How To Feel Awesome in Just 14 Days: The Wholesome Habits Challenge

By Carly Jacobs

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This post is sponsored by Bupa

t can be really freaking hard to figure out what you’re supposed to do to keep healthy.

One minute we’re told to alkalize our water, the next we’re told to drink our greens in the form of smoothies and don’t even get me started on whether or not we’re supposed to eat tofu. Seriously are we supposed to eat tofu? I have no idea. There really is only one thing I care about when it comes to adopting new ‘healthy’ habits. Whether or not the claims have been scientifically proven or, in technical terms, are evidence-based. If some random dude called Bark who lives in a treehouse in Byron Bay starts selling sawdust smoothies as the new miracle food, I’m definitely not going to be a customer of his.

It’s also hard for people who don’t have any specific problems or areas they want to fix, they just want to be taught or be reminded what healthy living looks like. In the modern world it can be really easy to forget.

That’s why I decided to work with the health professionals at Bupa and come up with a 14 day plan that has no agenda. There are no shakes or pills to buy, no equipment, no weigh-ins. It’s just a simple 14 day challenge that is all about three mantras:

1. Eat healthy, low fat food, not too much, and mostly vegetables.

Here a few shopping tips to get you started!

2. Move more.

This challenge is all about making time to move, eating mindfully and getting plenty of rest. That’s all.

3. Get good sleep.

Everyone needs a different amount of sleep but the recommended amount is 7 to 8 hours.

For the next 2 weeks (and then every day thereafter!), I want you to concentrate on just the 3 following things.

Exercise every day

You have to raise your heart rate for 30 minutes every day. You can power walk around the block, you can do a lounge room workout or you can go to the gym and do some weights. Do whatever works for you but it just needs to be 30 minutes of an accelerated heart rate every day. If you find it challenging, or hard to find a spare 30 minutes, you could do 10 minutes a time three times a day.

Eat 5 cups of vegetables every day 

This seems like quite a lot but I can assure you it’s very achievable. This challenge is all about reminding people that eating vegetables is not negotiable and that they should make up half of your meal. All you need to do is eat a cup of vegetables with every meal and as snacks.

Get a regular amount of sleep 

Most people can function on less sleep than they need if they have to, but why function when you can thrive? Aim to get about 8 hours of sleep every night. Note to parents: Try your best. I know having kids makes sleeping very difficult but just do the best you can.

Here are a few tips and things to think about when adding some good stuff things to your diet.

Here are the hashtags for the challenge

#30minutesaday

#5cupsofvegaday

#8hourseverynight

#wholesomehabitschallenge

Share any way you like – on Facebook or Instagram. I’ll be sharing mainly on Snapchat (carly.jacobs) and Instagram – I do love a good visual. Speaking of visuals I’m going to take before and after shots to keep a reference of what two weeks can do for you – but that’s not compulsory. I’m also going to document my face to see if there’s any difference there – lets see what 2 weeks of full nights sleep can do for me!

If you’re keen to sign up for the challenge just enter here.

You can also download the free star chart to keep you on track. 

You can start any time you like but I’m starting today Monday 13th June – do make sure you pop into to the Facebook and join there. I’ll be posting daily tips and things in there so it’s definitely an awesome place to be.

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Who’s in? Who’s keen for a cheeky body re-set with me?

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P.S Also you should totally sign up for my newsletter. It’s full of cool stuff.

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About Carly Jacobs

Carly is the founding editor of Smaggle which launched in 2007 back when blogging was weird. She has appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Cosmopolitan and Cleo magazines. Hoop earrings are totally her thing and she almost got run over by Myf Warhurst while out jogging one day.

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