Fitness Creator Completes 75 Hard Challenge, Gains Muscle and Loses Fat

Isaiah Photo embarked on the grueling 75-day program, achieving visible abs and his best running fitness ever.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fitness creator Isaiah Photo embarked on the '75 Hard' challenge, a demanding program that requires two 45-minute workouts per day, a strict diet with no alcohol, one gallon of water consumed daily, reading 10 pages of non-fiction, and taking daily progress photos. Over the 75 days, Photo lost 9.7 lbs of fat, gained 5.4 lbs of muscle, and reduced his body fat percentage from 16.6% to 10.9%, all while simultaneously training for the Boston Marathon and achieving his best running fitness ever.

Why it matters

The 75 Hard challenge is an extreme test of discipline and commitment, and Photo's success demonstrates that with structured habits, seemingly contradictory fitness goals like building muscle and losing fat can be achieved together. His transformation also highlights the power of consistency and the ability to push through plateaus to reach breakthrough results.

The details

Photo started the 75 Hard challenge on January 1st at 162 lbs and 16.6% body fat. He structured his days around habit stacking, beginning each morning with an ice bath, Bible reading, and a morning run. Afternoons featured either a garage lifting session or a cycling workout. Despite temptations during a trip to Jamaica, Photo maintained strict discipline and saw his physique start to transform around day 44. By day 48, his body fat had dropped to 13.3%, and he recalibrated his strategy to push for the coveted 10% body fat range. Photo's running performances also improved dramatically, with him completing a 20-mile run at a 6:29 pace and an 8-mile threshold workout averaging 5:23 per mile.

  • Photo started the 75 Hard challenge on January 1st.
  • By day 48, Photo's body fat had dropped to 13.3%.
  • Photo completed a 20-mile run at a 6:29 pace and an 8-mile threshold workout averaging 5:23 per mile.

The players

Isaiah Photo

A fitness creator who embarked on the grueling 75 Hard challenge, ultimately transforming his physique and running performance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I definitely think visually looking better, looking leaner. I can start to see like my top two abs here getting a little bit more vascular. Good signs.”

— Isaiah Photo

“It takes hard work to get it done. All right. And I'm locked in. I need to see abs at the end of this.”

— Isaiah Photo

“I have never been this physically fit and felt this good running at this pace in my entire life.”

— Isaiah Photo

“That felt so good. 8 miles 5:25 pace. Everything was controlled. Just felt fantastic. That's exactly where you want to be 7 and a half weeks out from the marathon.”

— Isaiah Photo

What’s next

Photo plans to continue implementing the habits and discipline he developed during the 75 Hard challenge as he prepares for the Boston Marathon.

The takeaway

Isaiah Photo's 75 Hard journey demonstrates that with structured habits and a commitment to consistency, individuals can achieve seemingly contradictory fitness goals, such as building muscle and losing fat, while also improving athletic performance. His transformation highlights the power of pushing through plateaus and the ability to transform temporary discipline into a permanent lifestyle.