The Hard Truth About 75 Hard: My Journey

Transforming Mindset and Habits

Embarking on the 75 Hard challenge in April 2021 was a pivotal moment in my personal development journey. I failed the challenge not once, but 29 times before finally succeeding in completing 75 consecutive days of staying hard. The lessons I learned along the way were invaluable and transformed my mindset, habits, and overall outlook on life. In this article, I’ll share my experience and the insights that helped me overcome the obstacles and emerge victorious.

75 Hard Requirements

If you’re not familiar with the challenge, 75 Hard is a mental toughness challenge. The creator of the 75 Hard program is entrepreneur and author Andy Frisella. 75 Hard is part of the 1st Phorm program. The rules are simple, but the challenge is far from it.

1. Follow a diet without any cheat meals.
2. Drink at least one gallon of water per day.
3. Read 10 pages of a non-fiction book each day.
4. Take a progress picture every day.
5. Workout twice a day for 45 minutes each time. One workout must be outdoors, and both must be at least three hours apart.
6. No alcohol or cheat meals allowed.

Debunking the Misconceptions of 75 Hard: You Don’t Need Rest Days

I’ve heard a lot of people criticize 75 Hard for requiring two workouts per day, claiming it’s unsafe and people need rest days. But here’s the thing: the challenge is completely customizable to your fitness level. Instead of taking a rest day, you should leverage 75 Hard to take active recovery days. Maybe your two workouts per day are a walk and a yoga session, or maybe they’re a powerlifting session and a rec basketball game. It’s up to you to tailor the challenge to your own capabilities.

Safe Water Consumption: A Closer Look

Another criticism I often hear is that drinking a gallon of water every day is unsafe. And while it’s true that someone who doesn’t exercise probably doesn’t need to drink that much water, for those doing 75 Hard, it’s not only safe but necessary. The key is to pace yourself and not drink too much water too quickly. As long as you’re spacing out your water consumption throughout the day, drinking a gallon is a healthy goal to strive for.

Building Unshakeable Discipline: Be Accountable When Nobody Is Watching

The Power of Work Ethic

During my 75 Hard journey, I discovered an invaluable lesson: successful people push through long stretches of monotonous activity with brutal work ethic. I became a disciple of discipline, knowing that to achieve greatness, I had to keep pushing myself day in and day out.

When Life Throws a Curveball

On Day 70, I got food poisoning. It was gross – I threw up in front of a hundreds of people at O’Hare Airport. But here’s the thing: if you want something bad enough, you must stop at nothing to achieve it. After landing in New York at 11:30 pm, I spent the next 90 minutes completing my second workout and meeting my water threshold for the day. It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done. True determination is about persevering through even the toughest challenges.

Beyond the Comfort Zone: Embracing Discomfort and Accountability

75 Hard is more than just a checklist of daily tasks; it’s a journey of self-accountability and perseverance through the toughest of circumstances. Anyone can exercise when the weather is perfect, or when they feel their best, but the true test of character is continuing to push forward even when the odds are against you. Whether it’s battling through freezing temperatures or fighting off exhaustion after a long day, 75 Hard teaches you to embrace the discomfort and show up for yourself every single day.

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering”

Friederich Nietzsche

The Real Challenge of 75 Hard: Unwavering Commitment and Mental Toughness

Embarking on the 75 Hard challenge can feel overwhelming at first, but the truth is, the real challenge lies not in completing one day, but in the unwavering commitment to eight daily tasks for 75 consecutive days. This journey is a true test of your mental toughness and accountability, pushing you to rise above obstacles and cultivate an unwavering work ethic. With each passing day, you’ll learn to persevere through the toughest of challenges, equipping yourself with invaluable tools to achieve your goals.

Further Reading

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