The beginning of March - the perfect moment for a 35-day health challenge

March has always been a special month. Spring is starting to show, there's more sunshine and it feels like it's time to wake up from hibernation and give yourself a restart. At the beginning of the year we did this challenge with a small group of 4 people and the results were very good. We lost 2-7 kg and all participants felt 5+ after the challenge.  

Seeing how well it worked, I believe that the beginning of March is the right time for a larger group to take up the challenge, to face the spring-summer months feeling lighter and healthier.

5 simple daily tasks

The challenge is simple: you have 5 daily tasks, each giving you one point and a maximum score of 175 points.

These tasks are:

 

1. 1. Walk at least 10 000 steps a day

1. 1. Do at least one 10-minute active workout every day

1. 1. Drink at least 2 litres of water a day

1. 1. Eat at least 5 handfuls of fresh fruit and vegetables a day.

1. 1. Avoid products with added sugar and alcohol

My initial goal was to score at least 160 points, but I ended up doing all 175. If you're going to start, why do it half-heartedly?

How and why did these tasks help me lose 7 kilos?

10,000 steps - it sounds like a cliché, but in reality it has made a huge difference to my daily activity. Steps motivate you to move more, help you burn more calories and are good for your mental health. Spring is the perfect time to do it, as the weather is nice enough to enjoy being outside.

At least 10 minutes of active exercise every day - for me, it was small steps towards big changes. Whether I was doing a quick bodyweight workout at home or jogging a short circuit, regular short workouts helped me maintain consistency and improve my overall fitness.

2 litres of water a day - Let's be honest. I wasn't a fan of drinking water, but increasing my water intake had a noticeable effect on my mood and weight. We often confuse thirst and hunger, and drinking enough water helped prevent unnecessary snacking.

5 handfuls of vegetables and fruit - not only did this fill my stomach with fewer calories, it also boosted my energy levels. Eating healthy food provided my body with the nutrients it needed and reduced my cravings for unhealthy food. The fibre helps to fill the stomach.

Avoiding sugar and alcohol - the biggest challenge, but also the biggest impact. Cutting out sugar and alcohol significantly reduced my calorie intake and helped me maintain stable blood sugar levels, thus avoiding sudden cravings.

Why start in March?

With spring approaching, many people have a natural desire to refresh their bodies and get in better shape for summer. The sunnier days and longer evenings will motivate you to be more active, and help you to keep the healthy habits that come with the 35-day challenge with you long after the programme is over.

Although I managed to lose 7 kilos, I can't guarantee that it will work in exactly the same way for everyone. But I can promise you that these 35 days will definitely change the way you think about your health and help you create better daily habits, and you'll be much healthier and brighter in April.

Ready to start your own 35-day restart in March? Try it!