***VALENTINE'S DAY CHALLENGE - Sign Ups***

This challenge is for those that are wanting to reach their first or final goal by Valentine's Day. 

The first weigh in and start of the challenge will begin on December 27, 2007 (Thursday) with the final weigh in on February 14, 2008 (Thursday).  This consists of 8 weigh ins. 

Week 1 - Valentine's Day Challenge (Thread)

Please sign up on this thread.  A new thread will be created in the Games & Challenges forum for the first weigh in and start of the challenge. 

Since there are various ways to lose weight and track your progress, this challenge will consist of tracking your calories, minutes exercised, body fat percentage, inches lost, and pounds lost giving you multiple ways to earn points.  You can opt out on certain sections if you wish and forfeit any points that could be potentially earned from that section.

TRACK YOUR CALORIES

Track your calories daily and earn points for your deficit.  You will need to make use of your Burn Meter and Eat Meter for this one.  Please do not exceed a deficit of 1000 calories.  The recommended deficit is 500-1000. 

Your Burn Meter will display the total estimate of calories you burn each day.  Make sure to have your activity level set correctly.  Some may choose to set their activity levels to sedentary and log all their activities while others may choose to select a higher activity level so they do not have to add activities/workouts.  Your Eat Meter will display the total calories consumed for the day as you update your food log.  Be sure to update your Food Log throughout the day or at the end of the day, whichever is more convenient for you.  Just make sure to log everything.  Accountability is a big part of losing weight. 

The points earned will be 1 POINT for every 100 CALORIE DEFICIT.  For example, if my Burn Meter reads 1840 calories burned for the day and my Eat Meter (at the end of the day and when I am done consuming calories) reads 1447 calories consumed, I have a deficit of 393 calories.  That would give me 3.93 points.  (Math: Total Deficit multiplied by .01 = Points)

You can either report your Calorie Deficit and points earned daily or weekly (during weigh in).  Either way, please break up each day and label properly. 

MINUTES EXERCISED

Exercise plays a great part in losing weight. 

You earn 1 POINT for every 10 MINUTES exercised.  Please do not include your daily activities (running errands, shopping, etc.) in this, only Exercise & Exercise related activities.  (Math: Minutes multiplied by .1 = Points)

You can either report your MINUTES EXERCISED and points earned daily or weekly (during weigh in).  Either way, please break up each day and label properly. 

BODY FAT PERCENTAGE

Losing weight is not only about losing pounds but also losing body fat percentage.  There are many different ways to calculate your body fat percentage.  You can choose which way you would like to calculate but please be sure to calculate your BF% the same way each week.  Here is an online calculator that can be used as well.  (Note: The calculator is only an estimation based on your calculations.) 

You will earn 2 POINTS for every 1 PERCENT of Body Fat lost.  For example, if I lose 1.5% BF, I will earn 3 Points.  (Math:  BF% multiplied by 2 = Points)

Please report your Body Fat Percentage on your first weigh in and each additional weigh in thereafter.

INCHES LOST

When you are working out and building muscle, the scale will sometimes move slightly or not as much as you like.  This can sometimes make you feel like not much progress is being made.  Another great way to track your progress is by taking your measurements.  For those that do not have tape measures, here is a printable tape measure. 

The areas for measurements for this challenge will be Chest, Waist, Hips, Thighs, Calves, Upper Arm, Forearm.  Here is an article explaining how to measure each area.  Please be sure to take your measurements in the same exact place each week.  If you do not feel comfortable posting each individual measurement, you can PM them to me for verification purposes and only report your total (overall) inches and inches lost. 

Please report your measurements in inches.  You can take your measurements in centimeters and convert to inches if you like.  You can earn 1 POINT for every 1 INCH lost.  For example, if I lost 2.25" I would earn 2.25 Points. (Math: Inches lost multiplied by 1 = Points)

Please report your Inches Lost on your first weigh in and each additional weigh in thereafter.

POUNDS LOST

For each 1 POUND lost you earn 1 POINT.  (Math: Pounds Lost multiplied by 1 = Points)

Please report your Start Weight, Previous Week's weight, and Current Weight for each weigh in and total your Pounds Lost.

PARTICIPANTS:  UnderTheRainbow, Brandy_M_Gray, Pokeylvr, TheAngryPeanut, fatanr11, k_lippy, suz0411, skiier66, g1rl79, karanjlo, ktcort13, sportstergirl, getfit20, ringnebula, vklamorick, coach_k, safina1, devbanana, feryal, vieve, ms4423, tribegirl, jlweaver, rummah2001, katalina0610, plankcm, kristinedaqueen, missybear25_2004, amandalynngillmor, niss4, ariunna, funkalishis, julia_rose08, yeehaw

Oh! I love a challenge, and will need a new one right about that time!  My goal is 145 by then.  I'm currently about 160.

Looking forward to it!

This sounds like a great challenge!!!!! i would LOVE to join!!!!

oooh, sounds like just what i need. something that holds me accountable to multiple aspects of weight loss! thanks hon!

I'm wondering if maybe the inches lost thing could be at the beginning and at the end?  Simply because I know the difference (at least for me) isn't very dramatic by the week...

Hi Peanut!  I am so glad you joined!  I have been slacking lately so I figured what better way to get back on track then a challenge.  :) 

Thanks for joining Pokeylvr & Brandy_M_Gray! 

Brandy_M_Gray, you can most definitely report your inches the first weigh in and then the last weigh in.  Either way you look at it, the same amount of inches will be lost in that amount of time and accumulate the same amount of points... It will just be on the last weigh in.  :)

hey! is it too late? Or can I join in as well? This will be a great motivator, especially since one month from Valentine's I'm getting married!!!

Please let me know!!!! Thank you!

 

~Amanda

Hi Amanda!  Today is only the first day of sign ups, so nope, not too late.  :)  The challenge begins on the 27th.  How exciting that you are getting married only a short month after V-Day!  *Congrats*

ok i'm in!

Cool I'm in, I've been slacking as well so this will be a great motivation to get back on the wagon    Will you message us with the sign up post?

Hi Lippy! *waves*

Welcome aboard suz0411.  I will post a link to the "Official" thread here when the challenge starts for an easy find. 

good idea!  my bd is just before v-day so I was thinking of a goal for then.

I'm in.

I'm in too.  This time for good.  I need to get down to 115 by then.  That's 12 pounds from today that I freaked with the 127 I saw.  I haven't been to the gym for the last 3 weeks with the excuse of Xmas shopping.... I know... bad girl!  I'll go back on track on Monday with that and NO MORE COOKIES starting now.  Good luck to everybody.

I'm in.  I haven't done any challenges yet but it sounds like fun.

ooooo undertherainbow you do great challenges! i need a reboot right about now so this is perfect! I'm hoping to lose about 15 pounds by V-day so hopefully i can make it happen with this!

this will be my first challenge so count me in! i want to be at 135 by then a 10-14 lb(depending on the day) loss. thank you! Kat

i'm in partner!

Sign me up!!

UTR, count me in.  I am so ready for another challenge!

yay val!!!!

Put me down, please -- I'm not done yet.