What I learned from 75Hard

2020 has been a year that a lot of people really can’t wait to see in their rear-view mirror. For me, it has been the ultimate grind physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. 

I have been through the highest of highs starting with best sales month ever in February and then the lowest of lows when COVID-19 hit like a freight train in the middle of the night

The world seemed to stop. 

As I worked to find a way to pivot and re-invent myself and my company in this new normal, I saw people doing some crazy challenge called 75Hard on various different social media channels. I started to get intrigued.

And, then August and September hit me hard personally and emotionally. Three people I knew and admired had suddenly passed away due to heart attacks. All of them were young in their late 30’s and early 40’s. 

I decided that I could no longer take life for granted. I also needed to get something out of this year. I wanted to see what would happen if I committed to change and new habits – and do them consistently. What would happen? What kind of change would it have on my life? How would I feel?

So, I decided to commit to doing 75Hard. If you aren’t familiar with 75Hard, here is a quick overview. If you want to read about it, there is even book you can buy at: 

https://andyfrisella.com/collections/shop/products/75-hard-a-tactical-guide-to-winning-the-war-with-yourself

75Hard consists of doing 75 straight days of the following with ZERO compromise:

1.)   2 Workouts each day– 45 minutes each. 1 workout has to be outdoors no matter the conditions. Snow, rain, hot, cold. They can’t be back to back either.

2.)  Read 10 pages a day of a physical book. No audio books.

3.)  Drink 1 Gallon of Water

4.)  Diet – pick a diet, any diet and stick to it.

5.)  Progress pic

6.)  No cheat meals or alcohol. No booze for 75 days.

97% of the people that start 75Hard don’t finish. Despite restarting 3 times, I was determined to be part of that top 3%. 

Mental toughness is really what 75Hard helps build. I had a lot of people tell me along the way that they could never do this. And, that right there lies the problem. With that mindset, you are already beat before you even start. Like Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” 

When I crossed the finish line last Friday, I decided to write down a list of things that I learned from 75Hard and what I got out of it so that I could write this article and perhaps inspire others.

With that said, here is a recap of what I experienced, learned, and accomplished during my 75-day journey through 75Hard:

Be Grateful Every Day – I know it sounds like a never-ending cliché that you see people talking about on social media, but it’s the truth. Waking up and being grateful for what you have in your life is a great way to start your day.

The Power of Consistency and the Compound Effect – Wow. Just by doing a little and doing it every day helps produce incredible results in all areas of life. All of this adds up to mind boggling numbers over time if you just do a little and do it every day. As Coach Bill “Brother” Oliver used to say, “The little things make the big things happen.”

Embrace the Suck – A lot of things in life suck. We can run from them and try to hide from them but eventually we will have to face the music. Why not go ahead and tackle the problems head on and embrace the challenge? Mental toughness is taken to a new level and you become somebody that isn’t afraid to get your hands a little dirty. What a great way to embrace 2020. Get uncomfortable!

A clear mind is better than a foggy mind – No booze for 75 days. Game changer. No anxiety either. 

Take it 1 Day at a time – each day presents its own challenges so plan accordingly and get it done. The way to eat an elephant – 1 bight at a time.

Willpower & Discipline – There’s no substitute for discipline. And, willpower is a byproduct of being disciplined. Even in a social setting I was able to still have a good time without being tempted. I also got up super early and found that I actually enjoyed it. 

You have to lead from the trenches – the mental toughness aspect of 75Hard reinforced the “get it done” by showing and not just telling. Some people watch it happen while others go out and make it happen. I took it upon myself to go make more things happen in all areas of my life that may have been otherwise neglected before.

You can find healthy eating options anywhere – sometimes you just have to ask though.

Lost 8 lbs. of “Bad Weight” – I can honestly say that I feel great and have more energy since going through 75Hard. This is the best I have felt since high school. I am setting PR’s and doing times at the gym that I couldn’t do when this year started.

The Power of Breath – Breathing correctly has a huge effect on your physical performance as well as your mental and emotional disposition. It’s amazing what happens when you breathe right.

You Can Always Make Time to Do Something – You might have to get creative or get up really early, but if you want to do something in your day then you can make time to get it done. 

It’s not how fast you get there, just don’t stop moving – I heard this at the gym one day during a workout. How true! Just keep moving in work and life, and don’t stop!

No Sugar Tonight – Wow. By removing sugar from my diet, I have never felt better. I can’t wait to do the next phase with no sugar for 30 days. And yes, there are 3 other phases you can go through once you finish the boot camp, 75Hard.

Drink Water like a Boss – Before starting 75Hard, I was never drinking the right amount of water. Now, I can’t stop tracking how much I’m drinking daily to hit at least a gallon. It’s good for you. Why not do it?

You Can Go Harder Than You Think – Part of 75Hard is pushing yourself to go harder. Try that pose you never thought you could do. Put a little more weight on the bar to challenge yourself. Make a few more calls at work to generate leads and check on clients. Give a little more to your favorite charity. Run through that finish line. You have more in the tank than you think.

Restructure your Life – If 2020 has done anything, it has caused us to stop and look at our lives and take the opportunity to “restructure” by not negating our health, faith, family, daily habits, and relationships.

And last but not least: Persistence. 

A quote from The Founder:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent won’t. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius won’t. Unrewarded genius is practically a cliché. Education won’t. The world is full of educated fools. Persistence and determination are all powerful. Show that you don’t have to be defeated by anything. That you can have peace of mind, improved health and a never ceasing flow of energy. If you attempt each and every day to achieve these things, the results will make themselves obvious to you. While it may sound like a magical notion, it is in you to create your own future. The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. Or as Ralph Emerson declared, ‘A man is what he thinks about all day long.’”

Persistence wins in the long run and you need it to finish 75Hard.

In closing, 75Hard is a life changer. I decided I wanted to get something good out of 2020 and I made it happen. I ran through the finish line. I am finishing 2020 where I left off in February by crushing it.  I can’t wait to start the next phase of 75Hard in January. 

Will I do this again? You bet. One day at a time!