75 hard: is it worth it?

Every new year, there is no doubt that many across the globe resolve to eat healthier, go to the gym, and implement better habits into their lifestyle. However, maintaining these resolutions without discipline can often be difficult. To achieve this goal, many have chosen to take part in the 75 Hard Challenge, a fitness challenge that has taken social media by storm. But what does this challenge entail and is it effective?

One of the most intriguing aspects of the 75 Hard Challenge is its adaptability and ability to cater to everyone’s needs

The 75 Hard Challenge was created by entrepreneur Andy Frisella in 2019. He was inspired by Ironman competitions, which are long-distance triathlons. In this challenge, you must not only stick to a healthy diet with no alcohol, but complete two 45-minute workouts per day, of which has to be outdoors. You also have to drink more than 3 litres of water and read 10 pages of a non-fiction book daily. Another key requirement of the challenge is taking pictures to monitor progress. 75 Hard is definitely a challenge  – even Frisella refers to it as a  ‘mental toughness program’, but by the end of the challenge, it claims to leave you refreshed and with healthier lifestyle habits.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the 75 Hard Challenge is its adaptability and ability to cater to everyone’s needs. Although there are set rules to follow, there is room to adapt, especially concerning the diet. Often dieting can be perceived as negative, depriving yourself of treats and other enjoyable foods. 75 Hard allows you to still have treats here and there, picking a diet that is suitable for you. On the surface, everything you have to do for the challenge may seem too much to fit into one day, so many have created variants of the challenge, such as 75 Medium and 75 Soft. These versions, although less intense, still include healthy positive habits to implement in your life.

Although the challenge has gone viral, there is no doubt that it comes with its fair share of controversy. Firstly, the challenge was made by a man, specifically for men. The creator Andy Frisella has made his sexist views clear by previously making extremely misogynistic comments towards women, specifically female police officers. In addition, although progress pictures are great for monitoring how you are doing in the challenge, it can also provoke issues over body image, even if that is not the intention of the influencer. Considering many choose to share these pictures on social media, viewers may become self-conscious over their bodies, feeling the need to take on the challenge for the wrong reasons. The aim of the challenge is to create healthier habits for yourself, rather than just lose a set amount of weight.

Just because you saw your favourite influencer take on the challenge, it does not mean that you have to for the sake of it

On account of the controversy, lifestyle and fitness influencer @angelinanicollle has created her version of the programme called Operation 66. She created this challenge as it has been proven that it takes 66 days to create positive habits, meaning that this challenge will help immensely in the long run, possibly even for the rest of your life. It simply involves six rules that you must follow for 66 days. You must drink 16oz of water in the morning and not use your phone at the first and last hour of the day. You have to participate in 60 minutes of movement daily and stretch for 10 minutes, whilst following a 90/10 diet, which involves 90% eating healthier, unprocessed foods, and 10% indulging in whatever you like. The final requirement is to dedicate one hour to a personal hobby. The challenge has much more of a focus on mental health and provides a more convenient alternative for those who do not have time to fit all of the 75 Hard requirements into the day.

So, should you still do 75 Hard? When debating whether to take on the challenge, one must recognise that it is not all you see on social media. Just because you saw your favourite influencer take on the challenge, it does not mean that you have to for the sake of it. If it aligns with your goals, 75 Hard is a tough yet rewarding challenge to tackle. However, simply having a balanced lifestyle, or adopting a more accessible challenge such as Operation 66, is enough to implement healthier habits.