Can you believe it? In just 75 days, our lives did a complete 180! We dropped weight, felt energized, and built rock-solid habits! We’re total believers in the 75 Hard Challenge, and we’re cheering you on to give it a shot too!
Whether you’re ready to reboot your life or stick to those New Year’s resolutions, this challenge is the real deal!
What is the 75 Hard Challenge?
The 75 Hard Challenge, started in 2019 by Andy Frisella, has gone viral, racking up over 15 million views on TikTok, with the hashtag #75hardchallenge soaring past 1 billion views. This challenge is all about building mental toughness and discipline through six strict lifestyle rules. It’s worth mentioning that while it can lead to weight loss, it’s not just another workout challenge or weight loss program.
What’s in This Post
The rules are straightforward: follow these guidelines for 75 consecutive days without any breaks or cheats. If you skip or cheat, you’re back to day one of your journey.
The 75 Hard Variations: 75 Soft and 75 Medium
The 75 Hard Challenge is all about boosting mental strength, and let’s face it, the rules are tough! Just think about committing to 1.5 hours of exercise every single day, rain or shine. But hey, sometimes those strict rules are what we need, right? Still, there are milder versions out there that can also help you level up in self-improvement and discipline.
The 75 Soft Challenge
The 75 Soft Challenge is a fantastic way to boost your mental resilience without completely shaking up your daily routine. It’s pretty chill, with just five rules that are easy to commit to. Think of it like setting New Year’s resolutions—simple, doable, and great for personal growth.
The 75 Medium Challenge
The 75 Medium is like a middle ground between the 75 Hard and 75 Soft challenges. You’ve still got those lifestyle rules to navigate, but they’re a bit more flexible. One cool thing about the 75 Medium Challenge is that it often includes a meditation component in the rules, which we think is a well-rounded approach to self-improvement.
Why do the 75 Hard Challenge?
Here are our reasons for taking on the 75 Hard Challenge:
- Establishing Healthy Habits
We’re all about starting things but not always sticking with them. We know what works for success, but sometimes we just lack the drive to make real changes. The 75 Hard challenge is our chance to finally nail down those healthy habits we’ve been talking about forever. It’s time to turn talk into action and level up our lives for good!
- Personal Growth and Learning
The lifestyle rules of the 75 Hard challenge are seriously going to test our limits, and that’s exactly what we need for personal growth. Just picture it: reading 10 pages of a non-fiction book every single day. That’s 750 pages of knowledge to fuel our minds!
- Improved Health and Fitness
Now, let’s talk about diet and exercise. While the 75 Hard challenge isn’t marketed as a fitness challenge per se, there’s no denying the inevitable physical changes that come with following the diet, exercise regimen, and drinking a gallon of water daily. Saying no to alcohol also comes with its own set of health benefits, which we’re totally on board with for this challenge. We’re excited to see improvements in our overall health and fitness as we tackle this challenge head-on!
- Personality Development
We’re drawn to the promise of building discipline and mental toughness that this challenge offers. The all-or-nothing consequences of sticking to the rules will push us to develop commitment, consistency, grit, discipline, and accountability, to name a few. Over the course of 75 days, there’s plenty that can happen, especially with Calgary’s unpredictable weather potentially throwing obstacles our way for outdoor activities. Despite the potential hurdles, this challenge will motivate us to persevere and overcome any obstacles that come our way, driving us towards our goals.
- Establishing a Routine
We saw the 75 Hard challenge as an opportunity to embrace a structured routine that could keep us centered and focused, especially during chaotic periods. For us, routine isn’t just about going through the motions—it’s a way to automate our habits and ground ourselves in a ritualistic practice. In the whirlwind of our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in monotony and feel like we’re stuck in a never-ending loop. But by committing to this challenge, we’re determined to break free from that cycle and thrive.
Watch Out: Things to Keep in Mind for This Challenge
While this challenge may seem risk-free, it’s crucial to consider the following precautions.
- Chat with fitness pros and your doctor upfront
Before diving into this challenge (or anything similar), it’s smart to touch base with your doctor and some fitness gurus. Changes in diet and exercise can shake things up, so it’s key to make sure you’re on the right track. While the challenge gives you the freedom to pick your diet, keeping it balanced is key. Plus, ramping up your workouts could backfire if you’re not careful, so it’s best to get some expert advice beforehand!
- Gear up mentally and emotionally
This challenge is seriously tough—just the title says it all! With all the restrictions, things can get pretty intense, especially once you’re knee-deep in it. Not only do you have to gear up physically for those two workouts, stick to a diet, and stay hydrated, but you’ve also got to prep mentally and emotionally. Trust us, this challenge can stir up a whole bunch of feelings, especially when temptation comes knocking and you’re pushing yourself to the limit.
