How I Took on a 30-Day Challenge and Lost Weight Without Losing My Mind

A few months ago, I embarked on a 30-day challenge to eat healthier, get a bit fitter, and hopefully shed some weight. Now, I’m not one to take drastic measures—no crash diets or liquid-only nonsense here. But I was determined to make sustainable changes.

Spoiler alert: I lost close to 1 stone (about 6.35 kg), and yes, I’m just as surprised as you.

Here’s how it went down...

The Food Overhaul (But Make It Manageable)

Let’s start with the snacking. Before the challenge, snacks were my best mate. A biscuit here, a cheeky packet of crisps there, and maybe something sweet to round off the evening. I decided to rein it in. Instead of snacking all the time, I cut back and when I did need a nibble, I reached for cereal bars or even actual cereal (Curiously Cinnamon are the best and I will fight anyone who disagrees).

As for meals? I didn’t flip the script entirely. No fancy meal prep or kale smoothies at dawn. I kept it simple and just added some vegetables to what I was already eating. Turns out, adding broccoli to your plate doesn’t immediately make you a wellness guru, but it does help balance things out.

The hardest part for me was cutting back on takeaways. I was living life on the edge, ordering in multiple times a week—sometimes multiple times a day (let’s not dwell on that). The goal was to cut it down to three takeaways a week. And yes, that meant I actually had to cook. The horror. But by the end, I was a bit more comfortable in the kitchen, and my wallet was certainly thanking me.

Caffeine and Fizz: A Reduction, Not a Ban

I also had a bit of a thing for coffee and fizzy drinks. Now, I didn’t quit them cold turkey because that’s just setting yourself up for failure (and headaches). Instead, I limited myself to one coffee and one fizzy drink a day, then swapped the rest for good old-fashioned water. It’s not as exciting as a latte, but I did start to feel better, less sluggish and more energised.

The Fitness Routine (Sort Of)

I joined a gym, though I’ll be honest, I’m not the most motivated gym-goer. Twice a week was the goal, and I actually managed to stick to it. A big part of that was going with friends and family—nothing like the fear of letting someone else down to get you out the door. On the days I couldn’t drag myself to the gym, I made up for it with 10-20 minute walks. Turns out, walking clears your head and burns a few calories at the same time. Who knew?

Motivation: The Struggle Was Real

Let me be real here: the first week was tough. I’m not great at sticking to routines, so not giving in to the temptation of grabbing an extra McDonald's was a challenge in itself. But the idea of it being a 30-day challenge really helped me keep going. It’s a mental trick, but setting it as a challenge made it feel like I had to see it through.

Another key to my success was not depriving myself of the things I love. I still had my takeaways, just fewer of them. I still had coffee, just not as much. It was all about balance.

Routine, however, was my biggest hurdle. I’m naturally a bit of a night owl, so the fact that my gym is open 24/7 worked out well. Plus, my friends have similar sleeping patterns, so that helped me stay on track. But getting into that routine? Yeah, not easy.

The Results, lost weight and Some Unexpected Wins

By the end of the 30 days, I lost close to 1 stone (about 6.35 kg). But more importantly, I felt better. Just walking more and drinking more water made a noticeable difference. I felt fresher, more alert, and even started to enjoy cooking a bit more.

A surprising benefit was saving money. Who knew that cutting back on takeaways and snacks would leave me with more cash at the end of the month? I wasn’t complaining.

The Struggles and What I’d Do Differently

While the challenge was a success, it wasn’t without its struggles. The first week, as I mentioned, was tough, and maintaining all these new habits after the 30 days ended was even tougher. Life gets in the way, and things slip. But hey, we’re only human, and I don’t beat myself up about it.

Another challenge was relying on others. While going to the gym with friends and family was a great motivator, it also became a bit of a crutch. If they couldn’t make it, I found it much harder to go alone. Lesson learned: I need to build that independence.

If I were to do anything differently, it would be to have a tighter plan for keeping the momentum going after the challenge ended. Because while the challenge was great, maintaining the habits after is where the real work begins.

Final Thoughts

The 30-day challenge was a fantastic way to kickstart some healthier habits, and I’m glad I did it. It wasn’t about massive changes, but small, manageable tweaks that made a real difference. Now, I just need to keep it up... or at least most of it. I’ll always make room for a cheeky takeaway or two.