As the new year nears, many seek fitness goals, with trends like the ’75 Hard Challenge’ gaining traction. This intense program, created by Andy Frisella, includes strict rules like daily workouts, hydration, and diet compliance. While some experts praise physical activity, others criticize its extreme nature as impractical for many. Alternatives like the ’75 Soft Challenge’ offer a gentler approach, promoting manageable habits without drastic measures, emphasizing balance and sustainability in wellness routines.
As the new year approaches, many individuals set fresh resolutions, and with each passing month, a new TikTok trend emerges. Come 2025, you might find yourself eager to dive into fitness while prioritizing your mental well-being. A recent trend sweeping through social media aims to inspire you to maintain this commitment for a substantial 75 days.
Strict Guidelines: No Alcohol, Hydration, and Daily Workouts
The ’75 Hard Challenge’ is a rigorous program that revolves around adhering to six demanding rules. This initiative was created by an American entrepreneur and influencer back in 2016, and it has gained immense popularity online. According to its founder, Andy Frisella, this challenge serves as a ‘transformative mental strength program‘, with only 1% of participants successfully completing it. The rules are particularly challenging: participants must adopt a specific diet and strictly adhere to it, completely abstain from alcohol and unhealthy foods, consume approximately three liters of water daily, and engage in two 45-minute workout sessions each day—one of which must be performed outdoors. Additionally, Frisella emphasizes the importance of reading ten pages from a personal development book every day and capturing a daily progress photo. In essence, it’s a demanding routine reminiscent of the ‘Winter Arc Challenge’.
Critiques: An Overly American Approach
This challenge is designed to instill robust, healthy habits that enhance overall well-being, such as nutritious eating, avoiding alcohol, and maintaining an active lifestyle. Dr. Emmanuel Debost, a sports physician consulted by media sources, states, ‘two 45-minute workouts per day totals 1 hour and 30 minutes of daily physical activity, which aligns perfectly with what we recommend to our patients‘. Engaging in regular exercise is undeniably beneficial, helping combat the sedentary lifestyle that many face today. However, it’s essential to tailor the intensity to one’s fitness level and pair it with proper hydration and balanced nutrition, rather than embarking on an extreme diet.
Some experts criticize this challenge as being ‘too American in spirit‘. Fitness coach Charly Aourir shares this perspective, noting, ‘The challenge is not inherently dangerous, but it appears excessively extreme and demanding, making it impractical for many‘. He adds, ‘It poses a risk of being unsustainable in the long run for the majority of individuals‘. Fitting in 1 hour and 30 minutes of exercise can be particularly challenging for those with full-time jobs or young families.
In light of this extreme challenge, alternative programs have surfaced on social media. The 75 Soft Challenge serves as a more accessible option compared to the 75 Hard Challenge. It encourages daily physical activity through walking or cycling for 45 minutes, promotes balanced meals, advocates for reduced alcohol intake, and still emphasizes drinking three liters of water daily. This approach avoids drastic dieting and frustration, focusing instead on cultivating healthier habits through a manageable routine.