Join Our 50 Day Challenge!

By  |  35 Comments

it’s that time again….if you’ve been a reader for a while or a friend/family member of ours then you know all about the 50 day challenge!

my husband introduced me to the 50 day challenge when we first started dating 7 years ago (whoa. time warp) and essentially it’s where you either add something or remove something from your life for 50 days.

it can help you break a habit (like Facebook addiction or smoking) or help you create a new one (like working out and drinking more water). it also helps you appreciate all the access and privilege we have that we often don’t notice because we are accustom to it.

50 day challenge mountains

i have decided to stick to the p90x food guidelines again, which basically means fresh fruit and veggies, whole wheat carbs and whole grains, healthy and lean proteins, healthy dairy products and snacks. this also means no cookies/mac-n-cheese/hot fudge (all of which i plan on eating this weekend as a last ‘hooorah’).

i will also be writing at least 3 sentences a day for my upcoming book.

my husband is going to be signing his name at least 200 times a day and writing at least 1 letter to get his hand and wrist prepped because HE IS BREAKING A WORLD RECORD ON APRIL 15! yeah. i married a baller.

the details:

start date- monday, 2/24/14
50th day- monday, 4/14/14
hashtag: #50daychallenge
ACTION ITEM: comment below, tweet me, text me, email me by monday 2/24/14 what your challenge is going to be because i’m going to add your name to my monday blog post so everyone can see what you are doing and we can hold each other accountable and be very impressed with ourselves! get your friends and family on board too and let me know what they are doing too! it’s way more fun to commiserate (and then celebrate!) with others.

examples of what i’ve done:

  • no chips (this occurred after 2 year of convincing me to try the 50 day challenge)
  • before i can eat a wheat thin, i have to eat two baby carrots (that was rough)
  • exercise at least 4 days a week
  • no lattes

examples of what my husband has done:

  • no cheese
  • no processed sugar (fruit and honey allowed)
  • drink only water (no alcohol, juice, soda)
  • no meat

examples of what friends and family have done

  • eating clean (no processed foods)
  • no chocolate
  • no bread
  • only taking the stairs at work (she was on the 9th floor)
  • not buying any new clothes
  • drink at least 64oz of water a day
  • only 30 minutes a day of Facebook (i may add this one)

i’d like to invite you to try this. it’s okay to be nervous and hesitant…i am too. but we have each other and we are stronger than our minds! do it.  you won’t regret it and you will totally impress yourself.

get mentally prepared over the next few days because this business starts MONDAY (2/24/14). the last day of the challenge will be monday, april 14. yes, i am aware this includes st. patrick’s day and probably other holidays and festivities but it’s a challenge…and you can do anything for 50 days.

i would like to invite you to join us in this challenge. we will do periodic updates about how hard/frustrating/good/positive/annoying our challenge is and would love to incorporate other people’s goals as well!

the new wifestyle: challenge yourself to strive for something you maybe didn’t think possible or you’ve always wanted to see if you could do. now is the time!

moment of truth:
what’s your 50 day challenge going to be?

ps. remember to share this with your friends and family so we can all challenge ourselves!

35 Comments

  1. Dave

    February 21, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Chelsea,

    I would like to participate! My challenge will be to do something identifiable as “decluttering” every day and record it somehow (probably just in my little Moleskine notebook and on subsequent blog posts of yours). My decluttering efforts have always come in fits and starts and a fifty-day fit, starting Monday, sounds like just what the doctor ordered!

    I’m in!

    • chelsea

      February 21, 2014 at 10:13 am

      love it david! happy to hear you are in and that you are devising a way to quantify and record this! enjoy the clutter for the weekend (which unfortunately sounds less fun than ‘enjoy a donut this weekend’ like i’m telling myself). happy to have you on board!

  2. Dmite

    February 21, 2014 at 11:45 am

    THANKS so much for making me aware of your challenge! I’m always up for a Challenge!!! I would love to do something with my diet but with the move, I know that just wont’ be possible at this moment! BUT I’ve been wondering how to improve my Danish vocabulary!
    So here it is my challenge:
    I will write 1 Danish word a day on a notecard and memorize that word and attempt to use it in my spoken language!
    See ya on the other side!!!

    • chelsea

      February 21, 2014 at 4:37 pm

      wooohoo! Dmite always up for a challenge-love it! that is a GREAT one with writing and then memorizing a Danish word each day. i hope you pick some really ‘out there’ words too 🙂 thanks for playing Dmite!

  3. Paula Howley

    February 21, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    So basically I’m starting Lent early. Alright, I’m up for it.
    I’m going to spend 10 minutes a day on my book and at least 30 minutes a day on my speech. (I’m writing a book about public speaking for kids!) I would love daily ass-kicking/shaming/encouraging reminders!

    • chelsea

      February 21, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      wooohooo and Paula is in! yay! excellent with the 10 minutes on your book and 30 minutes a day on your speech-love it and quantifiable! i will make a note of ass-kicking mixed with encouraging reminders 🙂 excited to have you on board!

  4. ligia

    February 21, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Ok… Ok! No white flour and white sugar and only water and black espresso to drink. Yes I am scared but I know I can do it! Thank you chels for being so great- you inspire me!!!
    -Lig

    • chelsea

      February 22, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      wooohoo Ligia!! i’ve got you down for now white flour or sugar and only drinking water and black espresso! it’s okay to be scared and it’s okay to also blow your own socks off once you accomplish this in 50 days!! thanks for your sweet comment and glad to have you join us!

