A student at Stellenbosch University (SU) is well on his way to completing his customised version of the 75 Hard Challenge: to eat an entire chicken every day for 75 days. Adam Jack, a third-year financial management SU student, ate his first full chicken on 3 August, and plans to eat his last bird on 16 October.
Adam Jack, a third-year financial management student at Stellenbosch University, ate a whole chicken for the 46th day in a row on Friday, 19 September. He aims to complete his challenge of eating a chicken for 75 days in total. PHOTO: Brigid Taylor
Jack’s chicken plans were first laid when he was discussing the viral 75-day challenge with his friends while eating a chicken, and the idea landed right on his plate, he said.
“My friend Jordan was talking about how funny it would be if I ate a chicken [a day] for 75 days, and I kind of just rolled with it,” said Jack.
Alexander Tominskyi, known to his internet fans as the “Rotisserie Chicken Guy”, previously went viral for eating a full rotisserie chicken every day for 40 days, according to VICE.
Much like Tominskyi, Jack has picked up a few fans along the way, reaching over 40 000 views on one of his Instagram reels.
What started with him filming the challenge in his kitchen, soon led him to choosing other landscapes to enjoy his daily fix. These include but are not limited to: a boat on the Vaal River, on top of the Stellenbosch Coetzenburg mountains, and even inside the SU Library, he said.
Adam Jack, a Stellenbosch University student attempting to eat a whole chicken every day for 75 days in a row, ate his chicken in the quickest time on day 39. Jack said he ate the chicken, which he braaied himself, in 17 minutes. PHOTO: Supplied/Adam Jack
His videos, posted on both Instagram and Tiktok, also managed to garner the attention of none other than Nando’s, the popular fast-casual restaurant chain.
On day 15, “they gave me a voucher, 24 bottles of sauce and some merchandise”, said Jack.
“After we realised the relative absurdity in what he was setting out to achieve, we had to help the guy out! Seventy-five days of chicken eating is a tall order, hopefully made a little easier with some of our retail products to add some variety, ” said Jessica Wheeler, chief brand and customer officer of the restaurant chain.
Jack said that the lemon and herb flavoured chicken from Nando’s he ate on day 40 was the tastiest one so far.
It’s gotten easier over time, he said.
“The flavour fatigue has been harder, but to actually eat a chicken and keep it down and not feel sick has definitely been easier,” said Jack.
As for the physical effects of the challenge, “I’ve gained about 5kg, and I’m definitely stronger,” said Jack. He even bench-pressed a new personal best (PB) of 130kg, he said.
Adam Jack, a student at Stellenbosch University, who is attempting to eat a whole chicken a day for 75 days, named this chicken “lil golf bird”. He ate the chicken on day 46 while playing a round of golf. PHOTO: Brigid Taylor
“I don’t see any good reason to have a full chicken as the only source of protein, but if he eats enough fruits, veg and wholegrains, it could be balanced enough,” said Ashley Caradas, a registered dietitian in Sea Point, Cape Town.
“It’s my only source of protein, but I’ll chow pizza in the day, and lots of fruit and veg,” said Jack.
“I’ve always been very inconsistent so being able to stick to something every day has been quite rewarding,” said Jack.