Forget “75 Hard” — “75 Mom” is social media’s hottest new health and wellness challenge.
The plan, designed exclusively for busy mamas, was co-created by fitness TikToker Brittany Rinkin after watching fit, single people complete similar health challenges that were “unrealistic” to do as a mom-of-three.
75 Mom is a spin-off of the viral 75 Hard challenge, which famously aims to test participants’ “mental toughness” by having them stick to a strict diet and exercise twice daily — no excuses or exceptions.
“We were inspired by seeing plenty of similar rules to challenges on TikTok but decided to change the rules to include house work and taking care of ourselves better, like getting ready, showering, skin care,” Rinkin, 31, told The Post in an email.
Rinkin’s modified challenge has been tailored to suit the schedules of busy mothers and even includes domestic duties.
In order to complete 75 Mom, women must exercise for 45 minutes every day for 75 days. They must also complete 45 minutes of household chores, drink a gallon of water, shower, and read 10 pages of a book while sticking to a preferred diet plan.
Creating the exact regimen, which first began on July 1 this year, was a collaboration between herself and her fellow moms online, taking to TikTok to ask her followers how to create a program “that made for sense as moms.”
“The biggest difference between 75 Mom and every other challenge is we took out the feeling of failing,” said Rinkin, from Washington state. “If a day wasn’t perfect we just did our best and started fresh the next day.”
The challenge’s forgiving nature made it more exciting and attainable for fellow moms, she said, due to “outlying circumstances” as a parent that “are out of our control at times.”
The overall goal, she added, is “to create healthy sustainable habits that make us feel in control of our lives and proud of ourselves.”
Rinkin created 75 Mom along with another TikTokker mama known only as Summer.
In one viral video, Summer touted 75 Mom as setting “attainable goals” for busy parents who may feel too overwhelmed or have too many responsibilities to participate in the other 75 day challenges.
Dr. Thea Gallagher, a clinical assistant professor of psychology at NYU Langone Health, praised the challenge, telling Popsugar that it “is reasonable and manageable for many people.”
However, Dr. Tamar Gur, reproductive psychiatrist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, warned that the 75 Mom Challenge could be reaffirming the idea that moms are supposed to be the keepers of the home, which could negative affect a participant’s mental health.
And, she noted, setting time restrictions for tasks and goals for household chores could be setting people up to fail, especially with kids at home.
“We are constantly told that we’re not doing enough as mothers, working parents, or however you categorize yourself as a parent,” Gur told Popsugar.
“You showing up is what matters. If you’re being present in your activities and doing your best to be good enough, that should be good enough.”
The Post has reached out to Summer for comment.
The original 75 Hard has been scrutinized by health experts for its safety and efficacy after it went viral, racking up billions of views on TikTok alone.
“[It] pushes the boundaries of safety for the majority of the population and does not promote healthy levels of movement, diet and rest,” Global Nike trainer Lauren Schramm, who is “strongly opposed” to the program, previously told The Post, calling it “wasted effort” and unrealistic.
In July, TikToker Michelle Fairburn shared that the challenge had given her water poisoning upon meeting the daily intake requirement of a gallon, and landed in the hospital.
Meanwhile, 75 Mom isn’t the only spin-off of 75 Hard.
75 Soft is a beginner-friendly modification to the original hardcore challenge, which features less strict guidelines and is designed for individuals who are “more focused on balance.”
