Man Tries Fittest Man on Earth's Routine for a Day, “It Was Brutal”

Do you want to lose 50 pounds in just over two months? Drew Escarcega, Founder of Photobooth101 and the YouTuber behind Hustle With Drew, lost a whopping 50 pounds in 75. How did he do it? According to the influencer and entrepreneur, he lost weight fast on the 75 Hard Challenge. “I'm gonna talk about my experience doing the 75 hard challenge and exactly why you should do it too,” he says at the start of the clip.

What Is 75 Hard?

He starts by breaking down what 75 Hard is. “It's basically a challenge where you have to do these things I'm about to mention every single day for 75 days. And if you miss one, you have to go back to day one.

Follow a Strict Diet, No Cheating

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The first thing you have to stick to is you have to follow a diet. There's also no cheat meals or no alcohol whatsoever,” he says. “So I really wanted to do this challenge because I wanted to force myself to start eating better basically.”

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Do 2, 45-Minute Workouts Per Day

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Next, “You have to do two 45-minute workouts each and every day,” he says. “And one of those workouts must be outside. It doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing. There's an earthquake zombie apocalypse. You have to do one of those workouts outside.”

Take Progress Photos Daily

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The next step is to take a progress picture every single day. Progress photos help you stay motivated and serve as photographic evidence your body is changing.

Drink a Gallon of Water Daily

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You have to drink one gallon of water each day. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is important for a variety of reasons. Water helps get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.

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Read 10 Pages of a Book Daily

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You have to read ten pages of a book every single day, no exception,” he says, adding that he “honestly really wanted to start reading more books.”

He Did the Challenge with a Group of Friends

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He explains that he did the challenge with 8 of his friends. “We just all kind of made a pact that we'd do this together, start together, finish together, and it worked out great.”

He Struggled on Day One

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On the first day, he struggled to do the workouts. “When I took my first progress photo, I couldn't believe how big my stomach was. Like I really feel that I was, it looked like I was pregnant. It looks like I was ready to have twins, maybe triplets. I just really wasn't happy with the way I looked. And that actually gave me some motivation,” he says.

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Week One Was Hard, But He Noticed a Difference Fast

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He admits that the first week he “started off slow,” sticking to more gentle workouts, like walking, and ramping up to more strenuous ones as the week progressed. “Around day five, I could see some difference. I had dropped a few pounds. I felt a lot better,” he says. His sleep was also better, and he felt more hydrated.

After a Couple Weeks, He “Started Feeling Really Good”

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“A couple weeks in, I started feeling really good. I mean, better than I have felt in years. Like I felt amazing,” he says. He could see a huge difference between day one and 15 of his photos.

One Month in and There Was a Huge Difference

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“One month in, you could definitely start seeing my pregnant-looking stomach slimming down a little bit,” he says. People also started telling him he looked great, which had a “snowball effect,” he says. “It made me start really, really going harder on my workouts because once you start hearing compliments, people are telling you that, you know, hey, your hard work looks like it's paying off. You basically can't turn back at that point.”

His Body Started Hurting Around Day 45

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“About 45 days into the challenge, my body started to really, really hurt. I could really feel my knees and the joints around my legs. I started to feel some pain but started taking some fish oil and some vitamins, and within a few days, like all those pains went away,” he says. He also started stretching.

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He Was Looking “Great” at Day 60

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After 60 days, all of his friend group was “looking great,” and by day 75, he was “excited to finish” and so happy with the results. “I noticed that my skin had completely changed. I think it was the water and constantly taking two showers a day because of these workouts,” he says.

“I know it's gonna sound corny, but this challenge has changed my life,” he says. “The bar's been set. Like I know how much I can do physically, and it really has shown me that the physical stuff and being accountable every day, not just to myself but also to my friends that join me in this challenge.”

