Google Group & Unique Entry No.

For those of you who might be following the blog for information please note a few things:

1.  I have sent everyone who paid their fee an invitation to join the Google Group, ATAPC.  I need you to accept this invitation (it is free) because this blog will no longer be used after today and the best way for us all to stay in contact with each other is through the Google Group.  If you find you get too many individual emails once the competition begins you can change your settings to where you only get ONE email per day that gives you a list of the discussions that took place and then you can go to the group page and read/reply as you desire.

2.  I will be emailing each participant a private email to the email address I have on file for you.  I have more than one email for some of you but I tried to use the one provided in your Paypal payment unless I was told to use another.  At any rate, be watching for this email because you will need to know what your unique entrant number is so when the standings are posted on the Google Group page anonymously you will know who you are on that list :)

xoxo,
Helen

8 Days until registration ends!

I am very happy to report we have 3 "paid" participants so far and about 7 more who have said they will be signing up.

Remember, once you have paid either your $10 or $16 participation fee, I will send you an invite to the Google Group, ATAPC.  This group is where we will interact on a daily/weekly basis vs. using this blog.

Remember, there are only 8 days left to register & pay your entrance fee!  Looking forward to a good "healthy" competition :)

xoxo,
Helen

Optional Extra Incentive Challenge

Below are the details of an optional extra incentive challenge that my former teammate, Krisi, will be in charge of tracking.
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How It Works

I don't know about you but I need daily accountability.  So as a chance to have more daily accountability we will be giving everyone the opportunity to participate in a daily incentive challenge.  While you are accounting for things each day the reward will be every 4 weeks for this. It will be $6 to participate in this challenge - $2 will go toward each prize period.  The $6 would need to be paid up front for all three prize periods.  Prize periods will end October 29^th, November 26^th and December 23^rd

Here is how you would earn points.  There is an opportunity to earn 50 points each day (350 points each week):

10 points for exercise - 1 point for every 10 minutes of exercise; 1 point for every 20 minutes of physical activity - leisure walk, deep cleaning of your home, etc.  

10 points for H2O - 1 point for each glass of 8oz of water (1/2 can be a no calorie no sugar no caffeine beverage)
10 points for keeping to your food plan (0 points you went completely off plan; 5 for following your plan for the most part; 10 for sticking to the plan 100%)
10 points for sleep - 1 point for each hour of sleep each day
5 points check in - check in on the google group with how your day is going and comment back to others
5 points for breakfast - eating breakfast within 3 hours of waking up

Each day you will post the following with your point information:

Sat (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __ (daily total)

Sun (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Mon (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Tues (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Wed (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Thurs (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Fri (_)Exercise (_)H20 (_) Food (_)Sleep (_)Check-in (_)Breakfast  =  __

Weekly total =  ______  (out of 350 points possible)

Each week I will take your total points for the week and enter them into a spreadsheet.  When each four week period is up I will take each weeks points and generate and AVERAGE of them. The top TWO people with the higest AVERAGES (not TOTALs) will be the winners for that prize period.  This will allow someone to have a bad day/week and not mess them up for the whole prize period.  If there is a tie between 2nd & 3rd the winnings will be split.

Example:

10 people participating - $20 for each prize pool.

Each person would win $10.  Should the 2nd and 3rd person tie the 1st place would get $10 and 2nd and 3rd would get $5 each.

Welcome to All Things Are Possible Weight Loss Competition 2011

Welcome!  My name is Helen (most of you probably know me but if you were referred by someone then you quite possibly do not).  If you are here then you are looking for more information about what I posted on my FB page, therefore, let me share that with you first:

The goal of this competition will be who can lose the highest percentage of weight between 9/30/11- & 12/23/11. Whether you have a few pounds or a significant amount of weight to lose, you have a shot at winning because it is based on a %, not actual lbs lost.  Because I don't want people just quitting because they think they are too far behind I am going to split the prize $$ among FOUR winners as shown below:

The top four competitors at the end of the competition will win a piece of the pot:

1st place-55%

2nd place-20%

3rd place- 15%

4th place - 10%

If we can get a minimum of 10 people to join this competition then you have a chance to at least win back your contribution amount!

