We found 32 results tagged with "30 day challenge"
32 Challenges
32 Challenges found
Cook from a book
When was the last time you cracked a cookbook and made a recipe using only whole, all-natural foods? Using recipes doesn’t just provide you with a single exotic meal – it’s a great opportunity to expand both your repertoire and your diet’s nutrition quotient. This month, challenge yourself to...
Take care of your knees
Focusing on broader fitness goals, exercisers can sometimes ignore commonsense safety practices. And later on, they pay the price with injuries. If you want to prolong your pleasure in exercising, it’s a good idea to keep your knees in mind.
This month, challenge yourself to protect your knees...
Figure your body’s ratios
Ever wonder what your body’s ratio of fat to muscle is, and, more important, if it’s healthy? There are several ways to find out.
This month, challenge yourself to make an appointment with your doctor or trainer to get your body composition tested using one of the following methods:
• Waist-to...
Upgrade so-so sewing skills
If a button is beyond you and your wardrobe’s the worse for it, get yourself a needle, thread, and thimble and go at it; you may surprise yourself. Although many of us never graduate beyond reattaching buttons, challenging yourself to refurbish clothing will make you feel terrific.
_(When...
Boot up
In the past few years, fitness boot camps have become popular with a wide range of fitness enthusiasts. Set outdoors, these high-intensity workouts promise quick results for people willing to set aside a few hours several days per week. With special classes for women, moms, early risers, and various...
Pull yourself up
Like its cousin the pushup, pull-ups are surprisingly simple and rewarding. To get started, you can install a pull-up bar in a closet doorway. Bars are also usually available at local playgrounds.
This month, challenge yourself to find a pull-up bar (or install one) and add pull-ups to your...
Indulge in body therapy
Most of us are familiar with Swedish massage. Yet there are many other types of touch therapies that serve to do more than just relax your body. Body therapy disciplines run the gamut from rejuvenating to repairing to relaxing. Shiatsu, hot stone, deep-tissue…the possibilities are numerous. This...
Host an all-natural recipe swap
Recipe swaps are a delight: Not only do you go home with a slew of tantalizing menus, but you also get to try your hand at your friends’ favorite dishes.
This month, challenge yourself to expand the palates of your friends and be a positive catalyst for healthy change in their diets by throwing...
Push yourself
Few exercises are as basic – or as productive – as the humble pushup, which help you feel stronger in a matter of weeks. You can modify them to fit your individual fitness level – try them on your knees or your toes, legs together or spread. This month, challenge yourself to do 2-3 sets of 10...
Host a vegetarian potluck
Potlucks are an excellent opportunity to experience new dishes while you spend time with friends. They’re also great for expanding your recipe collection. Some tips for a successful event:
• Have everyone bring printouts of their recipes, or upload them to a group website.
• Photograph the...
Hem away your day
Tall folks aside, most of us spend considerable amounts of cash hemming and tailoring too-long trousers. Shortening pants is a useful skill and a solid building block for more complicated tailoring. Plus, being self-sufficient feels great. Since sewing clubs are springing up in cities nationwide...
Up your upper-body strength
There are numerous health benefits associated with strength training. Yet many people neglect their biceps, triceps, lats, deltoids, and pecs. Upper body strength has many rewards: a leaner, more defined physique and a higher total muscle mass (leading to increased metabolism). Better still, you...
Start a scrapbook of family recipes
Collecting family recipes puts you in touch with your history. It’s also a great way to preserve a food legacy for your children and to get in touch with people you might not have talked with for a while.
This month, challenge yourself to identify people in your family who might have access to...
Fit in knitting
Who hasn’t watched a knitter calmly sitting for hours on a plane or in a queue, creating something homemade and lovely? Recently, knitting is enjoying a renaissance, and classes and social groups abound. Challenge yourself to learn this meditative and useful hobby.
(When logging progress for...
Try capoeira
Based on ancient warrior moves, capoeira is a form of dance that can get your heart pumping and muscles moving. This week challenge yourself to see how fun capoeira can be.
_Always consult a physician before starting any exercise routine._
_(We've given you 30 days for this challenge. When you...
Quit your car
There’s no way around it: Cars pollute. Here are some cleaner ideas for getting places, ranging from “light green” to “forest green”:
• Walk – Fresh air, exercise, and a surprisingly quick trip if you work it.
