Orange County Team Weight Loss Challenge

What is the “Orange County Team Weight Loss Challenge?”

  1. A 12-week weight-loss/wellness competition organized by Orange County Weight Loss and Fitness Expert Alexander Morentin.
  2. The challenge will begin with a weigh-in on Tues., March 2, 2010 and will end with a weigh-in on Tues., May 25, 2010.
  3. Teams of five people compete to lose the highest percentage of weight – not necessarily the amount of weight – during the competition. (i.e. starting weight of 220 lbs. and ending weight of 200 lbs. would be a loss of 9% body weight)
  4. Cash prizes (based on number of participants) will be disbursed to the top teams and individuals at the end of the 12 weeks.

How does it work?

  1. Each team member must weigh in each Tues. (weigh-ins are private) between 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at My Fit Life on Amerige Ave. and pay $5 (cash only) per week to remain in the competition. You do NOT have to weigh-in with teammates.
  2. Bring your first and final four week’s $5 ($25 total in cash) to the first weigh-in. We do not accept checks or credit cards. You may pre-pay the entire $65 up front.
  3. For every pound (or any fraction thereof) gained, as of the previous week’s weigh-in, the person must pay $2 (i.e. if you gained 1.2 lbs. since the last weigh-in, you’ll owe $4).
  4. Cash prizes are distributed at the end of the competition to the top teams and overall biggest losers. (Except for 15% of all funds received that will go to the nonprofit 501c3 YWCA of North Orange County who is the benefiting nonprofit of this contest, all fees collected from team members are distributed to the winning teams and individuals in the end.)

Why will it be successful?

  1. Team effort motivates participants to stay focused on losing weight through diet and exercise.
  2. Cash prizes motivate participants to remain competitive throughout the 12-week program.
  3. Team members choose their own diet and exercise program.

Who can join the contest?

  1. Any business, civic organization, church, or individual may form a five-person team.
  2. There is no entry fee to participate, other than payments of $5 cash at each Tues., weekly weigh-in.  Entrants may pay the full amount of $65 up front by check or cash.
  3. Anyone who wants to lose weight (at least 12 lbs.) may participate – youth and adults.
  4. Please form your own 5-person team. We can help you find teammates. You must start the contest as a team of five.
  5. Event organizers may choose to not allow some folks to be in the contest, if they feel the person does not need to lose weight (i.e. too thin, pregnant).

What are the benefits of the Orange County Weight Loss Challenge?

  1. Weight loss and regular exercise lead to better health.
  2. Team competition promotes camaraderie, encouragement, accountability and motivation among team members and others.
  3. Healthier people have less medical expenses, which may decrease health insurance premiums.
  4. Weight loss leads to more energy, increased productivity, and higher self esteem.

How do teams register?

  1. Form a team of 5 people. Any individual may join any team. Those under age 18 are welcome, too, with parental permission. (If you need help finding teammates, email AlMorentin@gmail.com to be added to the list of those looking for teammates.)
  2. Teammates DO NOT have to live in Orange County.
  3. Choose a unique name (i.e. Defeat De-fat, Inch Busters, Baby Got Back).
  4. E-mail your team name to us to secure it, AlMorentin@gmail.com.
  5. Participants should attend the initial weigh-in any time from 5:30-7:45 p.m. on Tues., March 2, 2010 at My Fit Life in Fullerton.  If you can not attend that time slot, contact AlMorentin@gmail.com for alternate initial weigh-in time/date. Bring $20 cash (last four weigh-ins) and $5 (initial weigh-in) – that’s $25 total in cash – and the signed registration/liability form near the top of this page. Forms also available at the event. You can also pay the full $65 up front.
  6. In some instances, teams and individuals will be allowed to join the contest after the initial weigh-in date.
  7. We will share only your teammates’ names and email addresses with all your teammates.
  8. We will add your email address to our database, and all correspondence will be via email.

What are the rules?

  1. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO YOUR DIETARY HABITS OR YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ROUTINES.
  2. Weigh-ins are private and confidential. We will only publicly share the percentages of weight loss of the team.
  3. All participants will weigh in every Tues. at My Fit Life, 112 E. Amerige Ave., Fullerton, CA, any time from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There are no alternative weigh-in locations, days or times during the contest.
  4. Participants should attend the initial weigh-in any time from 5:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Tues., March 2nd at My Fit Life in Fullerton.
  5. No disrobing or loading up allowed during weigh-ins. Remove heavy watches, belts, wallets, etc. before stepping on the scale.
  6. T-shirts and shorts are recommended for weigh-ins. We suggest no shoes. You are required to weigh in at the final weigh-in wearing basically what you wore to the initial weigh-in. We have made notations like “with shoes” or “with jeans” in our notes. (For example, if you weighed in with shoes at the initial weigh-in, you must weigh in with shoes on the final weigh-in.)
  7. No measurements will be taken.
  8. Healthy eating and exercise are encouraged.
  9. No weight-loss surgeries during the 12-week contest.
  10. Drastic weight loss (over 5 lbs./week) is discouraged.
  11. No sabotaging other teams.
  12. Everyone must weigh-in weekly (on Tuesdays only, regardless of the excuse) or a $5 fine will be added, per week, in addition to that week’s $5 weigh-in. Basically, if you have to miss a Tuesday, simply bring $15 the next week ($5 for the missed week’s weigh-in, $5 for the fine, $5 for current week’s weigh-in).
  13. If you miss a weigh-in one week, your previous week’s weight will be recorded for the missed week (i.e. zero weight loss for that week).
  14. Weigh-ins may take place with or without other teammates.
  15. Feel free to bring a notebook of your own to record your weekly weight fluctuations.
  16. Weigh-ins after the initial weigh-in may not take place any other times, days, or locations than those listed above.
  17. Weekly, average team weight-loss percentages – not participants’ weights – will be posted at http://OrangeCountyWeightLossChallenge.com and may appear in local media.
  18. Results for the final three weigh-ins will not be posted publicly.
  19. 400-LB. SCALE: We use a digital bathroom-type scale. Our scale max. is 400 lbs.  Alternate weigh-in location can be provided for anyone over 400 lbs.  Simply contact AlMorentin@gmail.com in advance.
  20. See “drop out” and “how to win” rules below.
  21. We will add your email address to our distribution list and stay in touch with you about this contest via email.
  22. We can NOT adjust a woman’s weight if she is in her monthly cycle.
  23. It is up to each team member to regularly check his/her email to read the weekly updates from the contest organizers.
  24. Any account conflicts regarding weight or payment should be made to AlMorentin@gmail.com only, and immediately. There is no alternative. Alerting a weigh-in volunteer is not acceptable.

