You can be the Biggest Loser!

Okay, here are some of the details for the planned Biggest Loser competition I am throwing together.

This thing starts on January 1st, 2012. It will run for 13 weeks, ending on March 31st, 2012. It starts on a Sunday, and ends on a Saturday. We'll have a party / awards ceremony for everyone who finishes that last Saturday.

Everyone will weigh in on Sunday each week, starting on January 1st. It is very important that you use the same scale for each weigh in. I'm not as concerned about the precise accuracy of each scale, just that the same scale is used each time, since each scale varies, but the same scale will vary the same amount each week. Once you weigh in, you'll put your weight in the Google Spreadsheet that I've set up for this purpose. Don't worry, no one else will see the spreadsheet - it will be locked down to only people participating in the competition. I think it's important to track it like this so that everyone can help motivate each other.

The entry fee of $20 can be mailed to me or you can drop it by however you need to. I would like to collect these entry fees by the end of January - I know that being right after Christmas, no one has extra cash. :) You do need to put up an entry fee to participate though. You'll have more interest if you have put some money down on it.

I would also like to challenge everyone who participates to join in running a 5K together when this is over. A 5K is a short enough distance that it could be walked if necessary, but giving everyone a target to work and train for helps with that motivation. If you have signed up for a race (just to finish...), it gives you that extra push you need at times. There aren't a bunch listed yet, but one is already scheduled on April 7th going from the Provo Temple to the Provo Tabernacle. That sounds fun, and it's all downhill! There's also one in Orem on the 14th.
It also gives you an excellent training plan, like the "couch potato to 5K" plan. I have lots of links to share on that score.

I will be throwing a blog together for this at http://reidbiggestloser.blogspot.com/
While it's titled 'reidbiggestloser', it's for family and friends! Once you are onboard, I'll grant access to post on it, so you can share tips, commiserate with each other, and encourage each other.

Finally, I'm hoping this thing gives each of us a chance to improve our health. Regardless of weight loss, getting more active and watching what we eat will make each of us have a better quality of life. I know that we're all busy, but it's time to draw a line in the sand and make some time to take care of ourselves - even if it's just a half hour each day. I would love to share some of the things I've learned over the last couple of years, going from not having run in years to running in the Red Rock Relay two years in a row.

Let me know if you want in!