75 Hard

I love sharing things you may not already know that can tremendously impact your health.

And what I’m about to write about could be a game-changer for many of you.

However, it’s incredibly important you realize that I am not outright endorsing “75 Hard.”

In fact, if this appeals to you and you’re questioning whether or not you should do it, consult a physician first.

Because 75 Hard…is hard.

Let’s discuss 75 Hard and why I think it could be a boon to many people’s health.

75 Hard is a radical self-improvement program that has garnered significant attention for its stringent guidelines and no-excuse approach to personal development.

When I say radical, I don’t mean in the 80s surfer sense. This takes guts to do, but many who’ve done it have remarked it’s been life-changing for them.

People who’ve committed to and finished 75 Hard really understand that it’s more than just a wellness program…it’s a mental toughness program. It’s not just for fitness or diet; it’s for radically improving your life in a very short amount of time.

And it truly does have the power to transform your physical and mental wellness…and resilience.

I’ll discuss the brief history of 75 Hard, showing you what’s involved in it and its merits…and there are many. 

The History of 75 Hard

75 Hard was created by Andy Frisella, an entrepreneur (he owns a supplement company called 1st Phorm), speaker, and host of the Real AF (previously MFCEO) Project podcast.

75 Hard isn't old, as Frieslla created it in 2019 but the program quickly gained traction through word-of-mouth and social media…especially during the COVID era..

Frisella created 75 Hard as a response to what he perceived as a culture of excuses and a lack of discipline in personal development practices. He aimed to offer a structured path to instill mental toughness.

This is one of the reasons I wanted to write about it.

So many people simply let poor health happen to them by making choices that lead to poor health outcomes.

Committing to something like 75 Hard (which, as you’ll see, is only 75 days) may have the power to change your health forever. 

The Core Tenets of 75 Hard

The program consists of five daily rules that must be followed for 75 consecutive days. Failure to comply with any of the rules, even once, requires participants to start over from day one.

As you can see, it really is a no-nonsense plan.

Here are the rules:

1. Two 45-minute Workouts per Day: One of these workouts must be outdoors. This component isn't strictly about physical fitness but is designed to push individuals beyond their comfort zones through discipline and commitment.
2. Follow a Diet: Participants can select any diet but must adhere stringently to it without cheat meals or alcohol. This encourages self-control and nutritional discipline.
3. Drink 1 Gallon of Water: Consuming ample water daily is a straightforward rule that aids overall health and well-being.
4. Read 10 Pages of Non-Fiction: Participants are encouraged to choose personal development books that foster continuous learning and growth.
5. Take a Progress Picture: Daily photos document physical changes and serve as a visual tool for accountability and motivation.

The only thing that I’m not incredibly enthusiastic about (though I understand it) is the before-and-after picture. And by that, I mean that I don’t think seeing yourself before and after is absolutely necessary to attain amazing health outcomes.

However, I get it… If you do 75 Hard, you’ll feel 100% different.

You’ll look different, too, so I can appreciate seeing the results. It will be pretty fun for a lot of people.

And really, there’s nothing not to like about 75 Hard. *Except that it's hard…

I’ve said it often: diet and physical activity are probably two of the most important things you could ever focus on to improve your health. If there were a “top 5 most important things to focus on” for your health, they’d be in there. I’d argue that the part on water could fit in with diet, but plenty of people don’t acknowledge that hydration is part of diet, so I get why Frisella made hydration its own line item.

Yes, a gallon is a lot. But most people have never committed to drinking that much, and if you’re getting 90 minutes of physical activity daily, then you’re going to need it.

Admittedly, I don’t discuss reading much in my articles. But there’s more than enough research to indicate that it is imperative for mental health and keeping cognition intact.

Is 75 Hard Safe?

Despite its popularity, 75 Hard is not without criticism. Health professionals and critics argue that its rigid structure may not suit everyone. I agree; it may not be, but that’s not a valid criticism if your goal is to drastically alter your life.

Some people say the program's "all-or-nothing" approach can potentially lead to burnout or unhealthy behaviors in people unaccustomed to such intense routines.

I will admit that this is true about most diets and exercise routines.

Additionally, critics argue that mental health is nuanced and that a one-size-fits-all program may not adequately address individual needs.

The program’s outdoor workout requirement, regardless of weather conditions, has also been critiqued for potentially being unsafe in extreme weather situations.

Depending on where you live and when you do it, these are also valid concerns. However, you get to choose when you do 75 Hard (if you decide to do it all).

As 75 Hard is making waves in self-improvement, I think it’s even able to help people create group efforts to conquer the training. It also leads people to share goals and accountability, which are extremely helpful when committing to something like this. 

Ultimately, while 75 Hard can change your body, the psychological benefits will help change your mindset and give you the power to conquer what life throws your way as you become healthier mentally and physically.

While I don’t endorse 75 Hard, I would never tell you not to try something like this if you wanted to take control of your health and totally change your life.