What if team members drop out?

  1. We don’t encourage dropping out. You need all your team members to remain in the contest and to lose weight in order to have a better chance at winning.
  2. Team members can be replaced in some instances.
  3. Team members who have dropped out (and who have not been replaced) may re-join their team (with team approval, and as long as that teammate has not been replaced, and as long as their fines and fees are paid up).
  4. Team members may drop out, but the contestant’s last paid-up weigh-in will be reflected in the team’s final calculations.
  5. To drop out, you must give written notice by e-mail to AlMorentin@gmail.com.
  6. Team members may drop out, but their weight-loss percentages will be calculated into the team’s totals. Again, it’s advantageous to keep teammates on your team and losing weight.
  7. It is the responsibility of the team member to pay all fines each week. All fines and weigh-in fees must be paid on/by the final weigh-in to be considered for prizing.
  8. There must be at least three original teammates still on the team through the last weigh-in to be considered for a team prize, but remember, to have a better chance at winning, you need a higher sum of weight loss which can best be achieved by five teammates.
  9. No refunds or transfers, for any reason (including medical, death, funeral, marriage, job status, pregnancy, work scheduling, etc.).

The purpose of the fees is to encourage all participants to stay in the contest and focused on the goal of weight loss.  As agreed to on the entry form, every contestant is required to pay $5 every week of the 12-week contest, even if one drops out (for any reason).  Plus, everyone paid the initial $5 weigh-in fee.  So, that’s a minimum of $65 if you make it to every weigh-in and do not gain any weight during the contest.  And, there is an additional $5 penalty for every week that a contestant misses a weigh-in, for any reason.

If a contestant drops out, it’s basically $10 owed per Tues. left in the contest.  For example, if you miss the final five weigh-ins you would owe $50.

As noted in the rules above, you can re-join your team in the contest at any time by simply weighing-in and paying your fees up to date.

All payments should be received by the final weigh-in. If in doubt about your account, email AlMorentin@gmail.com well in advance of the final weigh-in day.

How do you win the contest?

  1. For the grand prizes, we will present the winning team’s teammates and the overall biggest individual loser with an estimated $500 each. Remember, the overall goal in this contest is for each participant to lose weight over the entire 12-week period. We feel that the outline/rules below for “how to win” will help to achieve that goal for all involved.
  2. Cash grand prizes will be awarded to the winning teams (divided equally by teammates who complete the contest and who are paid up), based on the sum of the individual teammates’ weight-loss percentages (initial weigh-in to final weigh-in). It is therefore most beneficial to keep your teammates on your team and losing weight. We expect to offer cash to at least the top- 5 placed teams for this team grand prize.
  3. Cash grand prizes will also be awarded to the biggest individual losers, based on individual weight-loss percentages (initial weigh-in to final weigh-in). We expect to offer cash to at least the top- 5 placed individuals for this individual grand prize.
  4. Grand prize awards will be given only to the teammates on a team who are still active and paid-up in the contest as of the final weigh-in. Any winning team’s teammates who are not active and paid-up in the contest on the last weigh-in date will forfeit his/her share of the grand prize money. Forfeited money will be donated to the nonprofit 501c3 YWCA of North Orange County.
  5. Cash grand prizing for teams and for individuals is expected to be approx. 5 deep (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th places). The exact number of winning teams and individuals will be made known only at the awards ceremony.
  6. All team and individual winners will split the jackpot (amounts and percentages to be determined in the final weeks of the contest).
  7. All cash winners must first sign a W-2 form provided by the YWCA at the awards ceremony before they receive their cash.
  8. All persons registered in the Weight Loss Challenge (even those on teams) are eligible for the individual loser awards.
  9. It is possible to win one or more team prizes and an individual loser prize.
  10. Award amounts to be determined by the amount of fees collected into the jackpot over the course of the contest. The 2010 jackpot is expected to exceed $10,000.
  11. These rules and guidelines may be updated and/or changed, as necessary, by Alexander Morentin and the Orange County Weight Loss Challenge organizers.

Questions?
Contact event organizer Alexander Morentin AlMorentin@gmail.com

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