Everyone is thinking the same thing: summer is coming up. That’s what everyone looks forward to during the year because of the amazing weather. There is only one thing that some people struggle with during the summer and that is their appearance. 

There is about two months until summer begins so Americans are starting to get into their fitness journey. A very well known fitness challenge is called 75 Hard. This challenge was created by Andy Frisella who wanted it to be an ironman challenge for your brain. There are some rules for this challenge: follow a structured diet, consume no alcohol, drink a gallon of water, read 10 pages of nonfiction, take a before and after photo, and exercise twice a day for 45 minutes. This has to be completed 75 days straight. 

This might not sound horrible, but there are drawbacks. This challenge is a good way to create healthy habits, however, people have become perfectionists and it has a negative effect on the body; it can result in long-term behavioral issues. One drawback to this challenge is if someone misses one day, they have to completely start the challenge over. Forcing a restart after one deviation, Dana Santas said, “can reinforce a cycle of perceived failure rather than building durable behavior changes — especially when real life inevitably intervenes through travel, illness, family obligations, weather or simply an off day”. This does not only affect individuals’ mental health, but it can also affect eating patterns. 

Another drawback is there are no recovery days for the body. There is a higher chance at getting burned out or getting injured without any days of rest. Not only do individuals have to do two workouts for 45 minutes, but one of them has to be outdoors. Right now in Ohio, the weather has been all over the place. Working outside while it is still getting below 30 degrees is not healthy for the body. It is still important to get healthy and in shape, so a better recommendation is to complete a 75 medium or 75 soft. These challenges are a much better way to build healthy habits while still giving your body time to rest.