75 hard has been one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life, and should be a requirement for EVERYONE.
If you are unfamiliar, it is a program designed by Andy Frisella to improve your mental toughness. The requirements include:
- 2 x 45 min workouts a day- one has to be outside.
- Drink 1 gallon of water x day
- Read 10 pages of a self improvement/help book (no Joan Collins, people)
- Take a selfie every day
- Stick to a specific diet- of your choice
- No cheat meals, no alcohol
When I would tell people these requirements, so often I would hear - oh yeah, I do those things… but it’s not that each requirement independent of the others is challenging- it’s when you have to do them ALL for 75 days.
Each requirement directly affects your life- obviously- but it has a cumulative effect that sends an echo throughout your universe. Sounds dramatic… but for reals.
I heard about the program from a friend, Johnna, who was doing it during the holiday of 2021. I knew that the holidays would be too much. So I looked at a calendar and at what the time frame would be from Jan 1… and lo and behold, it ends March 16, So I could still be a good Catholic for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
Dec 31 I had a delicious dinner with champagne, and then Jan 1 was at a spa, drinking my gallon of water, special diet, and walking 2 separate times for 45 minutes. It was perfect.
What motivated me to start the program was that I had been stuck back in San Diego for 2 years due to COVID (literally the week of March 2020), the logistics of shipping ended my budding business, took me away from my friends, and life that I just built. I was lost and scattered. I had this drive but no direction, a loaded missile with no target. I definitely didn’t recognize myself in this town after living so freely on a scooter in Indonesia.
I would go inward- wtf is wrong with me?!
I would try to go outward- which didn’t work well since COVID in California was nuts. People were angry and scared, the ‘friends’ I had before COVID all vanished, and I was fortunate to have a few solid new ones who didn’t judge me as I was flailing around like a fish out of water. God bless them.
I must have seemed crazy.. I would wake up and say- ok, THIS! Go wildly in one direction, then pivot the next day - and say THIS! There was a desperation to not lose traction…with… work, purpose, or passion… idfk
Because of all these stops, starts, and disappointments, it eroded my self confidence. Especially not having my Bali friends around me who are creative entrepreneurs, as well, accustomed to this ‘try it’ and if it fails ‘try again’ mentality..
I knew I had been disciplined before, as a former ballerina and collegiate rower.
I knew I was healthy, I’ve played with my diet so much as a nutrition consultant.
I knew I can be sober, never an issue.
I know I drink a lot of water, I’m an Arizonan.
So let’s piece all these things together and DO THE PROGRAM.
During the program I was able to peel back layers of emotions in my liver that have been dormant for a long time. It started as little tears while I was working out- for no reason, and ended with huge emotional progress… I had the biggest breakthrough of my life. I think the combination of this program and MBSR helped me reach new depths.
Physically, the challenge was not so much the workouts themselves- yes you do have to ‘bear down’ but my challenge was SCHEDULING two SEPARATE 45 min workouts. Not only did it MAKE me take control of my calendar, but also MADE me commit that time to my self. You have to get really clear about what you want to accomplish in a day, week, month. This scheduling, also inadvertently prioritized friends who would prioritize me. I realized there were a few relationships that if I didn’t support/drive weren’t as strong as I thought.
Mentally, the clarity about the direction I’m going is Baccarat crystal clear and I can’t wait.
I feel like it’s divine timing..
I don’t know that I’m never going to have cheese again, never drink again, or continue to workout twice a day for 45 mins. But I can say, this program re-instilled so much self confidence, trimmed the fat in my life = it instills boundaries for you, in the areas of your life where they need to be- like bumpers. So whether you already had them, needed to exercise them a bit more, or you needed one there… it puts them in place for you, so you can become your best self. it’s amazing.
With this new direction I have refined and gained so many new friendships and relationships on such deeper levels. I can’t say I’m doing this for the rest of my life… I am excited for a wine pairing dinner… but after that… eh, I like it.
I think it shows you what areas in your life are challenging for you and how to strengthen them.
If you have any inclination whatsoever - do it.
