I Tried the 75 Soft Challenge and Here's What Happened

You're probably familiar with the feeling of wanting to improve your fitness and health but finding traditional challenges too restrictive or intense. That's where the 75 Soft Challenge comes in, offering a more approachable and sustainable way to make lasting changes. Wellness influencer Amanda Castillo took on this challenge in a popular video and found it to be a perfect balance between structure and flexibility. Her experience highlights how the 75 Soft Challenge can help anyone build healthier habits without the overwhelming pressure of perfection or burnout.

The 75 Soft Challenge: A Manageable Approach to Fitness

The 75 Soft Challenge is a modified version of the more intense 75 Hard Challenge, designed to help people develop healthier habits in a more sustainable way. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this challenge offers a more accessible approach to improving one's lifestyle without the rigid rules and potential for burnout associated with its predecessor.

Key Components of the 75 Soft Challenge

The 75 Soft Challenge consists of four main rules to follow daily for 75 days:

Eat well and only drink alcohol on social occasions
Exercise for 45 minutes per day (one day can be active recovery)
Drink 3 liters of water daily
Read 10 pages of any book each day

Unlike the 75 Hard Challenge, if you miss a day or don't follow the rules perfectly, you don't have to start over. This flexibility allows participants to focus on overall progress rather than strict adherence.

Benefits of the 75 Soft Approach

Dr. Matthew Sacco, a health and sports/performance psychologist quoted by the Cleveland Clinic, emphasizes the importance of tackling small changes over time: "When you're trying to make improvements, it's better and more helpful if you try to tackle one small thing at a time until you start to feel comfortable and get better over time". This approach helps build confidence and motivation, making it easier to maintain healthy habits in the long run.

Amanda's Experience with the Challenge

Amanda, in her video, shares her personal journey with the 75 Soft Challenge, offering insights into the real-life application of these principles. "I decided to do this challenge as a personal challenge to myself," she explains. "It's wild because I look back at my before and I saw no issues. I wanted to get toned, that's for sure. I wanted to go to the gym regularly. I wanted some muscle. I wanted abs. I mean, we all want abs."

Embracing the 'All or Nothing' Mentality

The flexibility of the 75 Soft Challenge resonated with Amanda's approach to self-improvement. "I am an all or nothing kind of person," she admits. "I can't gradually go into things, I just have to do it straight on. So I feel like when it comes to this challenge, some of the rules can differ."

Initial Motivation and Obstacles

Amanda's dedication to the challenge was evident from the start. "I was so motivated in these first two weeks. I was not missing a workout. I was getting into my reading," she recalls in the video. However, like many people, she faced obstacles along the way. "I went to the outside lands, and it was so much fun. I saw Kendrick Lamar and Lana Del Rey; I danced at Odessa. It was just so much fun… So I tried to work out while I was there, but it was honestly just hard going to work out and then also trying to get ready for the festival."

Perseverance and Progress

Despite these challenges, Amanda persevered. "Today marks my six weeks of this challenge," she shared midway through. "I will say I feel like my physical progress isn't as drastic as I thought it would be, but I'm definitely getting stronger. I feel that for sure."

Adapting Workout Routines

Amanda's approach to workouts evolved during the challenge. "I ended up doing my own workout routine. I didn't know a bunch of workouts, so I dove into so many TikTok workout routines, a lot of YouTube workout routines, and I just pretty much copied and pasted and did whatever felt right to me," she explains. This adaptability helped her stay consistent with her exercise routine.

Gradual Dietary Changes

Regarding nutrition, Amanda made gradual changes. "I do want to emphasize that I also did not change my diet whatsoever, but something that I have changed is I have been just trying to consume more protein in the form of protein powder," she notes in the video. "I will say I have been drinking less. I still go out with friends, but if I do grab a drink, it'll be a tequila soda trying to keep it very low cal."

Beyond Physical Changes

As the challenge progressed, Amanda noticed significant changes beyond just her physical appearance. "I've been sleeping better. My energy's been higher. I love working out. Now, if a day goes by without me working out, it feels weird," she shares in the video. "But I would say the biggest change for me is just my relationship with working out and with food and how much better it's been. I actually crave healthy food now. It's really wild to me how we can condition our bodies to live and eat a certain way."

The Power of Consistency

Reflecting on her journey, Amanda emphasizes the importance of consistency over perfection. "It's not about being perfect, it's just about doing it, about being consistent. Even if it's going to the gym for 10 minutes or eating a salad covered in ranch, whatever, at least you're doing something that's a little bit better than what you were doing previously."

Sustainable Lifestyle Changes

Amanda's experience with the 75 Soft Challenge demonstrates how a more flexible approach to fitness and wellness can lead to sustainable lifestyle changes. "I am just so thankful for what I've gained from this challenge," she concludes. "I'm definitely going to continue doing it. Some parts of it." And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.