50-50 Challenge
KarenZen
Posts: 1,430 Member
Woohoo! I am so excited to start this group and start with a really good challenge. I have a $50 gift card for Target that I'm willing to donate as the prize for the group member with the highest number of points at the end of the challenge. In the event of a tie, a name will be drawn from a hat.
Here are the challenge guidelines: (FEEL FREE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS... I'M HAPPY TO CHANGE RIGHT UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY. JUST DON'T EXPECT A WATERED-DOWN VERSION.)
Starting Date: July 20
Ending Date: September 7
Report your points date: September 8
How to earn points:
1 point for each day you stay within your calorie count. (Whether or not you add/subtract exercise calories is entirely up to you.)
1 point for each day you exercise, either sustained aerobic activity, flexibility work, or weight lifting/muscle building of at least 20 minutes. (If you can't do 20 consecutive minutes, do 5 minutes 4 times until you can build up to it.)
1 point for each day you drink at least 64 ounces of water.
Periodically, we can add in one-day mini-challenges for bonus points, like a sugar free day, a vegan day, a try a new exercise day, etc.
At the end of the challenge, add one point for each pound you lost during the challenge to get your total.
What do you think? Can you win the 50-50?
Karen
Here are the challenge guidelines: (FEEL FREE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS... I'M HAPPY TO CHANGE RIGHT UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY. JUST DON'T EXPECT A WATERED-DOWN VERSION.)
Starting Date: July 20
Ending Date: September 7
Report your points date: September 8
How to earn points:
1 point for each day you stay within your calorie count. (Whether or not you add/subtract exercise calories is entirely up to you.)
1 point for each day you exercise, either sustained aerobic activity, flexibility work, or weight lifting/muscle building of at least 20 minutes. (If you can't do 20 consecutive minutes, do 5 minutes 4 times until you can build up to it.)
1 point for each day you drink at least 64 ounces of water.
Periodically, we can add in one-day mini-challenges for bonus points, like a sugar free day, a vegan day, a try a new exercise day, etc.
At the end of the challenge, add one point for each pound you lost during the challenge to get your total.
What do you think? Can you win the 50-50?
Karen
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Replies
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Thanks for starting this up Karen!! I am SO IN on this!!!! I have confidence I can keep up with the challenge....EXCEPT the water one! lol....I am soooo not a fan of H2O, but having said that, I have brought with me some of those little packets that are calorie free to flavor my water...so maybe I can work on that challenge!!!
Perhaps someone more cleverer (is that a word??) than myself can come up with a Template so we can post it daily to keep track of our progress....something like this:
Challenges:
Stayed within my calorie count:
Exercised today: (what exercise did I do?)
How long I exercised:
I drank 64 oz water today:
Total Points Earned Today:0 -
Maybe Heather will do one for us. I'd like to have a chart that I can fill in. Hmmmm... I might just make a chart and stick it to the fridge. Add in a box for" bonus points earned."
Where do you walk now that you're back in Saudi? I'm going to miss your little stories about your AZ walks!
Karen0 -
Sounds like a plan stan. I am also doing the summer to fall challenge (well it's not much of a challenge, it's more of a big weekly weight loss group tracking).0
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Definitely in for this! I've been good about drinking my water, but not tracking it, so I'm glad to have a reason to focus on that.0
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I'm in! I'll see if I can come up with a simple tracker for y'all!0
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I'm in!!
I don't know if this might work better and feel free to shoot me down, but I am wondering if instead of 1 point for each pound lost at the end...how about 1 point for each percentage of body weight lost? Is that a little more fair to the people who don't have as much to lose as those of us that do?
Thanks for organizing Karen, and thanks for attempting a chart Heather!
Diana in Maine0 -
Where do you walk now that you're back in Saudi? I'm going to miss your little stories about your AZ walks!
Karen
I so miss the beautiful mornings walking in AZ, as opposed to the heat and humidity here!! Uck!! Today I burned over 400 calories cleaning my place....after 3 weeks of being gone and no housecleaning, I collected enough cat hair to knit a sweater or maybe 2 !!! Well...at least a knit cap! lol AND a very colorful one at that! with all the colors of cats I have!! lol
My walking will be on my treadmill Karen...until the weather gets better, then I can walk around our compound at about 0400 am. That is.....IF the wild dogs are not out and about!! We have a big problem of feral dogs and cats....cats...I can handle and feed them, but the dogs...am a bit afraid of rabies...but having said that, no one has been bitten....yet!!
The temp is averaging around 110 F daytime, and now at about 8 PM it is 99F !! and 24% humidity.....so now you know why I am not walking outside...yet!!!
I am more than happy to donate a prize....like a gift certificate from Amazon.com for a challenge that you may want to have! I have to get rid of the 5 pounds I put on during my vacation!! Oh well...it will come off...I am sure of that as I am motivated to get it off and MORE!!0 -
I'm in!!
I don't know if this might work better and feel free to shoot me down, but I am wondering if instead of 1 point for each pound lost at the end...how about 1 point for each percentage of body weight lost? Is that a little more fair to the people who don't have as much to lose as those of us that do?
