Welcome to the Resolutionary Challenge, 2013

Welcome!
Here begins a new resolutionary challenge for 2013.

The challenge will begin January 7th and will run for 12 weeks - ending on April 1st.

$20 is the entrance fee and you can pay that by clicking on the button here on the blog and paypal it to me, or if you live close by you can send me a check or get me cash.

There will be a total of 7 points that will be earned each day.  The seven points are as follows:

1.  Accountability point.  You will receive one point each day for logging into the google group spreadsheet and posting your points.  My hope is that this will keep the challenge at the forefront of our minds and will help us to check in regularly.

2.  Read 20 minutes of Holy Text each day.  This may be any holy text of your choosing, but you must read for 20 minutes seven days a week.

3.  Gratitude point.  We will be starting a gratitude journal.  My hope is that by keeping track of all the blessings in our lives, we will be better able to be happy with what we have rather than thinking about what we don't have.  You can keep your gratitude journal in a book, on facebook, your blog -- anywhere you want.  You will receive a point each day for writing at least one thing you are grateful for.

4.  Exercise point.  Exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week OR for 1 hour 4 days a week.  Here is the catch - before the challenge begins you have to declare which option you will be taking and you cannot bounce back and forth throughout.  This should help those who are distance runners or choose longer workouts less frequently to be able to train and also get their rest in.  When you post here on the blog that you will be joining the challenge please declare which exercise option you choose.

5.  Eat 7 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.  Consider eating some meatless meals in order to get your extra veggies and fruits in.  Here is a suggested guide about serving sizes.  Try to have these servings be fresh and not processed - for example, eating a half of a grapefruit rather than eating pre-cut and peeled packaged grapefruit from the store with sugar and other additives in it.

6.  Put the house to bed each night.  Before going to bed, make sure the kitchen is clean, the counters are clear and wiped off, no dishes in the sink.  Also do a quick walk through the main rooms of your home and rescue any rooms that need to be put back together for the night.  There should not be any items scattered across the floor - but this is also a quick walk through - this should not take more than 15 minutes each night.

7.  Wild Card Point.  This will change every week for the 12 week duration of the challenge.

I hope you will join me in working towards a better me for 12 weeks!
If you choose to join, pay your $20 and then make a comment below about your exercise choice.  I will also need you to email me at smithdesign1@me.com with your email address to invite you to the google group.
** Edited **
I forgot the note about prizes.  Prize money this year will be going to several prizes along the way, and then to the top finisher with the highest points when the challenge ends.

Let's get going!

E