How a Dinner with Friends Sparked a 75 Hard/Soft Challenge
2025 is the year that I'm *finally* working out consistently.
I’ve never been consistent with working out—my 20s were filled with yo-yo dieting and phases of going hard in the gym, followed by months where the only connection I had with the gym was the monthly membership fee hitting my account. However, it’s 2025, which means it’s a new year, new me. You may have seen the 75 Hard challenge on your social timelines—the rules are simple:
Two 45-minute workouts (one must be outside)
Read 10 pages of a nonfiction book
Drink a gallon of water
Take a daily progress picture
Pick a diet (any diet)
No alcohol
Not one to follow the rules to a T, I am doing the 75 Soft challenge, and I am proud to say that I am on day 18. 75 Soft is essentially the same as 75 Hard, with the only difference being that I am working out once a day for 45 minutes instead of twice. Also, it’s winter, so most of my workouts are in the gym or at home in my living room—not outside.
Now, how did someone like me, who hardly works out, make it to 18 days and counting on the 75 Soft challenge? Simple—I am doing it with friends and our partners and do not want to be the loser.
My ATL friends (Brooke, Kimberly, and Nia) and I wanted to plan a date to hang out. We decided it would be great for our partners to meet officially, so Kimberly planned a Sunday Funday. We started out at the High Museum of Art (if you’re in Atlanta, it is a must to visit the High) and headed to a dinner reservation at Saints + Council (which has really great cocktails, and the salmon I ordered was amazing). It was the last Sunday of 2024, and while at dinner, we somehow got on the topic of working out, where Brooke and her husband talked about how they had completed the 75 Hard challenge when they did it a year ago.
Lebo, my highly competitive husband, challenged us all to start this challenge. I didn’t think everyone would agree to it, but they did. I sat at the table quietly because I didn’t know if I would be successful at this challenge—mostly because of the working out part—but I agreed.
We had the not-so-wise idea to start the challenge on New Year’s Eve because we wanted to complete the challenge on St. Patrick’s Day (so we could celebrate, obviously). But starting a challenge where you can’t drink alcohol or toast on New Year’s Eve is… interesting, to say the least.
The most surprising thing about 75 Soft to me is that it’s not that difficult to complete. I’m actually really excited that it’s holding me accountable to read regularly because reading is one of my first loves, and I have been abandoning it for work (I read and write for a living, so sometimes reading for fun can be exhausting). I’m finally reading the Anna Wintour biography that I bought in 2022 while at a bookstore in Seattle. This is the year that my book collection will be promoted from just being decor to actually being read.
As far as the workouts; I’ve been doing gentle movement workouts like yoga, deep stretching, walking, and light weights. These activities are surprisingly effective and necessary since I have scoliosis and two chiropractors that I’ve gone to suggested exercises with minimal impact.
I will say that the only reason drinking a gallon a day is easy for me is because I work from home. I could not imagine being able to do so if I had to commute to the office. I try to wake up around 7 a.m. and drink at least 64 ounces of water. I have been finishing my gallon around 4 p.m., so I’m starting to pace my water intake so I don’t drink more than a gallon a day.
I haven’t seen any results yet, and usually, this would be when I give up. But I am going to stay consistent and keep my eye on the prize—being able to say that I moved my body for 75 days straight.
As I’m getting older, I really see the importance of working out to be strong—not just to look good. I want to be able to get out of bed in the morning and feel strong—not like my body is always in pain. More than anything, I want to show my son that taking care of your body is about self-respect and long-term health. Day 18 is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.