Thanks for organizing Karen, and thanks for attempting a chart Heather!
Diana in Maine
Anyone else want to chime in on this?
I'm okay either way, I think, although using percentages, for me to earn one point, I'd have to lose 4.7 pounds. Everyone in here is shooting for 2-4 pounds each week, right?
K.0 -
Where do you walk now that you're back in Saudi? I'm going to miss your little stories about your AZ walks!
Karen
I so miss the beautiful mornings walking in AZ, as opposed to the heat and humidity here!! Uck!! Today I burned over 400 calories cleaning my place....after 3 weeks of being gone and no housecleaning, I collected enough cat hair to knit a sweater or maybe 2 !!! Well...at least a knit cap! lol AND a very colorful one at that! with all the colors of cats I have!! lol
My walking will be on my treadmill Karen...until the weather gets better, then I can walk around our compound at about 0400 am. That is.....IF the wild dogs are not out and about!! We have a big problem of feral dogs and cats....cats...I can handle and feed them, but the dogs...am a bit afraid of rabies...but having said that, no one has been bitten....yet!!
The temp is averaging around 110 F daytime, and now at about 8 PM it is 99F !! and 24% humidity.....so now you know why I am not walking outside...yet!!!
I am more than happy to donate a prize....like a gift certificate from Amazon.com for a challenge that you may want to have! I have to get rid of the 5 pounds I put on during my vacation!! Oh well...it will come off...I am sure of that as I am motivated to get it off and MORE!!
I know what you mean about the dog packs. That was a huge problem when I lived in Bularia too. Odd though, after the Russians pulled out and the borders opened, the Bulgarians imported all these breeds they'd never had access to, then many wound up on the streets when the economy collapsed. So the wild dog packs might have poodles and collies and a great Dane and a Yorkie, although typically the little ones didn't last long.
An Amazon prize would be awesome! I can also put up some bling jewelry for a prize on one challenge. I need to figure out again how to post photos. Heather taught me, then I promptly forgot!
Karen0 -
It doesn't matter to me either way. I just started thinking about it after I posted my results to Heather's challenge and although I lost more weight, both Heather and Pat lost more percentage wise. I have a lot more to lose than they do, so maybe the pounds don't come off as quickly but percentage wise it all works out. Not going to bother me either way we choose to go!
Diana0 -
It doesn't matter to me either way. I just started thinking about it after I posted my results to Heather's challenge and although I lost more weight, both Heather and Pat lost more percentage wise. I have a lot more to lose than they do, so maybe the pounds don't come off as quickly but percentage wise it all works out. Not going to bother me either way we choose to go!
Diana
If you don't mind then, I'd like to stick to a point per pound. I would be really discouraged by having to lose almost five pounds to earn a point by doing percentage.
K.0 -
[/quote]
Anyone else want to chime in on this?
I'm okay either way, I think, although using percentages, for me to earn one point, I'd have to lose 4.7 pounds. Everyone in here is shooting for 2-4 pounds each week, right?
K.
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I am up for whatever everyone else wants to do….I never win anything, so I will go with what you all decide!0 -
Anyone else want to chime in on this?
I'm okay either way, I think, although using percentages, for me to earn one point, I'd have to lose 4.7 pounds. Everyone in here is shooting for 2-4 pounds each week, right?
K.
[/quote]
I am up for whatever everyone else wants to do….I never win anything, so I will go with what you all decide!
[/quote]
In that case, we'll have to create a mini challenge for you to win. Have you seen the pets interrupting yoga video? The cats made me think of you, lol. Pets Interrupting Yoga - The Huffington Post:
http://youtu.be/QQYK5vT9TBI 0 -
it's all A-OK with me!! I shoulda kept my mouth shut! Sorry!
:flowerforyou:0 -
I'm in. Always up for a challenge. So, if we are starting this at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, our initial weigh-in should be Sunday morning, right? Does walking count as exercise?
A few of you have mentioned having trouble with getting your water in. I've used like Crystal Light or whatever to flavor my water for forever but am trying to get away from the artificial sweeteners. A friend of mine suggested infused water. I bought one of the infuser pitchers at Walmart for like $10 (you can do it without the pitcher but it's much easier with it). Basically the pitcher has a middle section where I drop different kinds of fruits/herbs/etc and fill the pitcher with water and let it get cold. The water absorbs flavors from whatever you put in it. You can just google infused water or check out the website my friend suggested to me: http://fruitinfusedwaters.com/ Just an idea. I'm really enjoy drinking plain water now.0 -
I'm in. Always up for a challenge. So, if we are starting this at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, our initial weigh-in should be Sunday morning, right? Does walking count as exercise?
A few of you have mentioned having trouble with getting your water in. I've used like Crystal Light or whatever to flavor my water for forever but am trying to get away from the artificial sweeteners. A friend of mine suggested infused water. I bought one of the infuser pitchers at Walmart for like $10 (you can do it without the pitcher but it's much easier with it). Basically the pitcher has a middle section where I drop different kinds of fruits/herbs/etc and fill the pitcher with water and let it get cold. The water absorbs flavors from whatever you put in it. You can just google infused water or check out the website my friend suggested to me: http://fruitinfusedwaters.com/ Just an idea. I'm really enjoy drinking plain water now.
