Contest Rules

• First, you will need a scale. Weight can be tracked in whole pounds or down to a tenth of a pound (if your scale can do that).


• Second, you will need a way to measure your body. That could be a tape measure OR a string that you wrap around yourself and then measure with a ruler.


• Third, you will need an internet connection. I will do almost all of my communication with you through this blog. You will report your points for the previous week to me via the blog on Mondays, I will post the previous week's winner on Tuesdays, and I will post your next week's challenge on Fridays. Other questions or comments can be directed to me most easily by email (address below).


• Other than that, EXCEL on your computer will be helpful because I will send you a spreadsheet just before the competition starts to easily track your points, weight, and inches. You can also download a free OpenOffice or LibreOffice spreadsheet program. If you need help with that then let me know. The final way you can keep track of points is on Google. If you have a Google account you can upload the spreadsheet and keep track online. If you want to keep track of your points by hand, that isn't a problem but you may need to ask more questions to make sure you're scoring properly.
  

1. Exercise: You can earn up to 35 points each week for exercise. You earn 5 points for doing 30 minutes of exercise and 7 points for doing 45 minutes of exercise up to 5 days per week. If you do more than 45 minutes of exercise or more than 5 days per week, WAY TO GO! But you do not get any additional points and you can't carry the points or minutes over to future days or weeks of exercise.
   7 points x 5 days = 35 points possible each week


2. Sweets: You can earn up to 30 points each week for not eating sweets. Each day that you eat no sweets, you get 5 points up to 6 days per week. Each day that you eat one sweet, you get 2 points. If you eat two or more sweets in a day, you get 0 points. What constitutes a sweet? Brownies, cookies, pie, cake, ice cream, candy, donuts, or anything sweet that's preventing you from being healthy. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH WEEK YOU GET ONE "SWEET DAY" THAT DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST YOUR POINTS! Special occasions do not get extra free sweets, so use your sweet day accordingly. If you don't use your sweet day, you do not get any additional points.
   5 points x 6 days = 30 points possible each week


3. Fruits/Vegetables: Each day that you eat at least 5 fruits or vegetables, you get 3 points. Each day that 3 or more of those are vegetables, you get 5 points. Generally speaking, one serving is approximately 1/2 cup, although leafy greens are approximately double that and dried fruits are about half that much.
   5 points x 7 days = 35 points possible each week


4. Water: Each day that you drink at least 64 ounces of water, you get 2 points.
   2 points x 7 days = 14 points possible each week


5. 9 p.m.: Each day that you stop eating before 9 p.m., you get 2 points.
   2 points x 7 days = 14 points possible each week


6. Team: Each day that you are in contact with a team member by any method (in person, email, phone, blog, text, voice mail, telegram, Facebook, snail mail, etc.) you get 1 point. I have found through personal experience how important teammates are. They help encourage, motivate, and inspire others on the team. Lasting friendships are also made.
   1 point x 7 days = 7 points possible each week

1. Weight Loss Plan: If you are trying to lose weight, you will choose the "Weight Loss Plan." At the end of each week when you weigh in, you will get 5 points for maintaining your lowest previous weight and 10 points for each whole pound and 1 point per tenth of a pound you have lost beyond your lowest previous weight. For instance, if you gained weight, you will report 0 points, AND you don't get any weight loss or maintenance points in future weeks until you return to the lowest weight you had already achieved. If you maintained your previous lowest weight, you report 5 points. If you lost one pound, you would get 5 points for maintaining plus 10 points for that pound, so you would report 15 points. If you lost 2.1 pounds, you get 21 points plus 5 maintenance points, so you would report 26 weight points.


2. Weight Maintenance Plan: If you are trying to maintain a healthy weight which you have already achieved, if you are pregnant, or if you are a growing teen, you will choose the "Weight Maintenance Plan." This challenge is for EVERYONE trying to be healthy, not just those trying to lose weight. If you are maintaining your weight, you must decide what weight you are maintaining, and for each week that you are at or below that weight, you get 15 points. If you go over that weight, you get 0. If you are  a growing teen or pregnant woman please don't worry about the scale; however, you must get at least 121 weekly points (90%) to get your 15 weight points per week.