If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you already know the last few years have been anything but predictable. Life hasn’t followed a straight line. It’s been more like a winding road filled with moments that forced me to slow down, reflect, and rethink how I was living.
Over the past three years, I’ve been hospitalized six times. Just writing that sentence still feels surreal. Six hospital stays have a way of changing your perspective. They make you stop and ask yourself some hard questions about your health, your priorities, and the way you’re showing up for your own life.
At the same time, life kept moving forward. My family and I made a big move from the familiar streets of Chicago to the vibrant energy of Raleigh. I’ve watched my three daughters, Zyan, Zoey, and Zaya, grow into incredible young women, and those moments remind me every day just how quickly time passes.
Somewhere in the middle of building brands, managing SEO, writing blog posts, and trying to show up for everyone else, I had a moment of honesty with myself. I realized I had spent so much time taking care of everything and everyone around me that I hadn’t truly been taking care of the woman staring back at me in the mirror.
So on February 27th, I made a decision.
I drew a line in the sand and officially started my 100-Day Lock-In.
This isn’t just another challenge or quick reset. For me, it’s about reclaiming control over my health and committing to the next chapter of my life with intention. After everything my body has been through, this feels less like a fitness plan and more like a promise to myself.
The Roller Coaster That Led Me Here
This journey didn’t start this year. Back in June 2024, I committed to a three-year health transformation. I knew it would take time, patience, and a lot of consistency, but I also knew I was ready to change my life.
And let me tell you, the road hasn’t been smooth.
There have been incredible highs where I felt strong and motivated, and there have been lows where setbacks made the journey feel overwhelming. Hospital visits, recovery periods, and the emotional toll of navigating health challenges have all been part of the story.
But here’s what I’ve learned through all of it.
Setbacks don’t erase progress. They simply become part of the journey.
Right now, I still have 16 months left in my three-year plan, and I feel more focused than ever. Today I’m working my way down from 249.6 pounds, with my next major milestone set at 186 pounds.
Recently, I received the news I had been waiting and hoping for. My doctor gave me the official all clear to begin easing back into a more structured and consistent routine.
After six hospitalizations, hearing those words felt like someone opened a door I had been standing in front of for a very long time.
And now that it’s open, I’m walking through it.
The Structure Behind My 100-Day Lock-In
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout this journey is that guessing rarely leads to lasting change. Structure makes a difference. When I know exactly what I’m aiming for each day, it becomes much easier to stay consistent and focused.
My 100-Day Lock-In is built around a simple but powerful daily routine:
• 18:6 Intermittent Fasting
I fast for 18 hours and eat within a six-hour window. This schedule helps me stay mindful about my meals and gives my body time to rest and reset.
• 150 Grams of Protein Daily
Protein is a major focus for me because it supports muscle recovery and helps keep me full. As someone who leans heavily toward plant-based meals, reaching this goal requires intention and preparation.
• 35 Grams of Fiber Each Day
Fiber helps support digestion, gut health, and steady energy levels. When my nutrition is balanced, my body simply feels better.
• 15,000 Steps a Day
Walking has become one of the most important parts of my routine. Whether I’m walking through my neighborhood in Raleigh, moving throughout my day, or spending time on the treadmill, those steps keep me active and clear my mind.
• One Gallon of Water Daily
Hydration is simple but essential. Drinking enough water helps everything in the body function better, from digestion to energy levels.
None of these habits are extreme on their own. But together, they create a foundation that supports real progress.
Rethinking the Way I Fuel My Body
For most of my life, the Midwestern girl in me leaned heavily into comfort food. Big portions, rich meals, and recipes that had been passed down for generations were just part of everyday life.
Those traditions still mean a lot to me. But at 47 years old, I’ve started looking at my body in a very different way.
My body isn’t a storage unit.
It’s a temple.
That shift in mindset has pushed me to rethink how I approach food. Instead of focusing on heavy meals that leave me feeling sluggish, I’ve been experimenting with vegan, high-protein versions of the foods I love.
Some days that means swapping traditional pasta for high-protein lentil dishes. Other days it simply means choosing whole foods that fuel my body instead of slowing it down.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress.
The Mental Side of Locking In
If I’m being completely honest, the hardest part of this journey isn’t the protein goals or the step count.
It’s the mental discipline.
It’s waking up each day and deciding that the woman I’m becoming matters more than the habits that held me back before. It’s choosing consistency even on the days when motivation is nowhere to be found.
During this 100-day stretch, I’m also pushing myself mentally by scheduling two 72-hour fasts. Not because I want to punish my body, but because I want to strengthen my discipline and reset my relationship with food.
And as I move through this journey, I’m sharing the real experience with my readers. Not just the wins, but the challenges too.
The sore muscles.
The days when progress feels slow.
The small habits that quietly add up to something bigger.
Because the truth is, transformation rarely happens overnight. It happens one decision at a time.
A Second Chance I Don’t Want to Waste
After six hospitalizations, I see my health differently now.
The “all clear” from my doctor wasn’t just good news. It felt like a second chance.
This 100-Day Lock-In is about honoring that second chance. It’s about showing my daughters what perseverance looks like when life gets difficult. It’s about appreciating my husband Tim, who stood beside me through every hospital stay and every uncertain moment.
But more than anything, this journey is about me.
It’s about becoming the strongest, healthiest version of myself as I move into the next chapter of life. I want to enter my 50s feeling stronger than I did in my 20s, and for the first time in a long time, I truly believe that’s possible.
Are You Starting Over Too?
Life has a way of knocking all of us off track sometimes.
The important thing isn’t that you stumble. The important thing is that you decide to stand back up and keep moving forward.
I still have 16 months left in my three-year health journey, and I’m determined to make every one of those months count.
If you’re navigating your own reset right now, I’d love to hear about it.
What does your next chapter look like?
Share your thoughts in the comments. Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
What are your thoughts about My 100-Day Lock-In: Resetting My Health After Six Hospitalizations Please share in the comments below. I really would love to know.
Until next time, shine amongst the stars!
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After six hospitalizations, I decided it was time to lock in. My 100-Day Lock-In is about resetting my health, rebuilding my routine, and honoring the second chance my body has given me. Read my story and follow the journey. 💪✨ ❤️ #LavandaMIchelle