Thanks for this....I may google it and see about getting one on my next trip home!! I agree about the use of sweeteners...I need to get away from them too!!
nancy0 -
Glad you are joining us Dee! And congrats on the water challenge win on Heather's Birthday Challenge! Yes, let's get started on Sunday morning. I already warned the hubs that I am on a tear for the next 50 days!
Karen0 -
You're welcome Nancy. It has greatly increased my actual water consumption.
Thanks Karen for the invite and congrats. Ok, I will weigh in first thing Sunday morning but then the scale goes back into hiding. We've broken up you know. One more question......what exactly is your definition of water? Does coffee count? Crystal Light flavored water? Etc Also, you never answered whether walking counts as exercise.0 -
You're welcome Nancy. It has greatly increased my actual water consumption.
Thanks Karen for the invite and congrats. Ok, I will weigh in first thing Sunday morning but then the scale goes back into hiding. We've broken up you know. One more question......what exactly is your definition of water? Does coffee count? Crystal Light flavored water? Etc Also, you never answered whether walking counts as exercise.
Dee, I don't think coffee counts as water--anything with caffeine in it has a dehydrating effect. Crystal light non-caffeinated drinks would count, but not their caffeinated iced tea. Same for all the Mio drops and other flavorings. If it has caffeine, don't count it.
Is walking exercise? Of course! You need to be your best judge, though. If you're just strolling to the bus stop without breaking a sweat or breathing hard, are you really getting your aerobic workout? Maybe not, but if you're carrying an extra 100+ pounds, you're definitely working your muscles. Figure out what your own exercise goal is, then award yourself the point if you meet or exceed that goal. That's the best I can give you, honey. And make sure you challenge yourself!
Congratulations on breaking up with your scale, by the way. I threw mine across the room and now it won't speak to me. I'm going to have to come to some kind of compromise, though, because I do need the accountability, so I may just go into the bariatric office weekly and ask them to tell me whether I'm up or down for the week, then weigh in at the end of the challenge. I'm using my last office weight as a start. I know I'm up a few pounds from there, but it's definitely water weight from eating carbs.
Karen0 -
Thanks Karen. I just wanted some clarification so we're all on the same page. I didn't want to be counting something that someone else wasn't. The scale certainly helps with accountability but I'm at a point in my weight-loss journey where it causes me more aggravation than anything. I think I'm going to weigh about once a month just for accountability sake. I like your idea of stopping by your bariatric surgeon's office and having them not give you a number. Unfortunately that's not an option for me. I'm the type of person where I would have to know the numbers. I'm just anal that way, lol.0
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I haven't seen Heather on here today, so tomorrow I'll just make up a temporary chart to start tracking. Looking forward to the next fifty days of kicking your *kitten* in this challenge, bwahahahahahaha.
Karen0 -
Hi Yall!
Thank you so very much Karen for the invite! This is exactly what I need! I'm so excited! I'm so glad that I get to join at the beginning of this challenge. I am very much looking forward to encouraging you all, and getting encouragement from you! I'm all in too! Let's do this! Blessings to you all!
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Woohoo, welcome to Day One of the 50-50. I am absolutely determined to do this well, no matter what. I'm sure Heather will create a glorious chart for us, but in the meantime I'm going with this.
Day One
Water
Calories
Exercise
Daily Points =
Starting Weight (483) - Ending Weight ( ) =
Bonus Points =
TOTAL CHALLENGE POINTS =0 -
Hi all. I will have a chart for you sometime.on Monday.0
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Day One
Water. 1
Calories. 1
Exercise. 1
Daily Points = 3
Starting Weight (483) - Ending Weight ( ) =
Bonus Points =
TOTAL CHALLENGE POINTS = 3
Well, this was just what I needed today to stay focused and on track. Feeling GOOD. My body is very happy with me today, which just reaffirms that this is what it needs.
Good night, all!
Karen0 -
karen, can I suggest that you start each 'day' on the forum....Like Day 1, Day 2...etc. You can put a red 'sticky' on your post to ensure that it pops up first. If you do not mind, I will start Day 2, that way we do not have to weed thru all the posts to post our challenge results.
Day One
Water =1
Calories =1
Exercise =0
Daily Points = 20 -
karen, can I suggest that you start each 'day' on the forum....Like Day 1, Day 2...etc. You can put a red 'sticky' on your post to ensure that it pops up first. If you do not mind, I will start Day 2, that way we do not have to weed thru all the posts to post our challenge results.
Day One
Water =1
Calories =1
Exercise =0
Daily Points = 2
Sounds good to me! Every few days, we can un-sticky the older days so we don't wind up with 50 sticky threads.0 -
I accidently posted today's on tomorrows. Doh!
Foods 1
Water 1
Exercise 0
Total = 2
Hey...I know we started today but I invited my Mother to join. I havent heard back yet, but she is on mfp and has been tracking and doing well for a cpuple of months. I would love for her to join this challenge.0
