I am excited to announce my newest goal: 75 (kinda) Hard.
You know that stage in a new relationship where you start spending a lot of time together? Suddenly, your plans start to revolve around trying new restaurants, binge-watching shows, and your DoorDash history looks like a Greatest Hits album. The gym starts collecting dust, and little by little, you both pack on a bit of that comfort weight.
Yeah, we got there. And before it snowballed, we decided to course-correct. And what better way than doing it to an extreme?
The Extreme: 75 Hard
I was first introduced to 75 Hard in college. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a mental toughness program created by Andy Frisella with five daily rules for 75 days:
- Two 45-minute workouts a day (one must be outside)
- Follow a diet (no cheat meals or alcohol)
- Drink a gallon of water
- Read 10 pages of a nonfiction/self-help book
- Take a daily progress photo
It’s intense. And it works for a lot of people. But to be honest, it always felt a little too intense for me. But only because the diets people were doing were usually really intense on their own. So we made our own version with slight tweaks since our goal is about getting back in alignment and getting more of what benefits us, rather than mental toughness.
So, 75 (kinda) Hard was born.
Here’s what I’m doing instead:
- Workout 9 times a week (once a day, twice on weekends)
- Follow an intentional meal plan that prioritizes fueling your body (and gut biome) with 30+ plant variations while cutting out sweets (oops)
- No alcohol
- Read 10 pages a day of something that inspires growth – finally getting around to The Four Agreements once I finish my current book
- Journal daily nothing crazy, maybe 5-10 minutes
- Drink a gallon of water daily, honestly, it’s the necessary amount in the Texas heat
This version is still a challenge, but it’s not restrictive. And it introduces healthy habits into my routine.
Why now?
They say (not sure who) that the best time to start a new routine is when you move. Having just moved into a new apartment and with summer around the corner, it seemed like the best time.
It’s also a fun activity to do with Mike. It’s easy to throw your routines out the window when you’re in a relationship, if you’re not careful, so it’s exciting to build healthier habits together. I also need an accountability partner (hence me sharing it on the internet).
See you in 70 days! But who’s counting?
Shut Up Madi 