When the New Year rolls around and the calendar flicks off to a blank page, it’s human nature to think we can become a new person, someone with goals that are achievable, fitness routines that become part of our daily lifestyle, and the kind of worth ethic that is to be admired. But of course, work commitments, family strife and relationship struggles always catch up to us regardless of the date in the calendar, and it’s for this reason that countless resolutions are shelved or get thrown out the window entirely.
For those who have set resolutions to work out and move more, fitness trends tend to offer something of a lifeline: they’re fun, engaging, and offer spontaneity in what can otherwise be a mundane pursuit of daily exercise. But not all trends are created equal and there have been some that are problematic, often setting us up for failure rather than wanting to see us succeed. One such example of this was the 75 Hard Challenge, a trend that took TikTok by storm for its hardcore daily routine created by entrepreneur Andy Frisella to build “mental strength and discipline.” While many who followed the routine saw great transformations, others criticised the potentially dangerous and extreme ‘rules’ that could trigger followers into making unhealthy decisions.
Now, 2022 has ushered us a new trend: the 75 Soft Challenge, and already it’s gone viral. Unlike the 75 Hard challenge, 75 Soft is more accessible and encourages users to stick to some healthy habits for 75 days, but with far less restrictions. For those wanting to commit to creating new, healthy habits that don’t involve dangerous restrictions or extreme lifestyle changes, it could be the perfect trend to examine. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the 75 Soft Challenge?
Inspired by Stephen Gallagher of @StephenGFitness on TikTok, the 75 Soft Challenge incorporates four rules and, as the name suggests, is far more accessible than its predecessor, the 75 Hard Challenge.
What are the rules?
For the 75 Soft Challenge, the rules are as follows:
- Eat well and only drink on social occasions
- Train for 45 minutes everyday for 75 days. One day a week is to be active recovery.
- Drink three litres of water a day.
- Read 10 pages of any book a day.
@stephengfitness The fitness journey begins… #75soft #75softchallenge ♬ original sound - Stephen Gallagher
What makes 75 Soft Challenge more realistic?
The 75 Hard Challenge required participants to religiously follow a diet and cut out alcohol, however it didn’t specify which diet. You also had to complete two 45 minute workouts a day, one of which was to be done outside regardless of the weather conditions. You had to drink a gallon of water, read 10 pages of inspirational non-fiction a day and take a picture of your body everyday. For many, this kind of obsessive behaviour was triggering and could lead to more dangerous habits potentially. While it was posited as a challenge designed for mental toughness rather than weight loss, the idea of taking daily photos suggested a transformation was necessary.
In contrast, the 75 Soft Challenge encourages participants to move their body everyday, but it also incorporates active rest. The challenge suggests limiting alcohol consumption rather than removing it completely, and focuses on “eating well” rather than dieting. The meals also include a variety of food groups, making them far more nutritionally valuable and nourishing as opposed to seeing people restrict foods.
Why did the 75 Soft Challenge go viral?
What’s great about the 75 Soft Challenge is that it’s a far more approachable and realistic routine to embark on than the 75 Hard Challenge. As a result, far more people are loving the challenge and finding it something that they can actually adopt and implement in their day-to-day life. It’s not just a kickstart routine you can use to get back into shape for the New Year, it’s also something that encourages you to adopt healthy habits and stick to them.
