🏆Congratulations Challengers! This Winter marks our 58th season of the 5% Challenges! We started in Spring 2010 on SparkPeople, and successfully transitioned to My Fitness Pal in 2020!

📅This season will be our first 10 week challenge. Over the years some challengers have stated "I was so close to my 5% weight loss goal, I just needed a little more time". Let's give it a try! Our 2024 Winter 5% Challenge starts Saturday January 6th, 2024, with the first weigh in and ends March 16th with the last weigh in.

✈️2024 Winter 5% Travel Theme – Olympic Destinations

The Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games have been hosted in 47 cities and 27 countries, and on all five continents. After the Olympic events, most sites become legacy/permanent venues and are still beneficial and in use today. This is an Olympic year so let's visit these places in summer conditions to best enjoy them, and see other surrounding areas.

Olympic legacy includes the long-term benefits that the Olympic Games create for the host city, its people, and the Olympic Movement before, during and long after the Olympic Games.

Our Winter 5% Living the Good Life (LTGL) theme is Habits vs Motivation

January 1st is a time of new beginnings and the desire to be successful in our endeavours. Regardless of how 2024 started for you, Jan 6th is the date to commit to being the best version of yourself. This date is the start of the 5% Challenge, and the date to make a resolution to prioritize your wellness.

We will focus on building sustainable habits and take the focus off of motivation. As Jim Ryun says, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Given that Jim is a former three-time Olympian, he is likely less vulnerable than us to starting a resolution with intention and motivation…and losing steam and focus. But this year we will start the new year with resolve to do things differently and succeed in our endeavors! In 2024 we will do better!

43% of your daily behaviors are involuntary, performed out of habit. A habit is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and will occur automatically. We will focus on habit formation to make permanent healthier habits and better outcomes.

Your leaders will help/guide you in how we do the challenges. Please friend them so you can communicate with them through MFP email if you have a question or to let them know if you will be away. Wherever we travel regardless of season, it’s a lovely summer day, we are physically fit and have ease of motion.

The basic 5% Challenge requirements are to post - your weekly weigh in by Saturday midnight, record all your daily exercise minutes and daily Living the Good Life Challenge points by Friday midnight. If you are restarting your exercise and diet program, proceed at a pace you are comfortable with.

Some of the Challenges may be things you are already doing, and for that you are to be commended. It will be easy for you to contribute points to your team. For some of us, these Challenges really will challenge us as we work on developing healthy habits.

Although the LTGL Challenge changes weekly, Challengers are encouraged to do their best to continue each challenge throughout the entire 10 weeks, this is how they will become habits. Enjoy!

If you have not joined a team, please send a message to Ceriusly1.

Promise to commit to "a healthier lifestyle and wellness each day. Focus on your exercise, food choices, relaxation, sleep, mental health, staying connected, and feeling positive about life."