The 2026 Challenge

Rather than setting resolutions this year, I am going to set month long challenges. Each month I’ll challenge myself with something new (nutrition, exercise, hydration, reading, etc.) and write about it. I have set many resolutions and goals and other shit throughout the years and some things I stick to and somethings I don’t. I am decently ok at actually sticking to my goals, but the issue is staying with them afterwards. Well, this new “challenge year” is setting out to test that. Will I be better about sticking to things with a shorter fuse? Will they actually stick around? And are they even worth keeping around?

This brings me to my first challenge. I am starting the year with a four week stacking challenge.

Week 1: No UPFs.

I have written a lot about UPFs and they definition is constantly debated. For this challenge, UPFs are ultra-processed foods that have refined seed oils, sugars, flours and/or chemicals/food additives.

Week 2: No UPFs. One snack.

Inspired by the French gôuter, I am only going to allow myself one snack a day at about 3-4pm.

Week 3: No UPFs. One snack. No refined sugar.

Easy enough. No refined sugar.

Week 4: No UPFs. One snack. No refined sugar. No refined grains.

If I want to eat grains, I must eat them in their whole form.

I am HOPING that I lose a little weight doing this. These changes are by and large the things that I really believe in, but are hard for me to stick to. I know it won’t all come off in a month, but I am hoping to see progress. I’ll check in again at the end of the month.