75-Hard Challenge
Now I want to begin with saying I haven’t committed to this challenge myself.
But I heard about it and had some thoughts. So maybe, I’ll do it.
Rules of the 75 Hard Program.
For 75 consecutive days, 75 Hard participants must do the following every day, according to the program’s welcome email:
Follow a diet. While it can be a diet of your choosing, the diet must be a structured eating plan with the goal of physical improvement. No alcohol or meals outside your chosen diet are allowed.
Complete two 45-minute workouts, one of which must be outdoors.
Take a progress picture.
Drink 1 gallon of water.
Read 10 pages of a book (audiobooks not included).
Furthermore, no alterations to the program are allowed. If you miss any of your daily goals, your progress resets to day one.
I think it’s an impressive challenge and all other things considered, it’s the mental fortitude and grittiness that is awe-inspiring about this one.
Reason #1 - Rain Sucks.
It’s currently pouring rain in Vancouver and as someone who didn’t grow up in BC, I’m not used to how much rain exists in the fall, winter, and spring season. I much rather prefer sunshine and frigid air. I at least feel unrestricted in my life whereas cloudy skies and pouring rain just drain my motivation.
This alone makes the idea of completing a 45-minute workout outside miserable.
But why?
Rain is just water. It isn’t the end of the world and getting poured on doesn’t make the world end. So why am I so fragilely impacted by my outside environment. It puts into perspective and highlights the impact that your environment has on your outlook but further identifies the potential ability to overcome and thrive in spite of your environment that so many people around the world accomplish.
Reason #2 - Drinking Water Until I Pee My Pants.
I feel like I drink a decent amount of water but 1 gallon is 16 cups of water. On a daily basis, that takes a conscious dedication to complete and I think it puts into focus, something that we take for granted. Our bodies are so resilient and function so well in spite of us, our behaviours, and our habits.
Most people work an office job, struggle to even drink 8-9 cups of water, and still live their lives “fine”. We avoid drinking too much water because the burden of needing to pee outweighs the apparent benefits because we prioritize the short-term convenience and impact over the long-term.
And drinking water requires nothing special. Everyone can do it. It’s just the conscious and deliberate will-power and dedication that distinguish those who do accomplish this feat versus those who don’t.
Reason #3 - Reading And Self-Development.
The notion that reading a self-development or non-fiction book for the goal of introspective development highlights a deliberate intention for improving your thinking. Identifying that audiobooks are not allowed further drives home the point that it has to be a one-track minded focus. No listening to audiobooks while you do your dishes, vacuum or multitask your way through it. No loop holes.
I can’t imagine my parents reading self-development books. And no, this isn’t meant to be a knock on my parents.
But I think it highlights my bias about self-improvement; that it’s something to be done while you are young, while you are learning about yourself, and growing into yourself. Almost like a preconceived notion that once you reach a certain age, that you are your complete self and that growing and further development in not possible. And that’s preposterous!
And intellectually I always have theoretically understood that fact. But if I wasn’t already interested in self-improvement, I could imagine myself being content with who I was. If I enjoyed a sport, going to the bar, joining a rec league - I could be content with doing those things. That reading about self-development was optional.
Reason #4 - Following Any Diet.
Physical improvement isn’t always a focus for people. People want to eat what they want to eat. Not everyone cares about restricting themselves. But it’s a valid consideration. Being comfortable with discomfort. Trying to stay accountable to something. Being intentional with what you put in your mouth and what you consider to be nutritious.
Whether that’s keto, paleo, low-sugar, slow-carb, a raw diet, or anything else, the intention and conscious decision-making about what I accept and don’t accept eating is the important part.
Reason #5 - 75 Days.
3+ months. A quarter of the year. It’s enough time that it takes a huge commitment but short enough time that it isn’t even a year’s worth of commitment. It highlights that within less than a year, you can accomplish an astonishing change in yourself, in your habits, in your life and long enough that it still pushes you mentality to demonstrate mental fortitude, resilience, and persistence.
So Here’s My Question To Myself.
Do I have the strength to commit myself. Am I just all talk or am I someone who can decide to pursue this? Am I someone who can and will achieve this. I’ll think about it for the next week and maybe post something about it next week.
*gulp