I was at a party the other day and a friend started to talk about the great October lock in he’s doing. Then at dinner a few days later another friend mentioned that they were starting the 75 Hard for a second time. It’s not a fitness challenge per se, rather a mental toughness challenge.
I do like that this friend has modified it in various ways. Like no daily photo and if they miss a day they don’t think they need to start over.
Here’s the usual rules:
Daily Rules
• Two Workouts: Complete two 45-minute workouts per day, with at least one session performed strictly outdoors.
• Strict Diet: Follow a designated nutrition plan of your choice with zero cheat meals and zero alcohol.
• Water Intake: Drink one gallon (about 3.8 liters) of water daily.
• Reading: Read 10 pages of a physical, non-fiction or self-improvement book each day.
• Progress Photo: Take a daily full-body progress picture.
But there’s also the 75 Soft which we’ve blogged about here.
Here’s the rules for that:
Core Rules of the 75 Soft Challenge
• Daily Movement: Complete one 45-minute workout per day, with built-in active recovery or rest days allowed.
• Hydration: Drink about 3 liters of water daily.
• Nutrition: Eat well, incorporate more nutrient-dense whole foods, and reserve alcohol for social occasions.
• Mindset & Learning: Read 10 pages of any book each day.
• No Restart Penalty: Unlike 75 Hard, missing a target doesn’t force you back to Day 1; you simply reset and keep going with self-compassion.
Me, I’m just trying to eat well, get enough sleep, lift weights and ride my bike, as well as doing some mobility exercises.
Here’s last year’s post about the challenge and October lock in.
What is the “great lock in” fitness trend and OMG is October now the new January? – FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE
What is the “great lock in” fitness trend and OMG is October now the new January?
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Seems puritanical to me. All-or-nothing is never my favorite. I never did smoke or drink (never tasted anything I was willing to learn to like, didn’t really care). But I can’t imagine going weeks with no ice cream. Now that I’m retired, I think I can count at least 20 hours a week of purposeful movement – weights, walks, rides, dance classes, yoga, etc. So it’s easy for me to say no to this. Honestly, if I did it, I suspect it would just make me grateful to finish rather than eager, or even resigned, to keep it up.