Do 30-day challenges work?

30-day challenge fitness programs are very popular right now. Many of them promise body transformation and a better life. But do they really work? The answer is yes and no. It is more likely to be a yes if you approach the challenge right.

Why yes?

We need short term goals more than ever as Covid has changed many of our lives and we need to find new purpose, income sources and new everyday routines. We need something that gets us excited, gives us a reason to get out of bed, that gives us joy and success.

A 30-day challenge might not transform your body and give you a new life but it might make you feel productive, empowered and accomplished if you manage to complete it. You get to achieve a goal which may seem small to someone but it is a success for you! Success is a great feeling. It is joy! It makes you happier, more confident and more positive. Success affects every aspect of your life, so if you gain positivity from a challenge, the answer is YES, it absolutely works.

Why no?

If a challenge promises crazy weight loss or a toned body you might be disappointed. Of course, training actively and eating a well balanced diet can yield results after 30 days - ideally you lose some weight and your muscles may look more full and visible - BUT it all depends on where you start from. If you have a lot of weight to lose before achieving your ideal body, 30 days won’t be enough. If you've never worked out before or have only worked out focusing on one certain goal, muscles won’t appear in 30 days. To achieve a six-pack or a lean body takes months of work and requires consistency and discipline.

So, the answer is no if you have unrealistic body image expectations. However, adhering to something for 30 days is not a waste of time. It might lead you to build better habits in the long run and that’s what you need to achieve that dream body image. What is unrealistic short term might be realistic for a longer term goal. So the answer can be yes here, too.

Find something that brings you joy and work on it for 30 days and see what happens. In the end I’m almost sure something good will come out of it!

I’ve just completed a 100 push ups a day for 30 days challenge. Check it out here. All I can say is I’m glad I did it! I attached another video, too - explaining how you could start your challenge.