After, He Incorporated Some of the Healthy Habits Into His Life to Lose More Weight

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After the challenge, he still had 50 pounds more to use. While he didn’t follow the exact same structure, he incorporated a lot of healthy habits into her life. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

It happens to the best of us. One day, you wake up and look in the mirror, and can barely recognize the body in the reflection. However, just because you are out of shape doesn’t mean you have to stay that way. Artur Sousa is living, breathing proof that making a few simple lifestyle changes and hitting the gym can help you achieve all of your body goals. In a new interview with Body Network, the 35-year-old who lost 17 pounds in two years, tells his body transformation story, revealing everything he did to go from flabby to fit.

Artur Was in “A Very Dark Place” and Gained “A Lot of Weight”

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Artur explains that he “was in a very dark place” after selling his company against his will. “I gained a lot of weight and was depressed,” he says. At 5’7”, he topped the scales at 190 pounds.

He Realized He Had Let Himself Go

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“After visiting my country, Brazil, I saw a video of myself dancing with my sister and realized how much I had let go. Upon coming back home I decided to take care of myself in all forms – therapy, medications and going back to the gym,” he continues.

He Went From 190 to 173, Gaining Lean Muscle Mass

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After two years of putting the work in, he is down to 173 pounds. “But most importantly I have a lot more lean mass than fat and that has helped in my self esteem and the perception of myself,” he says.

His Goal Was to Transform His Body Through Weight Lifting

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He explains that his goal wasn’t to lose weight. And, the transformation “happened over 2 years of consistently working out for muscle gain,” he says. “I didn't work out to lose weight, but rather to transform my body through weight lifting.”

These Are His Go-To Exercises

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Artur reveals that he has a few go-to exercises, including shoulder presses, deadlifts, squats, push-ups, and bench presses. “In the case of squats and deadlifts, there are very large group of muscles involved in those exercises. It also helps take away back pain by increasing blood flow to the area and increasing muscle support,” he says. “As for shoulder presses, push-ups and benching I enjoy the progression on those exercises over time and a clear sight of the muscles growing there.”

He Toned His Whole Body

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In the process he has toned his abdomen, shoulder, arms, and legs. “I am most proud of my arms and shoulders, as well as my belly that is looking better than ever. Last time it was this flat was nearly 20 years ago,” he maintains.

Diet is a Challenge

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Diet “is one of my hardest challenges,” he confesses. “I mostly forget to eat during the day. I try to ensure I am taking a couple protein shakes, at least. At dinner time I tend to get in a bit of carbs and protein.”

He Fills His Plate with Veggie

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Artur hasn’t limited any foods from his diet, and instead focuses on eating lots of veggies. “I try to be much more mindful of sugars, but I haven't cut out anything,” he says. “My journey has been more about feeling good about myself and working around my mental health. The body results have been consequential to that journey as working out has become critical to my emotional and mental resilience.”

He Takes Supplements and Drinks Protein Shakes

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He also supplements. “Creatine is the only thing I use, aside from protein shakes to ensure my protein intake,” he says.

Accountability

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As for any tricks or habits to stay motivated, accountability is key, he says. “My friends at the gym help me be accountable, to ensure that I go there consistently.”

Routine

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Routine is also a crucial part of the equation. “For 2 years I have been going to the gym at the same time and the same days every week,” he says. “That helps ingrain the habit as part of your day.”

He Challenges Himself

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He also makes sure to challenge himself. “Those days that you don't want to go to the gym, they come and they are annoying and often. Force yourself to go, despite what your brain might be trying to tell you,” he says.

Cardio Is Not the Key to Getting in Shape

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One myth he has debunked is that cardio is the main way of losing weight. “Weightlifting is a lot more impactful overtime than cardio.

Strength Is His Biggest Accomplishment

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Strength is Artur’s number one accomplishment. “I can play with my kids all day long, I can carry them, I can do projects around the house with a lot less effort because my body has been getting stronger over time. The #1 tip is consistency. I don't love going to the gym, but I know I have to go no matter what and have been 4 times a week – for almost 2 years,” he says.

It’s All a Process

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Artur understands that his journey isn’t linear. “My progress is not a straight line; it goes up and down, and I try to remind myself that it is part of the process,” he says.

