The Smaller Waists- Bigger Smiles Challenge!

Like many people out there, I struggle with my weight. It's not a matter of hundreds of pounds and for that I'm lucky, but still... every few years I find myself back in this same position, feeling unhealthy and lethargic and like its time for a change. Lately I've heard a lot of other people expressing the same thoughts and figured why not do this together?? I am not going on a diet- I need to eat healthy and exercise more. Would you like to join me?

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Have you been trying to lose weight, knowing that you've done it before and that you can do it again, and still its not working? Want to be and feel healthier? Join my Biggest Loser style challenge-- The Smaller Waists- Bigger Smiles Challenge!--- and find your way to fitness with a huge amount of support, some friendly competition and the chance at some really great prizes!

Details:

• 14 week Weight Loss Challenge (starts Monday September 6th and ends Sunday December 12th)


• $25 Entrance Fee (all money will be paid out to winners of the competition. I am not making money off of this)

What are you responsible for?

• The entrance fee (please see me in person or mail me a check before 9/6. No moola, no participation). Just think $25 is what you'd spend on maybe 20 minutes with a personal trainer... or what you'd waste on 10 bags of chips or 5 pints of ice cream...


• Join the message board. I have created a private message board. Only those participating will have access so anything you post there will stay strictly with the group. We can use it as a place to chat and cheer each other on. It will also house some helpful information about getting healthy, recipes, exercise tips etc, and I'll post updates on weekly progress. (Once you sign up, I'll send you the information on how to register).


• Take a photo of yourself prior to 9/6 and email me the file. The picture should show your whole body, and please wear something that will at least mostly show what your shape is right now. Ok ok, I know, this may not be so pretty, but think how much incentive it will give you to get your "after" photo to look fantastic and slim! Regardless, its mandatory. If you wanna to play, play by the rules :)


• Take a photo of yourself the week December 6th and email me the file. Remember each week that we WILL be looking at the "after" photos and use that as motivation to get your after-self looking hot!


• Submit food and exercise logs each week by Monday at noon. I will send you a simple template. Fill it out- even if you didn't do all that you wanted. Even if you cheated and had some pepperoni pizza and skipped the gym to boot. Send it in. No one will be judging the logs, but it will help you to know that someone will see it. It works. I promise. And you'll get a chance at a prize, so keep track :)


• Weigh yourself on the same scale on the same day each week (choose, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday morning). Calculate your percentage of weight loss (see formula below and email me the result/post on the message board by Monday at noon.


• (Initial Weight-Actual Weight) / Initial Weight * 100=%

No, I will never ask for your starting weight or the actual pounds lost. We are using the honor system here; if you cheat, you're really only cheating yourself. I'm only inviting those that I trust to take this seriously and I ask you to respect that.

What do you get out this?

• Weekly emails/posts from me with motivation, tips, and recipes.


• Motivation! Competition is a great motivator, but so is knowing that you've got other people in this with you. We can share tips and ideas, struggles and set-backs. Doing things together is always easier than doing it alone.


• The potential to win some cash!
  $20 from each participant's entry fee will go towards the prize for the participant who loses the highest percentage of weight by the end of the challenge. [Note: If more than 10 people participate, we will award cash prizes to the top 2 winners- #1 receiving 70% of the pot, #2 receiving 30% of the pot]
  $5 from each participant's entry fee will go into a kitty. For each week that you submit your food/exercise log (by Monday at noon) you will be entered into the raffle to win the whole kitty. If you submit your logs each week you'll have the best possible chance of winning.

{Just think- you could use the money to buy some new, well-fitting clothes for your slimmer self}

If you're interested, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can plan accordingly. Also, if you have any links to great articles, tips, books etc re: exercise, weight loss, being healthy etc, please feel free to forward them along!