Okay real talk.

I'm so tired of seeing those intense fitness challenges that make you feel like a failure if you miss ONE day. You know the ones I'm talking about - the super rigid programs that basically take over your entire life?

Yeah, no thanks.

But here's the thing. I actually DO want to build better habits. I just don't want to sign my life away to do it. And apparently, I'm not alone because the 75 Soft Challenge is blowing up right now, and honestly? It's kind of perfect.

What Even Is 75 Soft?

So basically, it's like the chill younger sister of that other challenge everyone's been doing. Instead of making you stick to this insanely strict routine for 75 days straight, 75 Soft gives you actual breathing room.

The rules are simple:

Eat well and only drink on social occasions (aka you can still have wine at your bestie's birthday)

Train for 45 minutes every day, with one day off per week (THANK YOU)

Drink 3 liters of water daily

Read 10 pages of any book each day

That's it. No ice baths at 5am. No giving up entire food groups. No feeling like your whole day is ruined if life happens.

Why I'm Actually Considering This

Look, I've tried the super intense approach before. And you know what happened? I lasted like 12 days, felt miserable the entire time, then gave up and ate an entire pizza while watching reality TV.

Not exactly the transformation story I was going for.

But 75 Soft feels different. It's about building sustainable habits instead of punishing yourself into change. And honestly, that's what most of us actually need.

The daily movement requirement doesn't have to be some crazy HIIT workout. It can be a walk. A yoga session. A dance class. Whatever gets you moving and doesn't make you want to fake your own death.

The Mental Health Piece Nobody Talks About

Here's something wild - the reading requirement might actually be my favorite part?

I used to read all the time, but then my phone basically ate my brain. Now I doom scroll before bed instead of doing literally anything else. Super healthy, right?

Having a reason to put my phone down and read actual pages feels... good? Like I'm taking care of my brain the same way I'm taking care of my body.

And honestly, building in that nighttime reading routine has been helping me sleep better too. Turns out blue light before bed isn't the vibe.

Making It Actually Work For Your Life

The beauty of 75 Soft is that you can customize it without feeling like you're cheating. Having a rough week? Your 45 minutes can be a gentle stretch session. Crazy busy day? Read your 10 pages during lunch.

I've been mixing up my workouts - some days it's following an at-home Pilates video, other days it's just a long walk while listening to a podcast. The flexibility is honestly what makes it doable.

And the eating well part? It's not about restriction. It's about making choices that make you feel good. I'm still eating carbs (obviously), I'm just being more intentional about it.

The Water Situation

Not gonna lie, drinking 3 liters of water daily means I'm basically living in the bathroom now. But my skin looks amazing? And I have so much more energy?

I got one of those big water bottles with time markers on it because apparently I need my water bottle to boss me around. But it works. I'm actually hitting my water goals without thinking about it.

Plus, staying hydrated has helped with my workouts and just general brain fog. Who knew water was actually important. Revolutionary, I know.

What I'm Learning So Far

I'm about three weeks in, and here's what I've noticed:

I'm not constantly stressed about "breaking" the challenge. That one rest day per week is a lifesaver.

My anxiety levels have actually gone down. Having a simple routine feels grounding instead of restrictive.

I'm reading again! Like actual books! It's giving main character energy.

I don't feel guilty about having a glass of wine at dinner with friends. The social drinking rule is so much more realistic than total elimination.

My energy is more consistent throughout the day. No more 3pm crashes where I want to nap under my desk.

Is It Worth It?

Honestly? Yeah.

If you've been wanting to build healthier habits but every challenge out there feels like joining a cult, 75 Soft might be your thing. It's structured enough to keep you accountable but flexible enough to actually fit into real life.

The key is treating it like a wellness practice instead of a punishment. You're not doing this because you hate your body or your life. You're doing it because you want to feel better, have more energy, and build habits that actually stick.

And if you miss a day or mess up? You just keep going. No starting over from day one. No shame spiral. Just... keep going.

That's the whole point.

My Honest Tips If You're Starting

Start on a Monday (or whatever day feels like a fresh start for you). Mental reset is real.

Tell people you're doing it. Accountability helps, plus they'll understand why you're suddenly drinking water like it's your job.

Find workouts you actually enjoy. Life's too short for exercise you hate.

Keep your book somewhere you'll see it. Mine lives on my nightstand judging me until I read my 10 pages.

Don't overthink the "eating well" part. Just make choices that make you feel good in your body.

Use that rest day. Seriously. Your body needs it.

Take progress photos if that's your thing, but also pay attention to how you FEEL. That matters more than any before-and-after pic.

So yeah. That's where I'm at with 75 Soft. It's not perfect, and I'm definitely not perfect at it. But it feels sustainable in a way that other challenges never did.

And honestly? That's exactly what I needed.

Anyone else trying this? Or am I just late to the party as usual? Either way, I'm here for the journey.