The latest viral trend, "75 Hard," is a 75-day challenge that includes working out twice a day, following a certain diet, and drinking a gallon of water a day. The results landed a TikToker in the hospital due to water poisoning.
Contrary to belief, it is possible to consume too much water. And Michelle Fairburn learned this the hard way after feeling unwell due to excessive water consumption.
Water poisoning can be fatal, but this is in extreme cases. Folks can succumb to water poisoning if they have consumed three to four liters of water in a short amount of time. Symptoms include head pain, muscle spasms, and cramping.
On her 12th day of participating in the challenge, Fairburn didn't feel well and woke up several times in the middle of the night, nauseous, weak, and using the toilet repeatedly.
Many have criticized the "75 Hard Challenge," which has 1.2 billion views on TikTok, saying it encourages unhealthy habits rather than improving health. In addition to rapid water intake, it doesn't leave room for many cheat days and doesn't give participants any chance to listen to their body's response.
The diet for the challenge is made up of your own choosing but cannot include alcohol or meals outside of the chosen diet. Participants must complete two 45-minute workouts, with one being outside every day.
Eventually, Fairburn posted on her TikTok to announce that her doctor told her she had severe sodium deficiency due to her intense water intake. Her doctors advised her to drink less than half a liter of water per day while she recovered.
Fairburn tells her followers in a video, "Always listen to your body. These challenges are not for everybody and don't take it too seriously. And pivot when you need to pivot, stop when you need to stop."
2 resources
- NIH. Fatal Water Intoxication.
- University of Portsmouth. 75 Hard: what you need to know before taking on this viral fitness challenge.
Your email will not be published. All fields are required.