75 Day Challenge: Holy Girl Edition

Everything You Need to Know About the 75 Day Challenge: Holy Girl Edition

In this post I will be outlining in more detail what this challenge will actually look like. Is this challenge right for you? I believe so! March is usually the month when the rush of “new year new me” motivation fizzles out for people. While in January, the gym is packed with adrenaline filled new members, by March that surge of motivation wanes taking the gym goers with it. Listen, I get it. Life can and will throw all manner of curve balls at us, and if we do not have good habits in place, our goals can go out of the window, leaving us frustrated back at square one. This is why March is a great time for a challenge, especially when its with a friend.

I took inspiration for this challenge from the viral 75 Hard Challenge created by Andy Frisella. If you’ve never heard about 75 Hard, you can read about it here. It is called 75 HARD for a reason, most people cannot complete it, which is kind of the point, since it’s more of a mental toughness challenge more than anything. I liked the framework of the challenge, because of the structure it provides to create healthy, concrete habits in one’s life. I truly believe God wants His children to be mentally and physically healthy.

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

If we are healthy, we can be ready at all times to go when and where He says to go. He wants us living a disciplined, balanced, and healthy life so that we can better serve Him. Remember, God is for us, not against us. (Romans 8:31)

I took the framework of 75 Hard and created a more attainable challenge that will help you to grow physically, mentally, and most importantly spiritually. So here’s what the challenge will look like, for 75 days you must complete 7 tasks weekly. Here’s the caveat, if you miss any of these 7 rules at any time during the next 75 days you must start the challenge over at day one. That’s what makes this challenge stick because there are consequences in place to keep you accountable. Imagine that you are on day 56 and you forget to read 5 pages of your book for the day, it would be really annoying to start over at day one! If we do not have consequences in our lives, we will cave to our excuses, therefore leaving us stagnant. If you want change in your life, you must press into hard things. Choose your hard!

So here are the rules of The 75 Day Challenge: Holy Girl Edition

1. You must spend (at least) thirty uninterrupted minutes with Jesus in the morning. This is before you pick up your phone. Go into your secret place, close the door, and spend time with your Father who sees you in secret and loves you. Build your interior life with Him by studying His Word, worshiping, and praying. When you begin your days in the presence of Jesus, you will be able to withstand whatever is thrown at you that day. If you’re a mama of littles, I completely understand that babies can wake at random times. If this happens, invite them in if you need to. Read the scripture out loud to them, pray together, and worship together. When our kids see us treasuring Jesus, they will too. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

2. Workout for (at least) 30 minutes six days a week with one rest day. This can be whatever workout that you enjoy; whether it be lifting weights, pilates, running, dancing, biking, or stretching. The point is to find a workout that you look forward to, because if you enjoy it, you will be consistent. Consistency is KEY. Celebrate movement, work up a sweat, and move your body for thirty minutes six days a week, taking a rest day once a week. Just as much as God values hard work, God values rest. He commands it! (See Exodus 20:8-11 and Matthew 11:28-30) Our bodies are our home and if you are a child of God, your body is the home of Holy Spirit as well! Simply amazing. So let’s work towards showing up for our health by implementing the good habit of exercise. Do it unto the Lord (See Colossians 3:23)

3. Go on a 30 minute prayer/ praise walk daily. This is separate from your thirty minute workout and can be done outside or indoors using a treadmill, walking pad, or a walking workout found on YouTube. Walking is one of the greatest forms of movement that most anyone can do. The benefits are too many to count! Want to drop some pounds? Walk daily. Want to lower cortisol? Go for a walk. Want to spark creativity? Get out in nature and WALK. Get those steps in! I aim for 10,000 steps a day. I love walking our nature trail around our property. I use that time to pray and praise the One who sustains me. Find a safe route that you can visit daily for your walks and spend that time to talk with, worship, and dream with Jesus. This can be right after your thirty minute workout or taken at another part of the day, but you must walk for at least thirty minutes every day for the duration of the challenge, even on your rest day. The more you do it, the more you will look forward to it, trust me.

4. Fast from food once a week. Biblical fasting is abstaining from food for a period of time to pray and seek the Lord. Fasting is not optional for Christ followers. Jesus said, “When you fast…” not if you fast. (see Matthew 6:16-18) This can be a complete water fast for the entire day, eating only once a day, or fasting through a meal. It is between you and the Lord. Building a lifestyle of fasting will throw gasoline on the fire of your walk with Jesus. Pick one day each week that will be your day of fasting and over time it will be an integral part of your life.

5. Read 5 pages of a christian spiritual growth book daily. This can be any book on biblical study and/or christian growth. Basically any book that is non-fiction and christian is acceptable. Read five pages a day. I would advise choosing reading at night rather than doom scrolling on your phone. Draw a bubble bath and read. Make is something to look forward to. I know I am one who loves to buy books, but I never can seem to finish most of them, but I know that if I have a concrete rule set in place for myself I will be able to read the books that I have committed to. It has to be one book at a time, you cannot read five pages from different books each day. Pick your line up of books for the next 75 days and commit to reading them.

6. Drink 2-3 liters of water every day. This one is self explanatory. Get a good water bottle that will make it easy for you to track your intake throughout the day. The water must be unflavored, it cannot have anything added to it. Staying hydrated is vital for our health. I have a 40 ounce Stanley cup, so I know if I drink 3 of those I am set. Make sure you spread your water intake evenly throughout your day! This is very important, because trying to consume 2-3 liters at the end of the day to hit your goal is very dangerous for your body. Read about the risks of over hydration here. Keep your bottle with you and sip, sip, sip throughout your day.

7. Choose a healthy/balanced diet and stick to it. When working toward health goals, what goes into your mouth is crucial. God gave us everything our bodies need to thrive, fight disease, balance hormones, and stay strong in the food that He created. Food is medicine. Fill your plate with all the colors of the rainbow! Choose a diet that you can sustain and is realistic so you can stick to it without cheating. Choose whole foods rather than processed man-made foods. Your body will thank you. The more you eat healthy, the more your body will crave fresh, wholesome ingredients, because that is how God created us to eat. Write out exactly what kind of diet that you choose and commit to it. In these 75 days, when you are faced with the temptation to “cheat”, remind yourself that if you cave into it, you will have to start the challenge over at day one. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self control. (See Galatians 5:22-23) If you lack self control around food, ask Holy Spirit to help you! You’re not in this alone. He will give you strength.

God is your strength!

“It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.” Psalm 18:32-36

So are you up for the challenge? Remember, you cannot do it, but Jesus can. His strength is made perfect in your weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9) You can accomplish the goals that you have for yourself if and only if you get all of your strength from Jesus. I believe this will be life changing! If you are wanting to join the challenge alongside like-minded sisters in Christ, consider joining my accountability group on Facebook that I created for this challenge here.

Are you ready? LET’S GO!