Read Scripture + Eat Better + Exercise = 31 Day Challenge
Why the 31 Day Challenge?
To spiritually fatten us up and physically trim us down. To help us find direction from God through prayer, perseverance, and self control.
When?
We do the challenge every New Year as a group, but this is designed to essentially be done anytime of the year when needed.
Why is this different?
Because this isn't a diet, or another study plan, and it surely isn't about what you can't do. This challenge is all about what U CAN DO! U CAN read your Bible. U CAN begin every day with prayer. U CAN eat better and exercise regularly. U can turn towards God.
It’s about making a positive change in several areas for 31 days. Anyone can do something for 31 days - even U!
Who's it for?
Is this just for guys? NO - this is for everyone including U. However, we encourage men to step up and lead their families.
How to Get Started:
1. If you choose to accept this challenge, first send us an email so we can pray for you - info@adventuremen.org
2. Then take aim at one or both of the following targets:
Target 1: Beginner
- Pray daily (before you begin each day, ask God what He wants you to do for Him)
- Read the below scripture daily
- Do the daily challenge
Target 2: Hard-Core
- “Eat clean” by following the below guidelines. What you choose to eat/drink or not to eat/drink is entirely up to you. Use common sense because only you know what will work for you. Keep it achievable.
- Exercise (7-30 minutes per day, every day, for 31 days straight). If lifting weights isn't your thing, then simply go for a brisk walk to get your heart rate up. Whatever you decide to do, keep your goal achievable and achievable.
Don’t worry, if you miss a target just try harder the next day. Remember - anyone can do something for 31 days - even U!
Share your struggles, wins, and testimonies on our Facebook Page
Eating and Drinking Clean Principles
- Eat five or six small meals a day. By eating smaller meals throughout the day, you can help rev up your metabolism and reduce the chance that you’ll snack on chips or crackers.
- Cook your own meals. Instead of buying meals in a box or at a drive through, cook meals from scratch. Clean, whole foods only need a little preparation to make satisfying, good tasting meals that your family will love.
- Eat good carbs. Do your best to lower your bad carbs (white flowers, sugars) and replace them with good carbs (fruits, veggies, nuts, sweet potatoes, etc).
- Eat whole foods when possible: Whole foods are foods that haven’t been tampered with in a lab or manufacturing plant. These foods are straight from the farm: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, grass-fed and free-range meats, low fat dairy products, unsalted nuts, and seeds. If the food has a label and you can’t pronounce the ingredients, then you shouldn't eat it.
- It's OK to eat dessert. Yes, that's right, you can eat dessert, but ensure that dessert does not contain refined sugars and heavy, fatty dairy products. Try fruit for dessert, or look for other healthy options as listed here. Dessert after lunch is way better than late at night - or skip it altogether.
- Drink lots of water. Generally, you can drink as much water as you want...Wahoo! Feel free to flavor it with fresh fruits. Water intake guidance can be found at the Mayoclinic. Eliminate soda and other carbonated drinks with ingredients that you cannot pronounce.
------DAILY SCRIPTURE 2019--------------
Day 1: Proverbs 1
Challenge: Take a brisk 15-30 minute walk today. If you are physically unable to go for a walk do something that will get your heart rate up a little.
Day 2: Proverbs 2
Challenge: Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are awesome! Yeah we know its a bit corny but give it a try - you have to actually say it out loud for it to work. Think of something that you like about yourself and pray for help making whatever that is even better. Now think about those things that you don't like and pray for strength to make changes.
Day 3: Proverbs 3
Challenge: Find a total stranger and give them 5 bucks Yes that's right, $5. Or give them more if you can swing it. Maybe pay for the car behind you in the drive through. If they ask why, tell them you are doing the 31 Day AdventureMen Challenge and wanted to show them the kindness of Jesus.
Day 4: Proverbs 4
Challenge: Close your eyes and capture a time that you spent outside in the sunshine and had fun. Keep that picture in your head today and reflect on it.
Day 5: Proverbs 5
Challenge: What thoughts run through your mind? Are they generally good or bad. Is any of it causing you too sin?
Day 6: Proverbs 6
Challenge: Do something nice for your neighbor, the person that lives to your right or left. Get their mail, shovel their driveway, or just ring their doorbell and say hello. A simple "whats-up dog" can go a long way.
Day 7: Proverbs 7
Challenge: Reflect on the scripture today, what is God speaking to you? How does this relate if at all?
Day 8: Proverbs 8
Challenge: Does God speak to us through others? If so what has He told you? Who spoke the words? Maybe it was confirmation, or direction on something within your career. Are you about to make a big change or do something drastic? Ask God for confirmation - always ask God for confirmation. He'll do it for ya yes He will!
