Actress Alaya F recently opened up about her health struggles during her second 75-day Hard Challenge. The 27-year-old performer revealed she was diagnosed with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), a condition causing persistent bloating, fatigue, inflammation, and poor nutrient absorption. Unlike her first challenge in early 2024, which went smoothly, this experience was difficult. She has been on antibiotics for over 50 days to treat the severe bacterial overgrowth. The 75-day Hard Challenge is a mental toughness programme requiring participants to follow a strict diet with no cheat meals or alcohol, complete two 45-minute workouts daily (one outdoors), drink a gallon of water, read 10 pages of a nonfiction book, and take a progress photo each day. Despite the setbacks, Alaya completed the challenge, emphasizing that true discipline is about consistency rather than intensity.
Understanding SIBO and its impact on fitness
SIBO occurs when bacteria from the large intestine migrate to the small intestine, where they do not belong. According to medical experts, this bacterial overgrowth causes constant bloating, severe fatigue, inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, slow muscle recovery, reduced strength, and brain fog. These symptoms make physical challenges extremely difficult. People often mistake SIBO symptoms for needing more exercise or stricter diets, but pushing harder can worsen fatigue and slow recovery. The condition depletes the body rather than strengthening it. Some SIBO cases require antibiotics for over 50 days because bacteria keep returning or resist shorter treatment cycles. Extended antibiotic use gradually reduces bacterial load, helps the gut lining heal, and prevents symptom relapse while restoring normal digestive movement.
Alaya's contrasting experiences with fitness challenges
Alaya described how her two 75-day Hard Challenge experiences differed drastically. During her first attempt in early 2024, her workouts focused on pushing limits, and she watched her body transform positively. This time, she only managed the bare minimum, showing up without seeing progress—only symptoms. For nearly three months, she battled a mystery illness before receiving her SIBO diagnosis. Her stomach remained bloated throughout most of the challenge, contrasting with her usually toned appearance. Despite these difficulties, she completed the challenge, learning that true discipline means showing up consistently regardless of circumstances. Netizens praised her honesty, with many applauding her perseverance and acknowledging that consistency matters more than intensity when facing health obstacles.
Source: Link