His Trainer Is His Fitspiration

Artur’s fitspiration is his trainer, Duke Reddoch. “Our sessions become a lot more holistic than just the exercise and we built a friendship that brings support and encouragement to each other. He has become one of my inspirations. “As cheesy as it may sound, my therapist reacted one day to me saying ‘I'd die for my kids,’ by saying: ‘Cool, but would you live for them?’ and that has changed my perception of caring for myself, completely.”

Be Patient

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“Progress is not linear,” Artur says. “If you are starting so you can look hot in a couple of weeks, you won't be sticking to it. See your fitness journey as a comprehensive change, it is about your body - sure - but even more so about your mind, your resiliency and your consistency. The changes in your body will come in due time.”

Here Is Who He Follows on Social Media

Artur follows a bunch of people on social media. “Most of the inspirational profiles I follow are around your mental health, fitness-wise I like a few of my peers from the gym,” he says. One of them is his trainer Duke Reddoch. He also follows Zachary Kang and fitness trainer Colleen.

One of His Favorite Quotes

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His favorite motivational quote when it comes to fitness? “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion,” from Muhammad Ali.

Another Quote He Loves

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“You’re going to have to let it hurt. Let it suck. The harder you work, the better you will look. Your appearance isn’t parallel to how heavy you lift, it’s parallel to how hard you work,” is another one of his go-to quotes, courtesy of Joe Mangianello. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Losing weight can feel like a daunting task. One way to make it easier is learning about how other people did it. John Johnson is a weight loss warrior who dropped over 190 pounds by making some simple lifestyle changes. In a new interview with Body Network, the August, Georgia man explains exactly how he did it.

He Always “Hoped to Be an Average Size”

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“I’ve always hoped to be an average or normal size. Admittedly, in my mind’s eye, I’ve never really been sure what that looked like – but I wanted to go on a journey where I could try and make my physical self reflect who I saw in my head,” John tells us about what motivated him to get started on his health journey.

He Has Lost Almost 200 Pounds

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John, 6’3’’ and 42 years old, “was just a little over 450 pounds” when he first started my weight journey. “But at this point, I’m sitting right at 259 pounds,” he says. “I lost nearly 200 pounds over the course of the last couple of years.”

He Focused on Training His Back and Torso

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As part of his exercise routine, he focused on toning his back and torso the most, “the midsection of my body, essentially – as that’s where I’ve historically carried the majority of my body weight,” he explains. “That’s not to say that I didn’t focus on toning other areas as well, but they are where I lent the lion’s share of my effort.”

He’s Also Proud of His Legs

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“I’m proud of what I’ve done to get control of my midsection, but I’ve always been proud of my legs, too. They’re naturally strong, and I’ve often been told I have nice legs, so fine-tuning a part of my body that I already took pride in has really been a confidence booster for me!” he says.

Exercise 1: Lat Pulldowns

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His top five exercises start with lat pulldowns. “This exercise was key to strengthening my back and building definition in my neck and shoulder while pulling the fat from that area of my body. It’s an exercise that’s really forced a change in my physical appearance,” he says.

Exercise 2: Bench Press Machine

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Next, he did a lot of work on the bench press machine. “As I’ve mentioned, building muscle mass in my torso has been a focal point for me, and the bench press machine has been a core component in making that happen. I recently reached a new personal best with the machine, pressing 165 pounds,” she says.

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Exercise 3: Chest Fly Machine

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He also does exercises on the chest fly machine. “I’ve really enjoyed using the chest fly machine for both my torso and back muscles. Similar to the previous exercise I shared, it’s helped to tone my midsection and pull the fat from areas of my body where I typically store the majority of it,” he says.

Exercise 4: Russian Twists

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He also does Russian twists. “These have become a staple in my core routine, working fat out of my sides and strengthening my abdominal area. I’ll often hold a weight out in front of myself while doing these to make things a little more difficult,” he says.

Planks

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Planks are another go-to exercise. “For the same reason as Russian twists, planks are a primary component of my workout routine. They can be absolute hell to do, but they’re one of the most effective methods for developing your core strength,” he says.