Day 9: Proverbs 9
Challenge: Pray for God to use you today. Ask the simple question - What can I do for you today God?
Day 10: Proverbs 10
Challenge: Pray for those who have harmed you in any way. Ask for the strength to forgive them. This could be the hardest challenge of all the 31.
Day 11: Proverbs 11
Challenge: Is it possible to walk your neighborhood, municipality, or city and pray for the residents? If not, take some time to pray for them today.
Day 12: Proverbs 12
Challenge: Are you following any "worthless pursuits"?. Whatever comes to mind as you read the scripture may be something you want to consider backing away from.
Day 13: Proverbs 13
Challenge: Who are you surrounding yourself with? Who are your friends? Are they good people, fellow Christians, or are they wicked? If possible, and if needed, consider making changes. Remember though, we should be the light in the darkness so don't alienate yourself from the lost.
Day 14: Proverbs 14
Challenge: What quickly angers you? What is the root cause, and what can you do to ensure this situation doesn't arise?
Day 15: Proverbs 15
Challenge: Have you ever been confronted by someone who was angry, and responded in kindness? How would that situation been different if you chose to take a different response. Reflect.
Day 16: Proverbs 16
Challenge: Do you work for God? No mater what you do for a living you have a manager, supervisor, or if you are self employed you have a customer or someone or something that dictates the activities in your day. Are you working for the man, or God?
Day 17: Proverbs 17
Challenge: Do you know someone with a crushed spirit? What can you do to lift their spirit today? Be the Good news.
Day 18: Proverbs 18
Challenge: An intelligent heart acquires knowledge. What are you reading, watching, or listening too? Would you read, watch, or listen to that with Jesus?
Day 19: Proverbs 19
Challenge: What area of your life can you be more generous with? Is it money, time, or maybe kind encouraging words? Maybe you just need to tell your kids that you love them.
Day 20: Proverbs 20
Challenge: Do you ever "poke the bear"? Enjoy a good argument for the sake of arguing? What can you do differently next time? Reach out to someone who you may have offended and apologize. Pray for forgiveness, and grace.
Day 21: Proverbs 21
Challenge: Have you ever lied? What comes to mind? Is it too late to make it right? Pray for forgiveness.
Day 22: Proverbs 22
Challenge: Drop and do 22 push-ups soldier. If you cant do 22 consecutively, do as many as you can and take breaks in between to rest, then keep going. Using a table, or desk will help as well. If you are physically unable to do push-ups do something that will get your heart rate up a little.
Day 23: Proverbs 23
Challenge: Go for a 23 minute brisk walk, or just get outside for 23 minutes today.
Day 24: Proverbs 24
Challenge: Pray for one of your friends who are not saved.
Day 25: Proverbs 25
Challenge: Be the Good news to someone today. Simply do something nice.
Day 26: Proverbs 26
Challenge: Lets shoot for 26 sit-ups today. If you cant do them consecutively, do a few, then take a break, and do a few more until you reach the goal - 26. If you are physically unable to do sit-ups do something that will get your heart rate up a little.
Day 27: Proverbs 27
Challenge: Give something up today as a fast for God. Maybe coffee, anything with sugar, or carbohydrates. Whatever you give up make sure its something that is really enjoyable to you. You can't give up vegetables - that would be kinda lame and this isn't the 31 Day Lame Challenge.
Day 28: Proverbs 28
Challenge: Make a campfire outside and invite some friends or family to share it with you. If that's not possible, make a fire inside your home in your fireplace. If that's not possible watch a campfire burning on youtube for at least 5 minutes. Reflect about your day.
Day 29: Proverbs 29
Challenge: Tell someone you love them, and not your spouse unless they really need to hear that and you haven't told them in a while. But, that shouldn't be the case because if you are married, you should be telling that person you love them 1000 times a day. So go find someone who needs to hear that they are loved and love 'em.
Day 30: Proverbs 30
Challenge: Invite someone over for dinner or lunch. It doesn't have to be today, just make the appointment with someone today. Do it!
Day 31: Proverbs 31
Challenge: Today is the last day, go big or go home! Today is a three part challenge day.
1. Pray that everything that you have read and done has produced fruit. Pray for all the people that you have come into contact with.
2. Do some push ups, some sit-ups, and go for a brisk walk. If you can't, do anything that gets your heart rate up.
3. Post on social media "I completed the AdventureMen 31 Day Challenge - Hallelujah". If you don;t do social media, give someone close a high five and say the same thing except shout HALLELUJAH.