Here's the Deal- New and Improved with MORE prizes!

My sister-in-law did this 12 week challenge with about a dozen ladies earlier this year. I saw her her trim, healthy and relaxed as she turned down cake when it was over. She said that it was simple, fun, and everyone who completed it lost at least 10 pounds.

Here's how it works:

Each day you can earn up to 4 points for healthy choices:

• Healthy Food: 1 point if you don't eat any junk food or treats. You need to write down somewhere what you will or will not do. Does healthy eating mean no white flour? Does it mean no hamburgers? Again, it doesn't mean that you will never have an unhealthy food, it just means that you don't earn your point that day. If you eat more than a palm-sized serving over the day, then not only you don't get the point, but you have to take another point off.
• Enough Sleep: 1 point if you get 7 or more hours of sleep. I need more than that, but this is just what the minimum to earn the point is.
• Exercise: 1 point for your choice of vigorous exercise for at least 35 minutes--walking fast is OK (The woman who won my sister-in-law's challenge did a marathon--BRING IT ON!) Sundays are excluded--instead give yourself a point this day for posting your points on the blog before Monday at 8AM EST).
  
• Personal Goal: 1 point for working towards the goal of your choice. Goals are always more successful when you have to report to someone. You don't have to tell us what your goal is, but before we begin, you need to write it down so it is really clear in your own head what needs to happen for you to succeed or not earn that point that day.
  

It is an honor system, so don't sign up if you are going to be lame and fudge on your points. If you eat the treat, then enjoy it and do better tomorrow, but don't give yourself points like you didn't. Don't be lame.


The Prizes:

First Prize: $200

Second Prize: $60

Third Prize: $40

In the event of a two-way tie, the first and second prize money would be divided between the two winners. In the event of a three or more tie, all the above prize money would be divided by those who are tied.

Percentage of weightloss (men's division): $50

Percentage of wieghtloss (women's division): $50

(Don't worry, we'll give you a simple formula to figure it out)

How to Get Started:

The 12 Weeks start Monday, September 28th and ends Monday, December 21. Write out your healthy food guidelines and your personal goal outline. Go ahead and start keeping track of points if you intend on joining, but I have to have your $20 check by the end of next week. Once I have your check, I will add you to the official list. You have one week to decide if you want to drop out and get your money back (No refunds after October 4th--we need to be fair to those who are still in it.) After that, the check will be cashed and there won't be any refunds. Each Monday before 8 AM you need to comment on how many points you earned that week (28 possible for the week) I will keep a running tally going on the side. During the week, you can post comments, recipes, tell others about your goals, talk about what you did that day for exercise. I am thinking about capping the enrollment at 15 so I don't spend too much time on administrative stuff.

Honestly, if this is what you've been waiting for the support and motivation to make some positive changes, then write the check today and send it to Michelle Wasden 25 Manor Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540. Then (and only then) will you have a spot secured. I figure that if you aren't interested enough to get the check in the mail, then you probably don't really want to do this so I really don't want to mess around with "holding spots" and stuff like that. Make sense?

Let the change begin!