Simple Daily Diet

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“My daily diet is actually very simple. I start the day out with a bottle of water and a Prime Hydration beverage, along with a Nutri-Grain or protein bar. From there, I keep to a trusted routine, enjoying ready-made meals from Clean Eatz Kitchen for both lunch and dinner. I would absolutely recommend a health food/meal prep brand like Clean Eatz Kitchen to anyone looking to get their weight under control. They make mealtime so simple, and I don’t have to worry myself thinking about nutrient intake, portion size, or the sort,” he says about his diet.

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No Soda

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“At this point, the only thing that’s been removed from my diet 100% is soda,” he says. “There are a variety of other things I’ve cut back on by probably about 80%, though. I’ve really adopted the mindset of life with moderation, that removing something from my diet entirely may cause me to become more prone to intense cravings and a possible relapse, which I say from experience. It’s important for your self-control and mental well-being that you allow yourself the occasional treat, a reward every so often, or the journey just becomes much more difficult.”

For the First Time in His Life, He Can Run

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His biggest achievement? “For the first time in my life, I’m able to run. I can do an entire lap around my house, and nothing has ever made me feel so powerful. At 450 pounds, it was a difficult to walk. I had to hold onto things to make sure I was taking proper steps. It’s an accomplishment that proves you never realize how intense the struggle is until you’ve left the struggle behind,” he says.

There Have Been Setbacks

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He has experienced some setbacks. “Old habits die hard, especially when you’re trying to cut them out completely. My weight loss journey hasn’t followed a linear path. I’ve worked my butt off to shed pounds, only to regain the weight in the near future by succumbing to those same bad habits I’d developed in the past,” he says. “Setbacks are almost unavoidable when you’re starting out. You have to find the people and professionals who can help you understand where you sit on the fitness continuum. You don’t just get to do like everyone else – because your health issues will almost always preclude you.”

He Takes Supplements

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He also takes supplements. “I use Clean Eatz Vanilla Protein Power to make protein shakes for myself, as well as their Superfoodz whole-body support blend every morning. I also use Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate and 5 Star Nutrition’s Anabolic Warfare to boost my performance and help supplement my muscle growth,” he tells us. “At the gym, I use CarniCuts pre-workout to help me sweat more during my exercises.”

How He Measured His Success

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John measured his success in small increments. “In the beginning, I measured by 10-pound increments: every 10 pounds lost was an accomplishment. But I learned that if you focus on weight and your physical appearance, then you tend to burn out and give up because the changes you’re looking for are so slow and indiscernible. Instead, I began looking for those subtle changes – how my clothes fit, new exercises I was capable of doing, etc. I trust the process and trust my trainers to get me across the finish line I’ve set in my mind,” he says.

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A Nutrition Myth, Debunked

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One fitness or nutrition myth he once believed but now debunks? You have to avoid food you love. “You can still eat everything that you enjoy in this life, so long as you understand what has to be done in order to offset. Your body is an engine, and you’re fueling it through the fluids and foods you consume. If you’re putting bad things in and not trying to burn them off, then you’re going to see poor results. But you can occasionally indulge, so long as you’re willing to put in the work,” he says.

He Reminds Himself of the Small Victories

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“I’ve had a lot of hardship and pitfalls, and there were times in my life when I decided I’d just be fat and happy. But you have to be able to remind yourself of the small victories you’ve already achieved. If you fall off the wagon, you’ve got to dust yourself off and get up. Without failure, there can never be success. Having some kind of internal monologue that reminds you of all that is important for getting past the points where you feel badly about your physical appearance,” suggests John.

Believe in Yourself

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At the end of the day, believe in yourself, says John. “You have to believe, despite the struggles and the failure and the pain, that when you put your trust in the process, you can achieve anything. Believe and trust in the process, and in yourself, that you’re capable of reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself,” he explains.

Routine Is Key

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“The easiest way to stay motivated is to create a routine, a lifestyle that accounts for healthier practices that begin to become second nature to follow in your daily life. This helps you to avoid days where you don’t feel like doing anything, and even the most minuscule task can seem like a feat of discipline,” he says.

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His Favorite Motivational Quote

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John ends his interview with a motivational quote from Thomas Edison. “Our greatest weakness lies in getting up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.