Would you like to create some Healthy Habits for the next 8 weeks? (and hopefully forever?) Then, this is the challenge for you. We're going to start on Monday, April 11th and conclude on Sunday, June 5th. Just in time for graduations, summer weather, and swimming!
There are 10 goals for each day. We're going to have 2 plans to choose from according to where you are in your healthy living journey. Choose the plan that will be a stretch for you, but won't be so overwhelming that you'll quit early on. I'm going to do Plan A, but I know that it's probably too much for most people. Most of you will probably choose plan B and that's perfectly fine. There's no penalty or reward for choosing one over the other. You just have to stick with whatever plan you commit to. It's all about developing healthy habits that you can live with.
Here's the second option:
Healthy Habits Challenge Plan B --
Exercise at least 30 minutes
Get at least 7 Hours of Sleep
Drink 48 oz. water (If you want to go for 64 oz., do it!)
No sugar, soda, junk food, or fast food. (No artificial sugars either unless it's minimal like in sugar-free gum. Natural sugars such as honey and real maple syrup are okay, but try not to have too much).
Whole grains at least 1/2 the time. (Avoid white flour, white rice, regular pasta as much as you can. Go for whole grains, brown rice or wild rice, and whole wheat pasta or brown rice pasta when it's available).
2 Fruits and 2 Veggies (at the very least!) a day (dried fruits count, juice only counts if juiced in a juicer or in a smoothie)
Stop eating at 8:00 p.m. (The only exception is if you have a late dinner, but really try to have your dinner earlier -- this is more for when someone else is hosting the dinner or if other plans make an earlier dinner impossible. On my last 8 week challenge, I only had to have the late dinner twice for the whole 8 weeks).
Write in journal (or blog) -- The journaling can be on paper or on the computer (or a mix).
Read Scriptures or other uplifting material for 15 minutes
Act of Service or Kindness -- This can be within your own family or out in public. Just be mindful of finding ways to help others.
You can get up to 10 points each day and get one free day. I've found that it helps to keep most of your goals still intact on your free day so the next day isn't quite as much of a challenge. The only goal that you can separate from the rest on your free day is exercise. For example, if you are planning your free day as Saturday because of a dinner party, but can't exercise on Tuesday, you can skip the Tuesday exercise, use Saturday as your free day, but still exercise that day since you didn't on Tuesday. The only exception is if you have an accidental mishap. Like if you eat something after 8:00 without thinking or forget to eat that last piece of fruit before 8:00. You can still have your free day that Saturday instead of having to take the day with the accident as the free day, but when Saturday comes, you have to keep that goal (like the 8:00 curfew or getting enough fruit) amidst your other free points. Let me know if you have any questions about that. That was my mom's idea because those accidents do happen, especially as we get older :). No planned separations on goals though except for the exercise. And only one accidental mishap make-up per week. After that, you just have to lose the point.
