I Started a 75-Day Fitness Challenge. This Is When I Started to See Results

"I was so unhappy with my body. I was uncomfortable and had no confidence at all," Shannen Gunning said, speaking about the moment she decided to turn her life around.

The 28-year-old was deeply unhappy about her appearance, which even left her feeling reluctant to go outside at times. While she could usually hide her feelings if she wanted to, the turning point was a family vacation in July, which left her with a deep sense of dread over wearing swimwear in front of people.

"We went on holiday, and we wanted to take the kids down to the pool," she told Newsweek. "I put on my bikini and felt so much anxiety about people seeing me like that. I knew when I got back home I had to change."

Gunning, who lives in Sydney, had trained in a gym before, but she struggled to stay motivated to keep going and ended up quitting before she could notice a real difference. But with her confidence at an all-time low, and her unhealthy habits spiraling out of control, this time she wanted to make it stick.

One of the key targets she set for herself was to remain consistent and dedicated, which meant working out every day as part of a 75-day challenge and sticking to a meal plan. She soon started to reap the rewards of her dedication and started sharing her journey on TikTok (@shannengunning). A clip showing what "63 days of consistency" looks like has gone viral, with more than 677,000 views.

"I was drinking most days, eating takeaways multiple times a day. I was extremely unhealthy and my mental health was struggling, which is why I knew I needed to do something," she said.

"I started doing two workouts a day, one of which was a 45-minute walk and the other would be either a weights session or a CrossFit-style class. Plus, I'd do Pilates once a week. Around the two-week mark, my fitness started to improve so I was able to train harder. Also, my mental health improved drastically, and I started my getting confidence back. I am now training six times a week, occasionally going for walks as well."

Overhauling her lifestyle quickly took Gunning from an Australian size 14 (U.S. size 10) down to an Australian size 10 (U.S. size 6). Along with her fitness routine, she began a meal plan in July, which allows her to eat 2,000 calories a day and has diminished any unhealthy cravings she once had. She has continued with it ever since. Not only was her lifestyle transformed, but her mindset was too.

When it's long-term results you're after, following a steady and sustainable workout plan is key. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that shedding 1 or 2 pounds a week is the healthiest way to lose weight, and people who lose it gradually are more likely to keep it off.

"I have two young children, so sometimes I just felt extremely tired and drained, but I knew I had to continue and use discipline to keep going," Gunning said. "I was forming habits and didn't want to stop because I knew if I took a couple of days off I would start to slip up."

Why Is It Important to Keep Workouts Consistent?

While many people starting a fitness journey might be eager at first, maintaining that level of willingness is the difficult part. It's common for people to sacrifice a workout if they're tired or if life gets in the way, but maintaining a level of consistency is vital, said physiotherapy expert, Kieran Sheridan, the co-founder of GulfPhysio.

He told Newsweek: "The most common bad habit is when you are too lazy to get out of bed and oversleep. One way to handle this is to start small. For 10 minutes every week, try to move a little, and once you get the hang of it, you can start using a dumbbell and begin doing other exercises."

Getting a gym buddy or partner is also an effective way to prevent you from becoming lazy because it forces you to get out and do a physical activity, according to Sheridan. "You can join an exercise class or try to join neighbors who jog around your village," he said.

If you find a workout that you enjoy, you will often be more motivated to do it rather than counting every second of a grueling routine you hate. Fitness should also be about enjoyment, so it has to work for the person.

"Schedule a fitness routine that works for your other activities," Sheridan said. "This is why most people let go of their fitness routine because they get busy with work or other hobbies. You can manage workouts by starting with the basics and adjusting them once you get more free time.

"If you do consistent workouts, your gradual intensity will prevent these from happening because you are building up your strength, flexibility and endurance. Your body can also handle more stress," he said.

'I Didn't Realize How Strong I Was Mentally'

Staying motivated throughout has given Gunning the confidence to share her story online, and she's generated quite a following on social media.

"I have learnt so much about myself. I didn't realize how strong I was mentally," she said. "I used to think things were too hard, so I'd just give up. Now, I know that if I keep pushing, I can get it done. I feel so proud of myself. I've also been such a good example for my children, which is so important.

"I have always shared quite a lot of my life on TikTok," she continued. "I also started to get hundreds of messages from people saying I inspired them, which made me want to share more. Some people don't believe that I've done it in such a short time, but in my opinion the people that don't have what it takes will always be the ones that doubt it can be done."

After going viral, Gunning's post received over 51,300 likes and hundreds of comments from people praising her commitment and hard work.

One comment reads: "I'm only on day 4, thanks for the inspo."

Another responded: "This is such an inspiration! You look absolutely incredible! From another mumma to another you should be so proud."

Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.