  5. Kim Myers

    February 22, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    ½ a page for my book not speaking related, go figure. Walk the doggy ½ mile a day, I would say a mile, but this weather is killer on her little doggy feet. I would have said eat clean, but I have been doing that for awhile now,

    • chelsea

      February 22, 2014 at 10:51 pm

      sounds great kim! glad to hear you are already eating clean-well done and love the 1/2 mile walk with the pup each day and a 1/2 page for your book…is this reading or writing? stay warm! glad to have you participating!

  6. Jean Bailey Robor

    February 22, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    Okay, Chelsea, I’m gonna go for it! Here’s what I’ll do: Exercise 3x week; write 100 words per day on a new book: Rock Your Presentation.

    • chelsea

      February 22, 2014 at 7:17 pm

      wooohoo love it Jean! we can be writing buddies and glad to hear about the exercise too! i shall add you to the list!

  7. Marie

    February 22, 2014 at 8:52 pm

    Chelsea! I am IN! For the next 50 days/5 mins of writing/5 times a week (5 is the number of change 🙂 )

    • chelsea

      February 22, 2014 at 10:52 pm

      yay Marie! welcome aboard 🙂 love the 5 concept and should be easy to remember! glad to have you join us!

  8. Emily

    February 23, 2014 at 10:06 am

    50 day GAPS challenge

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 10:19 am

      ohhh tell me more about the GAPS challenge, Emily- i haven’t heard about it! but hip hip hoooray!

  9. Sarah

    February 23, 2014 at 10:41 am

    My partner and I will be doing something simple, but really exciting for us: eating dinner at the dinner table every night. It’s really a way to limit our tv in the evening, and to stay close during those busy busy weeks!

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Sarah-i LOVE this one! it makes my heart happy and such a great way to stay close, connect and watch TV. love it! excited to hear how it brings your closer and makes your relationship stronger 🙂

  10. Mary Cornwall

    February 23, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    Hi Chelsea. Count me in on this. I love a group challenge. My commitment will be twofold one-half on exercise and one-half on liquids. 1. Exercise at least 30 minutes 4x a week. 2. Drink only water until 2pm each day at which time a diet Coke is allowed as the afternoon caffeine pick-me-up. 🙂

    Thanks for organizing this. Much more fun than going it alone.

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 3:31 pm

      that is fantastic Mary! i’m glad we can count you in! sounds like you’ve got a great plan for working out and drinking only water with the exception of 1 diet coke in the afternoon! i agree that it’s much more fun doing this together than alone and glad you’re doing it with us!

  11. Ginger

    February 23, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    I’m in! My challenge is to eat nothing but pure foods, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. Jazzercise at least 3 days a week. Stop sweating the small things life gives me and totally embrace what Is put in front of me on my life’s journey.

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      woohoo Ginger!! glad you are are all in! sounds like a tough but great challenge with eating only pure foods-well done in addition to working out! also appreciate the that you are going to stop sweating the small things-let me know if you have any tips or recommendations 🙂

  12. alison weaver

    February 23, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    ok. i came up with another challenge for me. i will draw something in my sketchbook every day. ( i always say i want to make more art and then…i don’t. ) so, it’s yoga+art+less sugar for me.

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      this is fantatic alison! love the idea of adding more art to your life! got you down for yoga/art/less sugar! thanks for participating!

  13. Linda Arnold

    February 23, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    Im in! Im only going to eat healthy foods such as protiens vegies and fruit and complex carbs.

    • chelsea

      February 23, 2014 at 10:30 pm

      yay Linda! so happy to have you along with us! sounds like a great challenge of eating only healthy foods-i’ll be there with you! maybe one last cookie before bed 🙂

  14. TK

    February 24, 2014 at 7:03 am

    Count me in –
    – no soda
    – 15 minutes a day on my book
    – 10,000 steps at least 4 days a week.

    • chelsea

      February 24, 2014 at 8:07 am

      excellent TK! those are great challenges for your mind and body! we can be book buddies 🙂 yay!

  15. Brittany

    February 24, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Count me in
    – one point of discussion point /paragraph of my research journal article per week including edits.
    – 50 burpees per day
    – eat a more consistent and healthy diet as in mainly proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables.

    • chelsea

      February 24, 2014 at 8:10 am

      consider yourself ‘counted’ Brittany! love the specifics of your research journal and holy smokes-50 burpees a day is a great challenge-hot dang! thanks for playing 🙂

  16. Pingback: Meet the 50 Day Challengers-Today it All Starts! | the new wifestyle

  17. John

    February 24, 2014 at 10:04 am

    OK. I am In (just in time!):
    Over the next 50 Days, I will add ongoing revenue streams totaling $5,000 per month – doing what I Love and am inspired to do, putting my little gifts and talents to work in loving service to others (and most especially adding to My Wife’s peace of mind). jh

    • chelsea

      February 24, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      yay John! glad you could join us! sounds like you’ve got a great goal ahead for you by working each day to reach $5,000 of revenue streams! also a wife’s peace of mind is a VERY important and powerful thing-glad that’s on your mind too!

  18. thegoodlifescottsdale

    February 24, 2014 at 10:58 am

    Plan on walking everyday and eliminating carbs for the same period.

    • chelsea

      February 24, 2014 at 12:14 pm

      welcome aboard ‘the good life!’ glad that you are committing to working every single day and eliminating carbs for the next 50 days! have fun and be healthy 🙂