75 Hard Prep Checklist: What to Do the Week Before Day 1
The 8-step prep checklist
1. Get baseline bloodwork (1 week before)
At minimum: ferritin, vitamin D, TSH, complete metabolic panel. Treat any low values before starting. Women under 30 ng/mL ferritin will struggle through 75 Hard's training load.
2. Buy the minimum gear
- 1-gallon water bottle
- A nonfiction book you're actually excited about
- Outdoor walking shoes (if you don't already have them)
That's it. Resist optimization fatigue. Day 1 is the wrong day for new gear.
3. Pre-decide your modifications
Don't wait for the moment to negotiate with yourself. Decide now:
- Menstrual days: drop water to 3 L, swap second workout for a walk
- Luteal week: gentler second workout, sleep 8+ hours
- Travel: hotel-gym + outdoor walk plan
- Bad weather: indoor workout substitution
Save this list in your phone notes. Reread it on Day 3 (the highest-quit day).
4. Set up your Day 1 photo spot
Same wall, same lighting, same outfit, same time. Take a test photo the day before Day 1 to lock the framing.
5. Plan your two workout windows
Block them on your calendar — both. The most common 75 Hard failure mode is "I'll find time later." You won't. Pre-block.
6. Invite 2–3 accountability friends
Group challenges finish more often than solo. Friends don't need to do the same mode — just see your daily updates. The Reset 75 app makes this easy with real-time friend feeds.
7. Pick your start date
Monday or 1st of the month. Sundays have the lowest completion rate historically — your first workout day is Monday, when motivation drops.
8. Set up your tracker
You can do 75 Hard pen-and-paper, but the Reset 75 app saves ~5 minutes per day on tracking and gives you the daily photo prompt, water tracker, and reading log automatically.
What to skip
- Don't watch other women's 75 Hard transformation videos pre-Day 1. Comparison will sabotage you.
- Don't buy a meal-prep service unless you already meal-prep.
- Don't aggressively cut calories pre-start. Build the habit first.
Day 1 morning routine
- 6:00 AM — wake, drink first glass of water
- 6:15 AM — Day 1 photo
- 6:30 AM — first workout (outdoor walk if 75 Hard)
- 7:30 AM — breakfast
- Evening — second workout, 10 pages reading
- Before bed — log the day in Reset 75
Free Her 75 prep PDF
Download the printable Her 75 rules PDF → — covers all three intensities and includes a prep checklist on the back.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to buy before starting 75 Hard?+
Minimal essentials: a 1-gallon water bottle (any brand), a nonfiction book (10 pg × 75 = 750 pages), outdoor walking shoes if you don't have them, your usual workout gear. Don't buy new clothes you haven't tested — Day 1 is the wrong day for new gear.
Should I get bloodwork before 75 Hard?+
Yes — ferritin, vitamin D, TSH (thyroid), and a complete metabolic panel. Women starting 75 Hard with low ferritin or low D will struggle through the program. Treat any deficiencies before Day 1.
Ready to start your 75 days?
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