Curious about the buzz around the 75 Hard fitness trend? Look no further—let David Larbi, the Mindful Moments podcast maestro, spill the beans. Like many hustling creatives, Larbi’s workout routine was decent but somewhat all over the place.
“I hit the gym a few times a week, but functional stuff like stretching, mobility, and cardio was on the back burner,” he spills.
Enter 75 Hard, the internet’s latest fitness crush and Larbi took it on like a champ. Months post-conquest, he’s still rocking that fit physique. Here’s the lowdown on his journey and some wisdom to kickstart your 75-day leveling-up adventure.
Cracking the Hard Code: Unveiling 75 Hard and Its Perks
75 Hard, the brainchild of fitness guru Andy Frisella, claims only the elite one per cent conquer it. (There’s a gentler version, 75 Soft, if you’re feeling a tad soft.)
This 75-day saga demands two daily 45-minute workouts (one outdoors), a self-selected diet, a gallon of water daily, and reading 10 pages of a book. Slip up, and it’s back to day one.
Larbi aced it, all on the down low. This challenge was his personal gig—his partner didn’t catch on until a third of the way in.
“It’s about proving to yourself that your word matters,” Larbi says. “A mental challenge. No one’s forcing me, no one knows, but I said I’d do it.”
Beyond the sweat, Frisella insists 75 Hard is a “transformative mental toughness program.” Larbi found the mental grind most rewarding, enhancing his discipline and self-belief.
Daily Drill: The 411 on 75 Hard Life
Picture this: 75 consecutive days of two workouts, water gallons, and literary snippets. Miss a beat, restart. Larbi made it look easy, all while keeping it under wraps.
His routine? Mornings saw a hydration head start during workouts. Weight training morphed into daily light sessions, blending mobility and callisthenics. A mix of pull-ups, lat pull-downs, and cable rows took center stage. Cardio, be it a stroll, stretch, yoga, or run, dominated the second round.
Far from feeling strained, Larbi found it a refreshing twist. “Before, I was all about the aesthetic muscles—push day, pull day, legs. Not much cardio. Not much mobility. But this challenge made me respect exercise across the board. Forced me to look at the bigger picture,” he enthuses.
Survival Hacks: Stretching and Self-Care
Surviving? Larbi swears by one word: stretching.
“No matter how I felt, stretching before and after every session was non-negotiable,” he insists. His “cure over prevention” mindset gave way to daily maintenance—essential for this intense grind. Epsom salt baths became his post-grind ritual.
Diet-wise, no strict rules, but ditching junk and sugary snacks is common sense. Larbi adapted his diet along the way, keeping it healthy yet flexible.
Stay in the Game: Daily Dose of Motivation
The key to survival? Take it day by day, says Larbi. Forget the countdown; focus on today.
“At the beginning, I thought a month in, I’d be exhausted. But I surprised myself. You don’t know how strong you are until you give yourself no other option,” he shares. A daily reward at the finish line—reading time—kept him going.
Beyond the challenge, Larbi’s post-75 Hard days involved a junk food spree, but he cut the cord before it became a habit. Months later, his diet is “much healthier,” and his fitness routine sticks, mixing it up with more sessions, mobility, and cardio.
The real transformation? Mental strength. “Working out feels as emotional as it does physical now,” he declares. “You never feel worse for working out.”
Larbi acknowledges 75 Hard might not fit everyone’s schedule, but setting your goals for 75 days can make a massive impact.
“If you do one thing for you for 75 days, it’ll change your life,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be this intense. Just stick to something you told yourself you’d do for two and a half months—it’ll have a huge impact.”
