Biggest Loser Challenge Rules

[too much too long]

Throughout this challenge, listen to your body and know your limitations so be responsible and adopt a pace that suits you. (disclaimer).

This challenge is based on the Atkins diet and it is up to you to determine if this challenge fits you. Everyone will be able to participate – regardless of the amount of weight they need to lose. Those with less than 100lbs to lose will be teamed with similar participants (to the best of my ability) but will have the opportunity to be just as competitive as their heavier competitors.

This is due to the point structure and will allow for a “level playing field” for all to compete comparatively. There will be both an individual as well as a team component to this challenge as you know. After everyone has registered for this challenge, I will be placing you into your respective team. This will be done shortly after sign up has completed and I will give just a few further directions (team names, captains, etc).

If you have a request to have a specific person on your team, it is important you state that when you sign up. All posts relating to this challenge will be located in the Century Club thus keeping all communication centralized. Assuredly, people will want to join as we move forward and I will determine if they can join on a case-by-case basis.

Under no circumstances do we want to disrupt the chemistry of a solid group. The excitement has mounted, as we all understand just how important it is that we make this paramount change in our lives. Your commitment begins HERE. It begins NOW. Congratulations! This challenge will assuredly challenge you, surprise you, excite you, and give you the opportunity to set and reset goals for yourself, your team, and your life. This challenge has been designed to drive results while having some great fun through attaining goals for yourself and for your team. It is important that collaboration with your team, including strategies, etc… begins immediately.

Your individual dedication to this challenge is an uncompromising prerequisite to this challenge’s success – to both yourself and your team. ONLY sign up if you are willing to dedicate this to this challenge for the entire year and guarantee that your reporting your stats (see below), INTEGRITY OF THE DATA you provide is 100% accurate (false monthly stats will not be permitted), and complete participation (with a positive attitude) and support to this challenge is met.

Participants, at anytime throughout this challenge, please PM me or Sweets with questions, concerns, problems, or anything you would like to share in private or through postings. Only one post will be our focal point of communication until the next post – which will be done on the 15th and last day of every month. Once a new post is created, you should not post anything on that now, “dead” posting. Statistics will be compiled and reported on the last post of every month so it is imperative that everyone reports their stats as early as possible on reporting days (15th and last day of the month). You MUST communicate your stats (on the 15th and last day of the month) on the stated dates to Sweets’ email – NO EXCEPTIONS. As I said, Sweets will manage the responsibility of compiling a spreadsheet with everyone’s individual and team’s ranking and progress.

You will see where you rank after everyone has posted and the post by Sweets has been published. I recommend you utilize spreadsheets, notebooks, calculators, calendars or whatever methodology you adopt to assist you in achieving your predetermined intra-month goals.
Communication of your statistics (responsibility of the team captain) are to be sent to Sweets 2 times per month. I highly recommend that you take a picture of yourself on January 1, 2005 simply as a point of reference for yourself in the future. I won’t demand that any pictures be posted – just do with your pictures as you feel comfortable. You’ll be happy I gave you this advice.

Now, below, you will state your goals and answer a few questions. You may only change the carb intake goal on a monthly basis. For example, my carb intake goal is 20gms/day – or 620gms for the month of January. Remember, only the statistics as of month-end are the ones that count for points. The reporting on the 15th is strictly for “measuring yourself to your competition”. I will post on this day with a request of the information expected to be reported so don’t worry about forgetting something. I will always place the first post – just follow my example. Let me begin explaining how this challenge will work in terms of the point structure. It is stated as individual goals.

EXERCISE

Less than 500 minutes exercise/month = -100 points

501-599 minutes of exercise/month = 35 points (avg 17 min/day)

600-749 minutes of exercise/month = 40 points (avg 20 min/day)

750-999 minutes of exercise/month = 50 points (avg 25 min/day)

1000-1149 minutes of exercise/month = 65 points (avg 33 min/day)

1150-1249 minutes of exercise/month = 80 points (avg 38 min/day)

1250-1499 minutes of exercise/month = 95 points (avg 42 min/day)

1500+ minutes of exercise per month = 120 points (avg 50 min/day)

EXERCISE is defined as: a steady paced walk increasing heart rate, jogging, exercise videos, biking, gym workout in any form (aerobically or with weights).

EXERCISE is NOT: walking around the grocery store shopping for Mary Kitchen Hash and Ladies Speed Stick, shopping at the mall, arm wrestling, vacuuming, or any other related activity. You get the point here kids.


