I’ve talked to so many people about doing a “Biggest Loser” type competition that I have to make a general communication out of this. I can’t remember who all I’ve promised that I’d let them know when it was ready to start. So… we’re starting this Saturday, January 16th. Read over the following email and decide if you want to participate. If you do, let me know in a personal email to jenna@strawnfamily.com and I’ll give you the info for the website where you need to go to create your (free) account to participate. We are going to have weekly weigh ins on Saturday - you have to weigh in before midnight on Saturday to be eligible for the weekly prize. If you miss it, then still weigh in asap when you get a chance, to stay in. The buy in is $22 ($10 base plus $1/week per person), but it is optional. Only those buying in will be eligible for the cash prizes. Prizes are based on the greatest percentage of weight lost using this formula: [(starting weight-finishing weight)/start weight]x100. Public for the group will be your goal percentage, weekly percentage, and your overall weight percentage. No one will see your actual weight. You need to pick someone to share your weight with, but weights will not be public for the group. You can weigh in with that person every week, or you can take a picture of your feet and weight, while on the scale, with your cell phone on the scale (to show the date/time of the pic). Then if you win for the week, you can send the pic to your partner for verification. You must have a partner. If you need one, after you register, you can ask in the comments if anyone needs a partner, or you can partner with me. Initial and final weigh ins for the 12 week period should be personally witnessed by your partner. I suggest that you take a starting pic, with you in your swimsuit or other tight fitting/exercise type clothes for before and after. You don’t have to show it to anyone. I strongly recommend that you take, or have your partner help you take, 10 standard body measurements the first and last weeks of the contest. Follow the instructions at one of the following sites (I’m going to print, so I can remember which one I picked): http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/diet-fitness/how-do-take-my-measurements.html or http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Take-Your-Own-Measurements-to-Track-Progress&id=1405435 Trust me, when other people are saying they’ve lost six inches off their waist, you’ll wish you knew how many inches you lost. Especially if you are losing more inches than pounds. (It can happen!) You should use the same scale for every weigh in, for measuring consistency. Wearing the same clothes for each weigh in is also a good idea. There is no set diet/exercise plan for this. I think it would be great if everyone would post on the site what kind of diet/exercise they are doing, so we can all get ideas. Also if you try a healthy recipe and it’s the best thing since sliced bread, it would be great if you would share it. Please remember that if you are starting a new diet/exercise program it is a good idea to chat with your Dr. about your plans. Let’s have fun with this! J
