75 Hard: A tactical guide to winning the war with yourself

[Del.]

My wife drinks a gallon of water everyday.

Now she is on a Keto diet. I suspect her cholesterol will be high on next blood test.

None of those crazy diets work. Just eat sensible and watch your portion size.

[pmartin]

You know...Just because something is written in a book doesn't mean it's good advise. But hey man, you go for it. I'll be at home, relaxing, cheering you on.

[YoDoug]

My wife drinks a gallon of water everyday.

Now she is on a Keto diet. I suspect her cholesterol will be high on next blood test.

None of those crazy diets work. Just eat sensible and watch your portion size.

The problem with "diets" is what happens when it is over. You are absolutely right, make lifestyle changes that include healthy eating and exercise. Eat more whole foods and less processed foods.

As far as keto, there are enough studies out there showing absolutely how dangerous keto is. It is very difficult to actually stay in ketosis. One little cheat meal or snack will end ketosis and then your body stores the extra fats that are being eaten instead of burning them. It is also very hard on your organs. Ketones (think acid) are now flowing through your blood looking for fat to dissolve for energy, the problem is that it does not only dissolve fats, it can harm organs, etc. Pancreatitis is associated with extended states of ketosis. It is a diet being pushed by big food industry. People that do keto very often end up with higher cholesterol and BP. In studies athletes on keto lose lean muscle mass. But people lose weight so they think it is healthy. You can lose a ton of weight doing meth also but it ain't healthy. A lot of people will say you can only safely do keto for short periods, the problem there is what do people do when they are off keto. I know probably half a dozen people that lose/gain 10-20 lbs every year on this yoyo diet trend.

[Del.]

I agree 100% Doug. My wife has always been into useless fads.

[YoDoug]

The author is very adamant that this is a mental challenge. It's not a diet or a fitness program or weight loss program. There is no health benefit of drinking a whole gallon of water a day. You don't need two 45 minute workouts a day. You can be healthy and drink small amounts of alcohol. You can have cheat days in your diet or the occasional treat and still be healthy. The tasks are designed to conquer various aspects of "mental toughness" as the author describes. To drink a gallon of water everyday you need to be drinking it all day. It needs to be a cognizant thought throughout the day. Two 45 minute workouts requires a time commitment as well as planning. The requirement of one workout outside also takes planning, you plan your workouts around the weather or you endure the weather. The 75 days of a strict diet with no cheat days or meals is the ultimate test of willpower. The whole challenge being 75 days of the same thing everyday will become monotonous and requires perseverance to make it through.

Now, these are not my words so don't yell at me, but  the author says it is called 75 hard because it ain't effing easy. He says it is for the elite of humans and says while we all have the potential for greatness in us, most have allowed themselves to become too comfortably weak in their lives, both mentally and physically, to complete this challenge. They will never reach the success or goals they dream of without putting themselves daily in uncomfortable situations that help them grow mentally and physically. The author is a self made multi-millionaire. He claims that the mental toughness you can achieve through this challenge is what it took for him to make it through all the struggles in life to be successful.

[neurosis]

My wife drinks a gallon of water everyday.

My girlfriend always has a water bottle with her. I have no idea how much she drinks a day but I would imagine that it's  close to a gallon.  I've never once seen her with a hangover and I suspect that hydration is a big part of why.   

[CNCAppsJames]

When I really get my drink on, I drink coconut water. More electrolytes. Haven't had a hangover in a long time. I REALLY do not like the taste of water for the most part.

[Tim Johnson]

Drinking a gallon of water a day is not hard to do.I'll have around a gallon in me before I walk out the door to go to work and I take a half gallon with me. I have about 1/2 quart left right now but it will be gone before I leave work.

[Rstewart]

I'm not skipping good beer and bourbon for 75 days Eff that!

[neurosis]

I'm not skipping good beer and bourbon for 75 days Eff that!

It's not that I can't!  I just don't want to! 

[pmartin]

The author is very adamant that this is a mental challenge.

If you need a book to develop mental toughness that's okay I guess, but life often tosses challenges onto a persons plate without asking permission. Here is one of several that I have had to deal with.

About 10 years ago I suffered a workplace accident. I walked away from it with torn cartilage in one hip. I dealt with the pain for about 6 months. The doctor who saw me initially diagnosed it as pulled muscles and prescribed muscle relaxants. (No help whatsoever) I battled with Workman's Comp and finally got an MRI which showed the problem clearly. I got surgery, Programmed from home for a couple of weeks and went on with my life. A year later the pain returned with a vengeance. Workers comp was done with me and I lived with the pain for another year. Never missing work, not taking pain meds, just having to basically drag my body from point A to point B., It got to the point that I could not sit, stand, or lie down without pain. New Doctor, two hip replacements needed. I organized it so that my two surgeries were 4 days apart. I brought my computer setup down to one of my garage bays and set it up to program from home.

Now there are a ton of details that I have left out but if I am a bit dismissive of a 75 day mental toughness test I'll just say why so short?

[YoDoug]

Now there are a ton of details that I have left out but if I am a bit dismissive of a 75 day mental toughness test I'll just say why so short?

75 days may seem short but seeing as most people that try this challenge fail I would say it is the right amount of time.

BTW, yes your accident/recovery is no small feat. You should be proud of your success. Many people in the same boat end up reliant or addicted to pain meds and give up. In my late twenties I hurt my back and dealt with a lot of pain and troubles. I couldn't sit too long but if I was on my feet all day I hurt. I had this weird issue where the joint that was injured was also connected to the muscle group that controls your diaphragm and connects to your abs. When the back pain at that joint got too bad it caused those muscles to freak out. I went to the ER a few times because the stomach pain was too bad. The doctors always thought it was an ulcer. Eventually I learned to feel when the pain was about to get to that point. Then I found I could start pacing around the house while twisting my torso to relax the muscles. Sometimes I would have to do that on/off for hours to keep from getting the full blown freak out. this went on for a number of years. Eventually I changed my lifestyle, lost weight, and strengthened my back so I don't deal with those issues anymore.

However, I don't equate that as the same thing as conquering a challenge like 75 hard. I had to find a way to fix my back pain issues and fight through it to keep supporting my family. 75 Hard is completely optional. I don't have to do it if I don't want to. That is where the mental challenge is, IMO. Tonight I have a 5 hour tattoo session booked. That means I won't get to bed until 11-12. Tomorrow I have to get up at 4:30am to do my first 45 minute workout. I won't want to and really don't have to. That is where to mental toughness comes in. Normally I would just take a day off from working out.

[neurosis]

Now there are a ton of details that I have left out but if I am a bit dismissive of a 75 day mental toughness test I'll just say why so short?

Ouch! That's a tough story.

I think that the point of a challenge like this (not agreeing or disagreeing with it) is that it's voluntary.  Do you have the self discipline to complete it.

[RobertELee]

75 hard? Is that millimeters?

[YoDoug]

75 hard? Is that millimeters?

Her: You said it was 15 inches....

Me: No, I said 15 centimeters honey......