Credits: Social Media
Im not doing the 75 Hard Challenge, and you dont have to either
The new year is here, which means one thing – everyone is starting their 2024 fitness journeys. Now Im not about to badmouth all those ‘new year, new me’ people because Im one of them. With a trip to Ibiza this summer, Im definitely trying to hit the gym a little more and be the best version of myself, but theres one thing Im not doing – 75 Hard.
The 75 Hard Challenge is taking over social media right now. Everyone seems to be doing the viral health trend to kickstart their new year and TikTok and Instagram have been taken over by it. However, Im here to tell you that Im not participating and you dont have to either. You dont need to fall victim to peer pressure and there are loads of other ways to achieve your fitness goals.
What is the 75 Hard Challenge?
So, what actually is the 75 Hard Challenge? The program was created by entrepreneur Andy Frisella in 2019 and popularised in his 2020 book 75 Hard: A Tactical Guide to Winning the War with Yourself.
Its a 75-day challenge that involves completing a list of health and fitness tasks every day to better yourself and transform your mindset.
“If you’re looking for a new fitness program or challenge, this is not it,” the description says. “This is a program that can change your life … starting from the inside.”
“Are there physical changes? Yes! But trust me when I say the physical changes you see on the outside are a FRACTION of the results you can earn by completing 75 HARD.”
To complete the challenge, you have to do these six “non-negotiable” things every day:
- Follow a structured diet
- Complete two 45-minute workouts (one of them must be outside)
- Dont drink any alcohol
- Drink a gallon of water
- Take a daily progress photo
- Read 10 pages of a non-fiction book
Im not doing it, and you dont have to either
Theres no doubt that the program works and its an awesome way to lose weight, feel amazing and stay motivated.
One TikTok user claimed she lost 20 pounds and 5% of body fat, while another couple lost 45lbs collectively.
However, as 75 Hard has become the latest viral fitness trend, the extremity of the challenge has been somewhat lost.
Working out twice a day simply isnt achievable for many people like me, alongside work and other life commitments.
Similarly, drinking no alcohol, following a healthy diet and drinking a gallon of water for more than two months isn’t going to work for everyone.
The challenge’s official rules state that if you don’t do one or more of the tasks you must start again, prompting the feeling of failure.
Plus, youre not allowed to modify any of the tasks to suit you, because compromise is a negative decision pattern that “entrains into your life”.
There are other ways to get more active
So, heres my message to you: Dont feel like you have to participate in the 75 Hard Challenge just because everyone else is.
If you want to take on the challenge, thats brilliant – but dont fall victim to the social media peer pressure.
A more practical, beginner version of the program called 75 Soft is going viral if you fancy following a similar routine.
However, you dont have to start doing a fitness challenge at all this January if it doesnt feel right for your lifestyle.
You can achieve your goals by making healthier food choices and working out in your own time when it suits you.
Go for a run, set a water drinking goal, go to a Pilates class, take a stroll along the beach with a friend, swap out an unhealthy food.
Not doing 75 Hard doesnt make you a failure.
