If Things Feel Hard Right Now — Good.

Dec 28

This month has been one for the books.

Suddenly it’s the end of the year. I’ve spent more time at basketball courts than anywhere else. Our family is living off crockpot meals. The Google calendar is full — aggressively full — and honestly? That’s just real life right now.

And I know I’m not the only one.

A few weeks ago, my son Connor came home from Cyclocross Nationals. He started strong. He fought his way up to fourth place. And then — between adrenaline, fear, and fatigue — he tanked.

Hard.

It wasn’t the ending anyone hoped for. And here’s the part that matters most: we didn’t soften it.

We didn’t say, “It’s fine, it doesn’t matter.”
We didn’t sugarcoat it.
And while this one stung — we also didn’t let it turn into a reason to quit.

Because growth doesn’t happen when things go perfectly.
It happens when you’re disappointed… and choose to show up again anyway.

And if you think about it — that lesson doesn’t just apply to a 15-year-old on a bike.

It applies to women staring down a new year feeling tired, frustrated, and wondering why they didn’t make more progress than they wanted to.

Progress Requires Discomfort — Not Perfection

During a recent workout, FASTer Way Founder & CEO Amanda Tress said something that stuck with me:

“You have 16 more days in 2025 to experience progress — but pain is required for progress.”

Not injury pain. Not punishment.
The kind of discomfort that shows up as:

A workout you don’t feel like starting
Sore legs that remind you you did the thing
The realization that you didn’t show up how you planned this year

And here’s the part no one likes to hear:
That discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It usually means you’re right where progress starts.

Most people quit right here. Not because they can’t do it — but because they expected it to feel easier.

My Reset Era (And Why I’m Done With Quick Fixes)

For years, I was that person.

“This is the year I lose weight.”
“This is the year I get consistent.”
“This time will be different.”

Sometimes it was… until it wasn’t.

I’ve done extreme diets. I’ve lost weight fast. And I’ve paid for it — hormonally, metabolically, mentally. One approach even landed me in emergency surgery and years of gut issues.

Lesson learned: fast results are expensive.

That’s why I don’t coach punishment-based resets.
And why I don’t believe in “burn it all down and start over” energy.

In 2025, my biggest wins had nothing to do with the scale.

I lifted heavier than I ever have.
I committed to advanced workouts.
I stayed consistent through chaos.
I rested when my body demanded it — without guilt.

And yes — I’m still working on push-ups.
Still not perfect.
Still progressing.

That’s real life fitness.

What 2026 Is Actually About

2026 isn’t about starting over.
It’s about continuing — smarter.

It’s about structure that works when:

Your kids have back-to-back games
Dinner needs to happen fast
Hormones feel unpredictable
Motivation is hit or miss

You don’t need more willpower.
You need a plan that works inside real life — not one that collapses the second things get busy.

That’s exactly why my January 5th round is built the way it is.
And why the format matters.

Not Ready to Go All-In? Start Here.

Not everyone is ready to jump into a full program.
And that’s okay.

That’s why MINTFit Monthly exists.

It’s for women who want:

Monthly guidance
Structure without pressure
Accountability without guilt
Support that doesn’t talk down to you

It’s the easiest way to stop drifting and start building momentum — without waiting for the “perfect time” (spoiler: it doesn’t exist).