75 Hard: Why I had to quit

Well…. I have fallen to the 75 Hard Challenge. I know I am not alone, I am guessing very few truly finish this challenge. But I am proud of what I accomplished. In today’s blog post I’ll share why I failed the challenge, what I liked, what I didn’t like, and if I’d every consider trying again. I hope you enjoy.


Why I Quit 


I know I mentioned last week that the temperatures were absolutely frigid in January here in Kansas. So, technically I failed at my “outdoor” workouts that week, since my workouts were in the garage.


Then, I told you how I threw my back out. I still pushed through that. The workouts were VERY modified, but I was still getting them done. In hindsight, this probably was not smart. Backs need rest and proper treatment, kind of important to have a functioning spine.


Shortly after the back injury, I got some sort of virus. This virus was very mild but I was coughing all day. My back couldn’t heal because I was working out and because I was coughing non-stop. It was painful and annoying. As with any large family, we like to share germs. So I was dealing with three sick kids with coughs. I held on to the 75 hard challenge despite all these challenges, however what happened next is what tipped the scale.


You know there is news you get that can just absolutely halt everything, change your life. Well, last week, at work I was told that there was a very strong chance that my current job would not be available next school year. I teach 1st grade at a virtual/hybrid school. Due to enrollment numbers, I would need to go part time next year or find a full-time teaching job at a traditional school. This news is a life changer and I froze in a weird time warp. I wasn’t necessarily mad or sad or worried. I was just stuck, the future had become blurry. Don’t get me wrong, God is the author of my life. His will for my life is where I want to live. But news like this can be debilitating while you process what this means, could mean, etc. 


When you do something like the 75 hard challenge, it consumes your thoughts and actions, all day. So when this bomb dropped about my job… I don’t think I thought about the challenge for a solid 3 days. NOT ONCE! Isn’t that crazy?!?!


So, I quit the challenge, I failed it, but I am not defeated. I am not victorious. I am just me. 


What I liked…


There are several things that I loved about this challenge. One really shocked me too.


  1. Cooldowns: Many of the weight workouts that I did were around 30-40 minutes long, but I needed them to be 45 minutes. So I took time to cooldown after. It was so nice to take a breath, stretch, get my mind calmed and prepped for the day. 

  2. Reading Non- Fiction: So I am not a HUGE reader. I usually read around 5 rom-com novels a year. But reading a “self-help” book is not a norm for me. It was surprisingly enlightening and inspiring. I am planning on continuing to read some high interest non-fiction books.

  3. Water- This is my shocking one. I was so scared of drinking a gallon of water a day. I thought it was going to consume my day. If I wasn’t drinking, I’d be peeing, if I wasn’t peeing, I’d be drinking…. On repeat. I wasn’t wrong for the first few days, but once I found my rhythm, I craved my water. I even started adding Liquid IV. Holy Smokes- this changed everything. My skin was so much clearer, my digestion was normal, and my bladder adjusted and the potty breaks were manageable. I am about 5 days out of stopping the challenge and I am still drinking a gallon of water a day (or close to).


What I didn’t like…


Two things that I didn’t like…

  1. Progress Pics: UGH. These just were annoying. Everyday? Who has time for that?

  2. Zero Off Days: I struggled finding workouts that challenged me, but then could provide my body some recovery. 


Would I re-try the 75 Hard Challenge?


I am not sure. Life can sometimes slap you in the face, stop you in your tracks, and knock you down. Going 75 days in a row without that happening is pretty rare. So, would I try again? Maybe, but I hope I continue to have a healthy grip on it. There is a fine balance of being mentally tough and being stupid. I don’t want to catch myself on the wrong side, you know what I mean?


Sorry if I disappointed any of you. Please try the challenge for yourself. Let me know how it goes.