The challenge is really hard, yo. I don’t think I can make it without Nick. What is particularly challenging is attending celebrations with diet restrictions. Friends have also been supportive with this challenge. With challenges like this, I find that it is important to surround yourself with great and supportive people. It just makes things more manageable and tolerable.
Eartha
- Beat fatigue and burnout with a game plan
This challenge is no joke—it’s all or nothing, with no cheat days allowed. Break a rule and it’s back to square one. Plus, loosening up defeats the whole purpose of building discipline and mental toughness. So, it’s crucial to find ways to unwind and recharge to avoid burning out. For us, teaming up and staying accountable to each other adds a fun twist and keeps things interesting.
Our Take on the 75 Hard Challenge
Since this challenge has gained popularity online, we thought, why not give it a shot? Nick, someone who’s always eager to push himself, dove straight into the 75 Hard Challenge. Meanwhile, Eartha opted to tweak hers a bit—she skipped the photo-taking part and adjusted her workout routine to 30 minutes indoors and 30 minutes outdoors. We set ourselves to follow each and every rule for 75 days (about 11 weeks).
We chose to kick off the challenge on October 1st and wrap it up on December 15th, just in time for the holiday season. As part of our preparation and setting ourselves up for the challenge, we both sat down to discuss which books to read, what diet plan to follow and which workouts to incorporate.
We finally dove into those books we’d been putting off. Nick opted for Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, while Eartha delved into The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. As for our diets, Nick said goodbye to white rice and white bread, while Eartha steered clear of sweets and desserts. We also made a pact to cut out junk foods and anything “instant.”
We’re not big drinkers. Nick has been alcohol-free for over a year now, and Eartha only drinks on occasion. So, we figured skipping alcohol wouldn’t be a problem. However, downing a whole gallon of water might be a stretch for us, since we’re not accustomed to drinking that much.
Nick, who rarely used his Peloton bike before the challenge, integrated it into his indoor workout routine, taking 45-minute classes. Meanwhile, Eartha chose virtual classes through the Nike App for her indoor workouts. For our outdoor workouts, we stuck to brisk walks, making the most of Calgary’s beautiful fall weather.
Our Progress Update
Day 1 to Day 7: Full of Enthusiasm
The first week kicks off with a ton of excitement! We’ve got our water bottles, workout gear, and books all set to go. The exercises, both indoors and outdoors, went pretty smoothly. Diet-wise, we’re doing okay. The only struggle? Trying to gulp down all that water—we’re not used to it! But hey, we nailed those 10 pages without breaking a sweat!
Day 8 to Day 14: The Real Challenge Begins
The real challenge hit us hard in week 2, around day 8. Suddenly, our bodies were feeling the strain from non-stop workouts, and we were hit with a time crunch we hadn’t anticipated! The exercises started feeling like a chore, eating into our precious time. Plus, finding time for reading became a struggle. But by day 14, we found a solution: reading before bed, giving us a screen-free break and a chance to unwind.
Day 21: Forming New Habits
You know what they say, habits form in 21 days. And by day 21, we were starting to believe it’s true. Following the 75 Hard rules became more automatic, requiring less conscious effort. However, during this time, we were still struggling to fit in our workout schedule, especially the outdoor one. Mornings were too sluggish for us, and after-work walks felt exhausting, especially for Nick.
Then, a breakthrough! Nick found a way to squeeze in a walk during his lunch break, while Eartha decided to hop off at a farther bus stop and walk home instead. Having this tweak gave us additional time in the evening for personal time, making our days feel even more balanced.
Day 23: A Snowfall Surprise
Just when we thought we had it all figured out, Day 23 brought Calgary’s first snowfall, catching us completely off guard during our outdoor walk! It was a nightmare! The roads were treacherous, as most people hadn’t switched to winter tires yet. Plus, we weren’t prepared with our thicker jackets and accessories to keep us warm.
We ended up braving the cold walk, but we were chilly and pretty frustrated.Lesson learned: from then on, gloves, toques, and scarves became our constant companions. But, as they say, this was just the beginning of an even tougher journey ahead in the challenge.
Day 30: Reality Check
A month into this challenge, and regret starts to sneak in. Especially after the snowfall, we kept wavering on whether we’d made the right decision. It was honestly getting tougher; while we felt generally better, tangible results weren’t yet in sight. Plus, managing the diet was becoming more challenging, especially when it came to finding places to eat out or go on dates.
Also, we were able to figure out how to pace our water intake so we don’t feel overwhelmed. We decided to take a liter just before leaving our places to go to the office. Another liter we would consume during the first half of our time in the office, and the remaining half in the afternoon. The last liter of water we would drink in the evening, right about when we are home, to finish our gallon.
