Here's The Real Problem With RFK Jr. And Pete Hegseth's Fitness Challenge

Every few months, a new fitness challenge makes the rounds on TikTok or Instagram. You might remember the 75 Hard challenge or the 12-3-30 treadmill workout. But now, these challenges are drifting into the political arena. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently called out Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the so-called "Pete and Bobby Challenge": 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in under 10 minutes.

Of course, most people can't even do a single pull-up, let alone 50. A few push-ups? Maybe. But 100 in less than 10 minutes? That's a whole different story. While this feels more like political showmanship than actual health advice, the truth is that these military-style challenges can be brutal — even for seasoned athletes.

The bigger issue is that when you cram a high-volume workout into such a short window, form often goes out the window. And for people who aren't in top shape, that's a fast track to injury and frustration. Plus, fitness professionals were quick to call out both RFK Jr. and Hegseth for their questionable range of motion on camera. As one gym owner and former Danish military sergeant told The New York Times, "That is not how you do a qualified, correct pull-up in the military."

Even for Hegseth and RFK Jr., this workout was tough. Both managed to finish in under 10 minutes, with Hegseth clocking in at 5 minutes 25 seconds. RFK Jr., at 71 years old, finished just 23 seconds behind the 45-year-old former Army officer. Still, those last few reps were hardly clean by fitness standards. "This is one of the worst (and most common) pull-up mistakes I see guys make: refusing assistance," Bodybuilder Jeff Nippard posted bluntly on X. "It takes an ego check to use a pull-up machine, a band, or a partner for assistance but serious lifters find it respectable."

Instead of forcing yourself to hit 100 push-ups or 50 pull-ups with sloppy form, you'll get more out of the workout by breaking up the reps into more manageable sets. That way, you can focus on proper range of motion and actually work the muscles the way they're supposed to be worked. If you can't quite manage a full pull-up yet, bands or assisted machines let you build strength while dialing in good form (here are some common push-up mistakes).

And about that 10-minute time cap? It's not essential if your goal is fitness. Sure, CrossFitters thrive on timed workouts, but even they recommend scaling exercises to match your current fitness level. Prioritizing form and quality over speed will get you stronger — and keep you injury-free — far faster than chasing a flashy number to post on social media.