I Tried the Viral '75 Hard Challenge' for 30 Days—Here's What Happened

If you've been on TikTok or Instagram lately, you've seen it. The 75 Hard Challenge—a 75-day program created by entrepreneur Andy Frisella. It's not a diet or a workout plan. It's a mental toughness challenge with five rules: follow a diet (any diet), no alcohol, two 45-minute workouts a day (one must be outside), drink a gallon of water, and read 10 pages of a nonfiction book. Miss any one rule, and you start over from day one. I decided to try it for 30 days, because 75 felt insane. Here's what I learned.

The Rules: Harder Than They Sound

At first glance, the rules seem manageable. 'Just work out twice a day and drink water? Easy.' I was wrong. The hardest part is the consistency. No days off. No excuses. The outdoor workout in particular—rain or shine. I did a 45-minute run in a thunderstorm because I had to. It was miserable, but I finished. That's the point. The challenge forces you to do things you don't want to do.

The Diet: I Chose Low-Carb

I picked a low-carb diet because I've done it before. The first week was brutal—headaches, cravings, fatigue. But by week two, my energy stabilized. The no-alcohol rule was easier than I expected. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I missed the social ritual. Instead, I found myself ordering sparkling water at bars. It felt weird at first, then liberating. The water intake—a gallon a day—was tedious. I spent half my time in the bathroom. But it cleared my skin and kept me hydrated.

The Workouts: Two a Day

Two workouts a day is a lot. I did a morning run (outside) and an evening lifting session. By week three, my body was exhausted. I had to adjust—some days I swapped the second workout for yoga or a walk. The challenge doesn't specify intensity, just duration. That's a loophole I used. But the mental grind of scheduling two workouts is real. I woke up earlier and went to bed later. My social life suffered. I said no to dinner plans because I had to fit in a workout. That's isolating.

The Reading: Surprisingly Enjoyable

I read 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear. Ten pages a day is easy. But on days when I was tired, it felt like a chore. Still, I finished the book in a week and started another. I actually liked having dedicated reading time. It forced me to disconnect from screens. That's a benefit I'll keep even after the challenge ends.

My Results After 30 Days

Physically, I lost 8 pounds. My muscle definition improved. But the bigger changes were mental. I felt more disciplined. I stopped making excuses. I started waking up at 5:30 AM without hitting snooze. That's huge for me. But I also felt burned out. The constant 'no days off' mentality is unsustainable for long-term health. I talked to a trainer friend who said the challenge can lead to overtraining and injury. I believe it.

Should You Try It?

I'm glad I did 30 days. It reset my habits and showed me I'm capable of more than I thought. But 75 days? I'm not sure it's healthy. The all-or-nothing approach can backfire—if you miss one rule, you restart, which can be demoralizing. I'd recommend a modified version: do the rules for 30 days, but allow yourself a rest day per week. The spirit of the challenge—building mental toughness—is valuable, but the execution needs tweaking.

Would I do it again? No. But I'm grateful for the lessons. Sometimes you need to push yourself to the edge to find out where your limits really are.