75 Soft Challenge (10 Day Check-In)

I’m sure you’ve heard of the 75-Hard Challenge. If you haven’t, here’s a brief overview:

Created by Andy Frisella, the hardo challenge includes a couple of rules to do every day ; Take a progress picture, drink 1 gallon of water, two 45 minute work outs (one must be outdoors), stick to a diet of your choice with absolutely no cheat meals, no alcohol, and read 10 pages of a non-fiction book. If you miss any of these rules, you start over.

This is not for every, including myself. And as a result, a new trend labeled 75-Soft Challenge has come to light. It took me about a week to realize my Miami Wellness Week actually reflects this challenge to the T. So, I decided to go for all 75 days and here is my check-in.

First, what is 75-Soft? A derivative of Frisella’s 75-Hard, 75-Soft also includes rules;

1. Drink 65+ oz of water
2. Move your body for at least 45 minutes daily
3. Drink only socially
4. Eat healthy
5. Read for at least 20 minutes a day

1. Drink 65+ oz of water

I try to drink around 120 oz of water every day so this has been easy. Keeping my water bottle with me at all times is extremely helpful and also recognizing that if I’m craving sweets I am normally thirsty, and if I’m thirsty I am already dehydrated.

2. Move your body for at least 45 minutes daily

I have been moving for a lot longer than 45 minutes while I’ve been in Miami. From long hour morning walks, runs along the beach, swims in the ocean after running, evenings spent in the empty gym, yoga to finish the day, it’s been a whole lot of movement in Miami. However, once I leave tomorrow and return to the growing-colder New York, it will be harder to make as much time for movement. I have no doubt I will easily get in 45 minutes a day, but on rest-days it’s nice to have the option to just do a longer walk or a bit of yoga, anything to move, rather than a big effort to break a sweat.

3. Drink only socially

I only ever drink socially, so I am taking this a step further and limiting myself to 2-3 nights a week. I almost always drink Friday’s and Saturday’s, though I have not had a sip of alcohol in over 10 days now, and I am allowing one possible week night in there in case of any events that pop up. Though, my roommates and I are attempting a far more sober November, so I will definitely be heavily limiting alcohol consumption. I just feel a lot better without it.

4. Eat healthy

75-Soft promotes the 80/20 rule of eating healthy 80% of the time. I personally am just making an overall effort to cut processed foods, gluten, and dairy out of my diet as much as possible. I have focused on eating whole foods the past 10 days, which isn’t a big change in my diet in the first place, but the consistency has provided me with far less bloating, clearer skin, better sleep, and a clearer mind. I will be including as many colors on my plate as possible throughout the day, making a conscious effort to eat large quantities of fruits and veggies. This will also help me to promote great gut health; the more variation in whole plants you include, the better good bacteria can thrive in your gut. On the same note, in addition to eating healthy, I will be making a conscious effort to include vitamins and pre- and pro-biotics in my every day diet.

5. Read for at least 20 minutes a day

Easy-peasy. So far this month I have read 12 books, 7 on this vacation alone. I would like to start reading more non-fiction and more personal growth books so that will be the challenge for me. I’ll probably be including a weekly section under wellness detailing my current reads, favorite books, and takeaways.

So, that’s the 75-Soft Challenge. I am 10 days in and absolutely loving it. I’ve added in a few more items such as waking up before 8am and moving first thing in the morning, listening to a podcast a day, taking more time to be present through my yoga practice or long walks, and going to sleep earlier. From all of this, I feel more energized, more alert, my skin is clearer, my thoughts race less, my sleep is deeper, I’m far more curious and feel much more intellectually stimulated, and I feel stronger, faster and fitter. I’ll check in around the 3-week mark!

xoxo for now

Rach