That means some might take it upon themselves to go HAM with burpees, cardio, strength, or workouts they’ve never tried before. E xercising for 90 minutes a day, with 45 minutes spent outside regardless of the temp, is not safe for everyone.Īnd like the diet rules, the fitness recommendations are basically a choose your own adventure. Then there are the fitness rules that don’t take into account your underlying health conditions, previous injuries, or current fitness levels.
What’s worse: “Extremely restrictive eating means you may never actually learn healthy eating habits or honor your body’s desires,” says Ali.
That can set you up for a disordered cycle of bingeing and restriction. And once you eat them, “you will likely overindulge and subsequently drown in guilt and shame for having consumed so much of it,” says Ali. It works like this: When you categorize foods as “bad” or “cheat foods” and avoid them, you may crave those foods more intensely. “Diets that severely restrict food often result in the creation of a negative relationship between individuals and how they nourish themselves,” says Ali. That can completely eff with a person’s relationship with food, says licensed clinical social worker and therapist Ayana Ali. While some may decide that their “diet” is limiting how much takeout they order, others might take it upon themselves to cut out entire food groups-especially if their motivation to do the challenge is to lose weight. Besides the seemingly arbitrary rules, there are many other reasons to be worried about the impact Frisella’s challenge can have on your physical and mental health.įor starters, following a “diet” for 75 days can mean different things to different people. One of these workouts must be an outdoor session, although it’s not explained why.
The basic principles of his challenge include: On his website, Frisella writes that 75 Hard is “NOT A REGULAR FITNESS PROGRAM.” Rather, it’s a “MENTAL TOUGHNESS PROGRAM” that he is qualified to teach based on his “20 years of intensive study and real-life experience.” He does not reference any health, fitness, or therapy courses.
“I’ve spent more than 20 years figuring out how to master mental toughness and I’m putting everything I’ve learned into a program I call 75HARD,” he writes in the episode notes. In March 2019, Frisella, who is not a certified trainer, dietitian, or licensed clinical therapist, introduced the concept of the 75 Hard Challenge on his podcast, Real AF, suggesting that it’s a way to change your life for the better and lose weight. Another thing: You don't need to make a resolution (especially if your goal is to look different or stick to a routine that doesn't leave space for rest or having fun). Also, diets and challenges aren't sustainable. The hashtags #75HardChallenge and #75Hard have more than 31 million views, collectively.*Īnd while questionable weight-loss trends are not new (sup, keto diet, Whole30 recipes, and intermittent fasting?), this 75-day plan created by motivational speaker, podcaster, author, and supplement company owner Andy Frisella is going viral (AGAIN) for all the wrong reasons.īefore we get into all of this, I feel like it's my duty to tell you that losing weight does not necessarily make you healthier and that the number on the scale has very, very little to do with your overall health. If you’re on TikTok, it’s highly likely your feed has served up a friend or influencer doing something called the 75 Hard Challenge. Sigh.īut it really, truly doesn't have to be like that.
It's January! Which means it's time for the annual, "New year, new you" bullshit to make its way from the internet or TV to your ears and make you feel crappy about yourself. *We’ve decided not to link to this and other concerning and/or triggering content.