If you’ve ever lived in Calgary, you’d know that the first snowfall signals even chillier days ahead. Needless to say, outdoor walks have also become more challenging. We’ve had to bundle up to brave the cold, even though we’d rather stay cozy indoors. But hey, we know it’s necessary, so we press on!
Day 37: The Halfway Mark
The long-awaited halfway mark has arrived, and there’s no turning back now. We’re fully committed. During this time, we make sure to keep each other accountable and motivated. Social support has been crucial for us. Nick even turned walking into part of his hangouts with friends! We honestly don’t think we could have made it this far without the support.
Day 49: Holiday Temptations
Ah, the holiday season — a whirlwind of goodies and sweets like chocolates, cakes, candies, chips, and wine, all tempting us at every turn in the workplace. And there we were, trying to dodge all these delicious treats because we were sticking to a diet. What a bummer!
It was tough being in this challenge during this time; we didn’t feel like we could fully enjoy the holiday season. We survived, though, fueled by sheer determination!
Day 68: Bitter-Sweet Feeling
Eartha’s instructor once said that you’d start appreciating change at day 68. Well, it was on day 68 that we finally found ourselves enjoying all the rules of the challenge. No more effort—everything just came naturally. And guess what? We started seeing results! What a cliche, right?
At this point, we were even discussing how much we would miss the challenge, which was unthinkable just a few weeks ago. We’re beginning to appreciate how much mentally stronger we’ve become and how we’re better equipped to handle temptations. Plus, we’re seeing physical results too! Nick is shedding weight, and Eartha doesn’t get as fatigued during long walks.
In terms of our diet, we’ve fully adapted to Nick avoiding white carbs, and we’ve completely cut out desserts. We’ve found ourselves naturally gravitating towards healthier choices, incorporating more fruits and vegetables to satisfy our sweet cravings.
Plus, we’ve already polished off the books we were reading and have even started a new one! It’s incredible how just a few pages can keep you hooked. Non-fiction books can be a challenge to get through, but committing to 10 pages a day has made it much more manageable and enjoyable.
Day 75: The Finish Line
Achievement unlocked! We’ve officially completed the 75 Hard Challenge! What a journey it’s been. It was undeniably tough, but oh-so-worth it!
We’ve decided to stick with some of the rules, like regular exercise, our daily walks, and making time for reading. It’s incredibly satisfying to see these habits solidify, especially since they’ve been on our New Year’s resolutions list for so long.
Our Progress Summary
Here’s Our Suggestions
Overall, despite the rough weather halfway through, we’re thrilled we made it. We’re planning to take on this challenge again, maybe in the summer when the weather is more favorable. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes, especially with all the food fairs and Stampede happening during that time.
We’re also aiming to make things more systematic and explore additional outdoor exercise options. Plus, we’re hoping to do it with more people this time around, knowing how much easier it is to stick to the rules when you have support.
If you’re considering taking on the challenge, whether it’s the 75 Hard or any of its variations, here’s a suggestion you might find helpful:
- Develop Systems to Track Your Progress
Find a way to keep track of your progress, whether it’s a tracker or systems to integrate the challenge rules into your daily life. 75 days is a long time—about 2.5 months—so it’s easy to lose track. Nick downloaded an app to track his progress, and we both worked on integrating the rules into our lives since it took up so much time.
Exercising for 1.5 hours a day, tracking water intake, and fitting in 30 minutes of reading can be tough. But once we developed systems, everything became more manageable.
- Have an Accountability Buddy
Having an accountability buddy can really help you stay on track and keep you motivated. We kept each other in check, reminding each other to push through the challenge. To make it fun, we shared our progress and got notifications when we closed our rings. If you want to take it up a notch, you can even turn it into a friendly competition!
- Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Doing the 75 Hard challenge is a lot easier when you have a support system. It’s best to surround yourself with people who are either doing the challenge themselves or who understand what you’re going through. This challenge can be tough and sometimes discouraging. There will be plenty of temptations, and the last thing you need is people questioning your choices or trying to convince you to break the rules.
We’ve encouraged and educated people around us about the challenge, so they understand when we stick to our diet or head out for a walk. Some of our friends have even joined us on our walks, making it a more enjoyable and motivating experience. Surrounding yourself with a supportive crowd can make a huge difference.
Ready to Take on the Challenge?
If you’re feeling inspired and ready to push your limits, why not join us in taking on the 75 Hard challenge? Whether you’re looking to build healthy habits, improve your fitness, or develop mental toughness, this challenge can be a game-changer.
Share your journey with us, and let’s motivate each other to reach our goals. Remember, the hardest part is getting started, but you’re not alone—let’s do this together!
Follow us on our blog and social media for more tips, updates, and support. We can’t wait to see you crush it!
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