How the Competition will work:

1. All competitors will pay the $10 entry fee ($16 if choosing the Optional Extra Incentive Challenge) to PayPal account helenmparker1996@gmail.com

***To avoid fees, make the payment "personal" & "gift" to avoid fees being charged***

Entry fee is due 1 day before the competition starts. Please note your full name & Weight Loss Challenge in the notes/comments area at time of payment so I can keep track of who has paid. The competition is closed to new competitors after the start date. If you decide against doing the competition before it starts, a PayPal refund will be sent.  From the start date on, no refund will be given.  Other payment options are to pay me in person by cash or check.  If you prefer to mail me your payment then please send me an email at helenmparker1996@gmail.com and I will give you my address.

2. Registration is open from the posting date up until the day before the competition starts, September 29th.

3. There will be a weekly weigh in. The first weigh in is the starting date- Friday September 30th. After the first weigh in, each person should weigh themselves Friday-Sunday and email me their weight. I will post weekly the weight loss percentages here on the blog so everyone can see how they are doing in comparison.  To keep it fair, I will have someone outside of the competition double check my stats spreadsheet for accuracy.  This will be done anonymously and no real names will ever be listed on the stats spreadsheet (not even my name).   Our last weigh in will be December 23rd.

4. Each weigh-in you must email me your weight prior to midnight Central Time on Sunday. You are required to take a digital photo that is completely clear. The photo should show your feet, the scale (prefer it to be digital) and posting weight, and a piece of paper which will have the following written on it:  your full name, entrant number & that day's date.  It is your responsibility to do this as I will not send out reminders.

5. You are allowed to miss ONE weigh in during the 12 week time frame. After the second weigh-in missed, the entrant will have 1 day (the following Monday) to weigh in and email me their weight.  If this is not done by Monday at 11:59PM Central time, the entrant will be disqualified. Everyone is required to weigh in for the first date (Sept 30th) and last date (Dec 23rd) by Midnight Central time that day.  Missing either of these will also disqualify you. The initial and final weigh in must be completed the day of so if you are like me and forget things easily please make a calendar apt. in Google or your preferred calendar to remind yourself =)

**Revised 9/14/11**

6. Before and after full body photos (please choose tight fitting tank tops & pants for your photo) are required with the first weigh in and final weigh in for verification purposes.  These photos are strictly
confidential but are required to participate or be eligible to win.

7. The top four competitors at the end of the competition will win a piece of the pot:

1st place-55%

2nd place-20%

3rd place- 15%

4th place - 10%

8.  Once you have decided to join please post a comment here on the blog telling us a little about yourself and what your weight loss goals are and how you hope to accomplish them during these 12 weeks.  Then, don't forget to make your contribution payment via PayPal or other payment method by September 29th in order to qualify as an entrant.  Once payment has been received I will email you a unique entrant number that will keep you anonymous from everyone else. PLEASE MAKE SURE I GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THIS PURPOSE.

9.  I will distribute the prize money within ONE week from the date of final weigh-in after it is confirmed there are no discrepancies with the numbers posted.  I can PayPal the prize, pay you in person or send a check via Priority Mail depending your preference.

10.  While this is a competition I still want people to be encouraged regularly.  I will randomly post recipes, motivational quotes, success stories I have read, etc. and I highly encourage you to post comments offering encouragement to others or letting us know you need some!  Yes, winning some $ at the end is GREAT but the most important part is making the necessary lifestyle changes needed to not only lose the weight but keep it off.

**Added 9/14/11**
11.   My former Biggest Loser teammate, Krisi, wanted to add some extra incentive by offering a points program.  This will be completely optional for each participant, however, you MUST decide before registering if you want to do the extra incentive.  I don't have all the details yet but I will tell you it will be an extra $6 per person cost if you choose to do it.  As soon as I get the typed details from her I will post them.

12.  I have created a Google Group which will be much more conducive to sharing information & encouragement with the entire group.  You will only receive an invite to this private group after you have paid your participation fee.

Weigh-in dates:

September 30 (initial/mandatory):

October 7-9:

October 14-16:

October 21-23:

October 28-30:

November 4-6:

November 11-13:

November 18-20:

November 25-27:

December 2-4:

December 9-11:

December 16-18:

December 23 (final/mandatory)

Best wishes to everyone!  If you have any questions please post a comment below or feel free to email me at helenmparker1996@gmail.com