Ok, based on the comments I got on my post earlier today about doing a “Weekend Warrior” challenge, it looks like there’s a decent amount of interest out there. So now we have to decide exactly how to run the challenge.
The 2 biggest questions in my mind are: what is the challenge going to be judged on? Calories consumed, calories burned, weight lost, something else? Second question is, what does the winner get? Should I try to dig up an actual prize, or should we just go for bragging rights?
At this point, here are my thoughts on these 2 questions, though I’m certainly willing to listen to other ideas. I think everyone participating should weigh in on Friday and then again on Monday. Most weight lost (or least gained!) over the weekend wins. I figure that no matter what you’re doing – eating healthier and consuming fewer calories, or working out more and burning more calories (or possibly both), the end result we’re all going for is the same – dropping pounds. We could do it as a percentage of body weight lost, which I think would make it more fair for those of you who are closer to your goal weight than some of us, as you won’t likely lose many pounds over a single weekend – but the percentage of body weight lost should be comparable to those of use with more to lose.
As far as a prize is concerned, I’m thinking just bragging rights at this point – unless someone has a prize they want to offer up. The winner would get 2 links from me – one here on the blog, and another on Twitter. If we repeat the challenge again in the future, I can try for something a little more substantial, but the weight loss should be its own reward, right? 
As I said, I’m totally open to feedback, and would be more than happy to change my position on either of these points if someone has a better idea. So let’s discuss it in the comments below, and maybe we can get something together for next weekend!
Hi, my name is Brandon. I am a 28 year old husband and proud father of 2. When our daughter was born in December 2009, I weighed 290 pounds. I decided right then and there that I needed to get healthy for my kids, if not for myself.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
those sound fine to me Brandon…But the winner should get tweets and links from all the losers, not just you
Mac´s last blog… Weighing In For Thursday 2/18/2010
Yes, that’s a great idea Mac! LOTS of link-love for the winner!
I like the idea of calories burned/eaten…maybe the person with the best calorie deficit? or everyone that says in the range is a winner?
The only thing about leaving it to the scale is how tricky that thing can be…depending on water you can weigh heavier/lighter by a few pounds day to day. I weigh weekly…but am willing to do whatever everyone else thinks
maybe exercise could be bonus points? Just brainstorming here…or you have a certain amount of exercise you HAVE to do and you could earn bonus points…
Craig´s last blog… Week 24 Progress & Perfect Ten
That’s very true Craig. I guess for the purposes of a challenge, I was trying to think of what would be the most easily measured. “True” calorie deficit can be difficult to measure, although, as you say, scale weight can be finicky on a day-to-day basis. Even exercise is tough to measure in any reliable way, because you can’t really rely on the calorie counters you find on the machines.
All that being said, if we can come up with a good way of measuring these things to be able to compare between people, I’m all for it!
What if everyone had a goal to reach for the weekend. As in: “I want to eat between 1800–2000 calories each day and walk at least 2 miles each day.” Of course, the exercises/calories would vary per person. We could even put stuff we want to avoid, such as “I want to not drink alcohol the whole weekend” or any other bad food/drink that usually brings us down. It’d be hard to get a “winner” but you could do a pass/fail type thing. And we could even do weights for interests sake. I’m intrigued to see others ideas!
Craig´s last blog… Week 24 Progress & Perfect Ten
Something like this might be the best way to go – sort of an “everyone wins” type of challenge. We could throw an element in there where everyone blogs about doing the challenge and then of course the results – that way, everyone still can get some link-love
I like the idea of a weekend challenge. I like Craig’s idea of it being a sort of pass/fail thing – even though it would be hard to pick a winner – and everyone listing their goals for the weekend.
Tishia – No More Plus Size´s last blog… Silly Sunday
let’s do that Brandon. Everyone describes, everyone links. Everyone wins!
Mac´s last blog… Weighing In For Thursday 2/18/2010
Sounds great to me – I definitely think this is the direction we’ll go, unless someone else comes up with a genius idea
I’ll put up another post sometime mid-week with the “official” rules.
I think the everyone wins idea is great and I’d love to blog about it. If we wanted to throw a prize for say 4 or 8 weekend challenges I could throw in some licenses to my 5 iPhone apps? Let me know.
Very cool Sean, I’ll definitely keep that in mind. What apps have you written? I’ve written a couple myself…
I have 4 architectural tour apps and 1 golf app. Check out http://nanil.com/ to see them, that is the site for my iPhone and iPad development company.
Sean´s last blog… Working out in my Vibram Five Fingers
I like the pass/fail idea too. I don’t have an iPhone, yet. But, the greatest reward will be staying in control over the weekend and having bigger losses, for me anyways. I like the link love idea too
Mary Lutz´s last blog… Menopause? Me? No! I’m Too Young for That!
I like your idea about weighing in on Friday and Monday, and I like Mac’s idea about linklove from the losers
I love a good challenge, especially a weekend one (usually where I crash and burn)!!!!!!!!!!
Steve´s last blog… The weekend…
OK, let’s get the goals up in the comments here by Thursday morning so that we can post them on our own blogs on Friday morning? Does that work?
Mac´s last blog… Weighing In For Thursday 2/18/2010
Actually, I was thinking I would put up another post with the “official” rules this Thursday, and do the challenge next weekend. That would give people time to post their goals on their own blogs, comment back over here, and spread the word around a bit that way and on Twitter, and maybe we can get more people participating.
Does that work for everyone?
I think personal goals is a great way to go as we are a rather disparate group.
AndrewENZ´s last blog… One Hundred Push-ups in a Row
Yep, I think it’s a good way to go.
I like this idea from Mac – “Everyone describes, everyone links. Everyone wins!”
Erin´s last blog… Leavin’ on a Jet Plane
Sounds great Brandon…esp since I’m going to the bar this weekend! ha ha ha
Craig´s last blog… Week 24 Progress & Perfect Ten
I like the links, I like the individual goals… Anything been decided yet?
Jeremy Logsdon´s last blog… And then there were seven… and a giveaway… and other stuff…
I’m going to put up a post tomorrow that has all the details, and we’ll do the actual challenge next weekend.
I guess it is very hard to determine who wins. If everyone is willing, I would like to see mutual sharing of links to all of the participants. I will blog about this and include pictures of all participants.
I suggest that winners are determined by keeping the weekend to program. If you eat and exercise according to plan, you win. So all of the people that stick to plan are winners.
Frank Dobner´s last blog… The 25 Best Free Weight Loss Resources
Yep, that’s exactly the plan – more of an “everyone wins” type of challenge. And yes, mutual sharing of links between all the participants is highly encouraged!