Constantly push yourself to get as many points as possible and hold your breath when you get on the scale….you just may be surprised at the results. The more points you win, the more weight you will lose – theoretically. Push the bar higher and higher after each report – become a competitor. Thinner folks will remain competitive by increasing exercise minutes and water consumption thus adding respectable points affecting both their individual and teams rankings.

WEIGHT LOSS

Any weight GAIN = -5 points

1-4lbs lost per month = 4 points

5lbs lost per month = 5 points

6lbs lost per month = 6 points

7lbs lost per month = 7 points

8lbs lost per month = 8 points

9lbs lost per month = 9 points

10lbs lost per month = 10 points

11lbs lost per month = 11 points

12lbs lost per month = 12 points

13lbs lost per month = 13 points

14lbs lost per month = 14 points

15+lbs lost per month = 45 points


WATER (only WATER counts! – i.e. not tea, soda, etc) consumption per month (in ounces)

1983 ounces or less = -100 points (avg less than 64 oz/day)

1984-3100 ounces = 35 points (avg 64-100 oz/day)

3101-4340 ounces = 85 points (avg 101-140 oz/day)

4341+ ounces = 150 points (avg 141oz+/day)


MEASUREMENTS – INCHES LOST

HALF-Inches lost per month ((total ONLY from waist and hips (same for both men and women)) You are encouraged to measure more body parts for your own records but just the waist and hips will count during this challenge:

Add 10 points for every HALF-inch you lose (measured monthly) – add hips and waist together for a combined total. If you choose to measure every three months, you will have to be on an individual challenge – only. All team members are expected to measure and report their results on the last day of the month. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 20 points for every HALF-inch you gain from the prior month.


Further Additions and Deductions:

Deduct 1 point for every can of diet pop that is not made with the Splenda Sweetner or another Atkins-approved sweetner. Example, saccharine is not good. (Even if it doesn’t stall you). (permanent challenge) (hint: drink Diet Rite)

Deduct 1 point for every 12oz. you drink that is not caffeine free. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 30 points for going over YOUR monthly carb intake goal at all! (permanent challenge)

Deduct 100 points for NOT reporting your stats on the 15th and last day of month. Email Sweets if that is not possible so other arrangements can be made. (permanent challenge)

Add 20 points if you go to Dunkin Donuts (or comparable) 2 TIMES during January, dined INSIDE and order either a (decaf) coffee or water and consumed NOTHING else (i.e. pastries), and stayed for 15 minutes or more. Your experience is to be communicated to everyone on the post shortly after you do this. This is a self-courage exercise. Victory! (January challenge only)

Deduct 75 points if you consumed anything other than coffee or water during your visit! Failure. You let yourself as well as your team down big time. Donuts are not your friend. Real life challenge here people.

Add 25 points if you watch the movie Super Size Me by the end of January. If you watched it in the past, it counts!

Add 15 points if you read this very insightful link (January challenge only) I recommend you read this first thing!:
Make Atkins Your New Life Resolution

These challenges will most assuredly change from month to month.

All the above points are stated individually.

Teams will be made up of 3-6 (depending upon how many sign up) persons each so add all points together to get total team points. Team ranking will go according to points earned in the month.

Compare notes often to ensure there will be no unforeseen surprises. Team captains (you will have to elect on in each group) are in charge of making sure all members report statistics on the post on the last day of the month.

ADDITIONALLY, please contact Sweets via email with your stats as she will be updating a spreadsheet with everyones stats (too much work to hunt them down off the posts. The posts offer visibility to me as well as all participants), both individually and team stats on a monthly basis – possibly bi-weekly if you are nice to her… Her email address: sweets10@gmail.com IMPORTANT: Let her know if you want a copy of the spreadsheet emailed to you!!! If you request a spreadsheet, you will receive one with YOUR individual stats, your TEAM’S combined totals and two rankings with the corresponding points/scoreboard.

Give me a short response as to why you should be a part of this challenge and why you want to become part of a team: (If you do not want to be a part of a team but would rather be a part of this challenge individually, state it here as well):

What is your gender? What is your current weight? Height? What is your ideal weight? How much do you expect to lose in 2005 (minimum)? Current waist size? Hips?

What is your daily carb intake goal (Newbies: induction is 20/day) (See the metric for following this goal number – again only to be updated monthly):

Names of anyone you are requesting to be on the same team with:

Time to contribute to your very own health. Let this year be the year we shed many pounds. Finally, I will post on the 15th and I will post the first entry each time. I ask that everyone models that response. Thank YOU for your choice in being part of this life changing challenge!

Total ’05 Biggest Loser Challenge weight loss to date = __0__lbs. __0__inches.