Mental Toughness - 75 Hard

In the last 75 days of this writing, I have been some of the best, hardest, and proudest moments of my life. I participated in this mental toughness program called 75 Hard by Andy Frisella where I had to abide by five rules every day (no exceptions, no workarounds, no bending the rules).

  1. Follow a diet. Absolutely no alcohol.
  2. Two 45 minute workouts. One must be outside.
  3. Drink one gallon of water.
  4. Take a progress picture.
  5. Read at least 10 pages of an entrepreneur based book.

So what happens when you follow the regiment? You learn a lot about yourself and see changes in both your physical and mental state.

Physical Changes

Your body can do so many things when you get rid of alcohol for 75 days. Exerting yourself becomes so much easier. I was able to reach new goals in running, hiking, cycling, and even weight training. Below are two pictures: first picture is when I started at 210 pounds. In the next picture, I am 20 pounds lighter, clocking in at 188.2 pounds when I finished.

  • January 12, 2020
  • March 27, 2020

My goal has always been to reach a target weight of 180 pounds. This regiment has allowed me get closer to my end goal.

Mental Changes

Improving my mental state is my 2020 goal this year and is the main reason why I decided to do this regiment in the first place. At the end of 2019, I learned that I made so much physical progress with myself, but did not have the self-love to truly believe it. I still saw my inner conscience in an unhealthy manner. I felt this program brought me closer to true self care, but is very much a work in progress.

Challenges

This regiment did have its own mental challenges. Everyone knows how much I love to bond with people over food and drinks. There were so many times I had to turn and look away from churros that were gifted specifically for me to enjoy. Or when I could not join newfound friends in drinking beer after a day long hike. There were even parties that I could not participate in because there were no healthy alternatives for me to abide by.

Even exercising had its challenges. There were days where I would get too busy during the day time, that I had to work out at night outside. There were times where the weather did not permit for outdoor activities, but I still did it anyway. And let's not forget COVID-19 (which appeared towards the end of 75 Hard regiment); this truly was an ultimate test in mental toughness.

Achievements

So what did I learn or achieve during this regiment?

  • I learned that I am capable of running a marathon. So capable that I finished the L.A. Marathon in 4 hours and 25 minutes.
  • I learned that I have the capacity to endure hikes where I might be slogging it as I gain massive amounts of elevation to the peak of a mountain.
  • I learned that I don't need alcohol to have fun and lively with new and existing friends.
  • I learned to let go of self insecurities and life elements that are beyond my control.
  • I learned that I am an amazing person and have a great set of people and connections who support me every day.

Final Words

Would I do this again? Absolutely! I plan to do it again either late this year or early next year. I also plan to keep doing most of the tasks every day (I need to socialize with alcohol). If you do plan on trying this out, I can almost guarantee you'll learn something about yourself. It's the ultimate self-control test. There is a quote from Andy that really resonated with me:

Free your mind to dream fucking huge.
Free your heart to believe it.

I hope you find this write up encouraging. Stay safe and be well out there!