• Bike – Some commutes are faster this way, and daytime errands are a snap.
•...
Avoid overdrying
Overdrying disappoints in a number of ways. It uses excess energy, it leaves clothes more wrinkled (requiring additional ironing), and it wears fabric faster. The next time you do laundry, challenge yourself to remove clothing when it’s a bit damp.
_(We’ve given you 30 days for this challenge...
Workout 3 times per week
Yes, we know getting off your rump can sometimes be tough. But if you’re going to experience tomorrow, why not experience it strong and healthy? Some tips for sticking with a routine:
• Start off small
• Be realistic
• Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day.
This month, challenge yourself...
Grow an organic garden
Seeds and starter plants raised without pesticides and herbicides make sense if you’re going organic. And they’re readily available at garden supply centers. This spring, if you’re planning on gardening, challenge yourself to learn about organic options and use them instead of conventional ones...
Try Pilates
Originally developed as a physical therapy method, Pilates uses controlled movements that enable you to strengthen your body’s core, while also improving your flexibility and balance. A bonus is that it may even help to improve your posture while you age. This month, challenge yourself to find a...
Throw a chocolate tasting party
Now that the holidays are over you may find yourself missing some of the hustle and bustle of social events and activities. Which is why we think that throwing a chocolate tasting party this month is such a great idea. It’ll give you an excuse to get together with friends or family in a more...
Be good to your heart
February is American Heart Month. And since Kashi is a big proponent of keeping your heart healthy, we thought we’d highlight it by posting a challenge.
This month, make an effort to pay attention to these aspects of heart health:
• Diet
• Fitness
• Weight management
• Cholesterol
• High...
Have a tea party
Although you might think that tea parties are for children, they’re actually quite fun for adults too. Especially if you plan them on a theme. The best ones are based on a tea’s origins. For example, when serving Japanese tea offer your guests Japanese foods like rice cakes or mochi. Or, when...
Get more fiber
Most of us don't have a clue about how much fiber we eat every day. Considering that high-fiber diets have been shown to help lower cholesterol, slow digestion (which keeps your stomach feeling full longer), and prevent constipation, it's a wonder we don't try harder to get more than we do. The...
Try tai chi
There’s a reason you see so many people doing tai chi in the park. It’s not only an interesting way to exercise outdoors, this ‘meditation in motion’ is great for stress reduction, balance, agility, and more. This month challenge yourself to try tai chi at least once.
_Always consult a physician...
Try “slow laundry”
Ever heard of the “slow food” movement, which emphasizes the enjoyment and preparation of foods? Well, here’s a slight variation on that theme. Slow laundry aims to get more people line drying their clothing to conserve energy. And then there’s the benefit of slowing down in general. Life is more...
Try a team sport instead of jogging
A recent study by Danish scientists who conducted research on 37 men found that soccer players worked off more fat and built more muscle than joggers exercising for the same amount of time. In addition, the soccer players had more fun and felt less muscle pain and exertion.
If you’re a jogger...
Start a meditation practice
Some research shows meditation may be linked to decreased stress, anxiety, and depression. It may also help many medical conditions, including allergies, chronic pain, and heart disease. Not to mention how much relaxation and increased awareness it can bring! With all these benefits, it's a great...
Try yoga (or a new yoga style)
Yoga has been shown to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and relax the mind. (For those of you who already practice regularly, these benefits are clear.)
During the next week — if you're a newbie to yoga — challenge yourself to sign-up for your first yoga class to find out what you've...
Throw an olive oil tasting party
Did you know that in the Northern Hemisphere (where the majority of the world's olive oil is produced) the olive harvest season starts in the fall? As a result, your best chance of getting fresh olive oil is during this time of the year.
This month, take advantage of the new harvest by inviting...
Try strength training
Weight lifting and strength training not only build muscle mass but may increase your metabolism and help strengthen your bones.
With this in mind, try to integrate some strength training into every week for the next month. If you're new to exercise, make sure to take it slow. (Contrary to...
Integrate cardio into your schedule
Whether you want to strengthen your heart, lose a few pounds or improve your attitude, cardiovascular exercise is a great way to improve your health and happiness. This month, feel the benefits of cardio exercise by making an effort to do 20-30 minutes at least four days per week.
_Always...
