, but also the freedom to shape it around your real life.
Why Doing It Together Makes All the Difference
Here’s the truth: challenges are hard to sustain alone. Research shows that people are 65% more likely to achieve their goals when they share them with someone else, and that number jumps to 95% when there’s ongoing accountability/ check-ins (American Society of Training & Development).
That’s why community is at the heart of 77 Aligned. When you do this challenge alongside other women, you’re not just building habits- you're building deep connections and have the ability to learn from other women, cheer them on, and receive their support every step of the way.
What's more, our weekly group check-ins go far beyond “how’s it going?” I’ve designed a full 11-week curriculum that guides you through body, mind, and soul transformation. Each week, you’ll dive into topics like fitness and cycle-synced training, mindset shifts and journaling practices, personal budgeting and career alignment, and spiritual tools like meditation and visualization. To keep things fresh and inspiring, I also bring in guest speakers- women who are leaders in wellness, mindset, and professional growth- to share their expertise and give you new perspectives.
I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when women come together to support one another, and it’s one of the reasons I started Pink & Powerful in the first place.
How You Can Join
If you’ve been curious about challenges like 75 Hard but want something more realistic and empowering (and don't want to do it solo), I invite you to try 77 Aligned. You can do it on your own, following the principles I’ve shared, or you can join my guided group program, where you’ll get the added support of accountability, coaching, and community.
The next group 77 Aligned challenge begins January 1st, 2025, and you can join the interest list now to stay in the loop- no commitment required! [Join the waitlist here].
Final Thoughts
75 Hard was an incredibly effective launchpad for me, especially for my fitness and discipline journey. It proved what was possible when I committed fully to myself. It lead me to living an alcohol-free lifestyle and ultimately becoming a fitness coach. But it left me wanting something better as my next step, something that wasn’t just about living a life that was “hard,” but one that is aligned with my best self.
That’s how 77 Aligned came to life: as a challenge that helps you build discipline and sustainability, strength and compassion, structure and freedom.
If you’ve ever wanted to push yourself while also creating habits you can carry forward for life, 77 Aligned is for you, and I'd love to have you be a part of our next transformational journey!
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