![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcadcb05c-3bcc-427c-bed4-989e4b9516b1_1512x1512.jpeg)
95% of participants fail
Well, hello there fellow sinners!
It’s time for a little confession from my end.
Week two of the 75 Hard Challenge has come and gone, and, well, let’s just say it didn’t go as planned. This challenge, known for its ironclad discipline and rigorous demands (95% of participants fail!), proved to be a bit more than I was expecting. I suppose I am part of the 95% and there is not much I can do about it.
Why I failed?
Well, the two 45-minute workouts a day were the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. While the other requirements were tough but manageable, doubling down on exercise daily turned out to be my Achilles’ heel.
And don’t get me started on the ‘no cheat meals’ rule. Turns out, life without occasional indulgences isn’t just dull; it’s cruel; it’s fucking torture!
But if I am honest, it wasn’t all that bad. There were silver linings – the scale tipped in a favourable direction. I’ve finally started to lose a little bit of weight. My overall wellbeing has improved, muscles have started showing up in unexpected places, sleep quality has got better, and even my skin decided to join the party by clearing up and glowing.
It seems good habits are forming, and some not-so-good ones are shown the door.
It’s all very gradual of course. But this whole thing is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience is key. Or so I tell myself.
My Rules
I learned that adapting the challenge to fit my lifestyle and routines was crucial. Being sick and considering a walk in a horrible storm just for the sake of ticking a box? That’s not wisdom; that’s flirting with death. This challenge is meant to push limits, not to push you over the edge and kill you.
As for the cold showers and random acts of kindness, they’ve been eye-opening in their own ways. The cold showers, while initially shocking, gradually became invigorating (I am lying of course; haven’t had a single cold shower yet). And being kind to others? That’s a habit worth keeping, challenge or no challenge (still working on it).
Atomic Habits
Diving into ‘Atomic Habits’ has been an interesting part of this journey, too. It’s one thing to read about change; it’s another to live it. I am good at reading. Not so good at applying theory into practice. I am work in progress.
So, as I recalibrate and adapt this challenge to something sustainable for me, I'll keep you posted. Remember, it’s not about perfection; it's about progress.
Stay tuned for more updates from the frontline of my 75 Hard (ish) Challenge.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8d6efb32-f252-40f7-b657-d61d59f25584_1200x1600.jpeg)