Exercise! - Presidential Challenge

3fatchicks.com has a group in the Presidential Challenge. This is an online exercise accountability program where people can go to record their exercise, and be awarded points and awards for achieving certain fitness goal. It is not an endorsment of any political party, and you will not get any politically themed spam for joining.


If you want to join, simply go to http://www.presidentschallenge.org/index.aspx and then when you register and get to the "My Groups" part enter:


Group ID Number:

29852

Group Member ID/Name:

Whatever you'd like to be know as



Everyone is welcome to join! Group Admin Tealeaf will post an update at the start of every month in the exercise forum telling how the group did the previous month. Please feel free to PM her if you have any questions.

** Please note:

If you are in the Active Lifestyles Program, then you can only earn Active Lifestyle Awards (Tealeaf won about four of them and never figured that out on her own. She thought that after she got enough of them, she'd start working towards her first Bronze. But nope.) You will get 1/5th of a star for each 30 minutes of activity you log a day, unless you are 17 or younger, in which case you must log an hour of activity a day to get part of a star filled in.


If you are in the Active Lifestyles Program and switch over to the Presidential Performance Program, you will be retroactively awarded a Metal award, but it will not show up on the list as an "earned" reward until you actually earn a reward while in that program. For example, Tealeaf was awarded a President's Champions - Bronze when she switched to the Presidential Performance Program in December-05, but for the January-06 recap she was showing as still having an Active Lifestyles award. When you switch to the Presidential Performance Program, you no longer earn stars for daily activity, and your progress is expressed as a percentage of how far you have earned towards your next medal.

If you are in the Presidential Performance Program, there is a 750 daily cap on the number of points it will count towards your goal. From what Tealeaf understands, if you go to the Advanced Performance Presidential Champions Program, all your points count, but it takes more of them to earn a medal.

I joined and started to track my exercise but I have a question and I couldnt find the answer on there so I hope it sok that I ask here lol

When you add an exercise you've done, it says your "total points" what is that?

Think of points as a numerical tally for the amount of exercise you've entered. Really, the site keeps track of your exercise two ways. One, you do at least 30 minutes a day of something, anything, and you get a fifth of a star. Two, you get points for the things you do. Some activities have a higher point value than others, and different difficulty settings lead to differences in points as well. I think this is real nifty because even if you routinely do more than is needed to get your weekly stars, you're still getting some sort of feedback/reward for going above and beyond.

The points stick around for as long as you are in the program, and it is a running total. You can use the points to see how you compare to others in your group, state, age group, and maybe other filters as well. At the start of each month, I will post a list of the top ten total point earners to date, as well as a list of the top ten point earners for the preceeding month. I will also list the highest award that each member has earned.

I hope this answers your question.

Awesome.. except when I entered mye exercise for today the star didnt fill out 1/5 of itself and still says I need 5 more days for the week..

Very odd. I looked and saw that you did 35 minutes, so it definately should have counted. The only thing I can think of is that for some reason it might have entered your data into what it considered to be last week. I'm just guessing here.

You might want to play around, tell it you did an hour or something (you can delete this bogus data later) and see if it takes it and gives you a star point, just to see if the program is totally broken for you. Failing that, you can try writing the site's administrator using the "contact us" link. I did this when I was unable to see our group's awards, and the problem got fixed in a few days.

Sorry you are having this problem, and good luck getting it fixed!

after playing around a bit I discovered that the star wont fill out 1/5th of itself until you've done at least an hour of exercise

That shouldn't be true, because I have several days when I just did 30 minutes and it filled in 1/5 of the star.

Yep, same here. I've entered 1/2 hour of moderate walking several times to get a star point. Maybe it takes an hour if you put down that you are doing the easiest setting? I dunno.

Its on moderate

Its got 60 minutes of that down and still no 1/5th of a star lol

Then it does sound like there is something wrong with your account. You might want to either contact the site's administrator, or start a new account with a slightly different name. Another option, if you are comfortable doing this, is you could PM me your log in information and I can go in as you and play with it myself to see if there something I might be able to catch.

Whatever it is you choose to do, I am sorry you have to do anything and it not working the first time!

I joined up. How can I view the activity of other group members?

You can go to the "compare with others" tab, and enter various dates to see how your points rank against others for whatever time period you like. However, only the admin can see individual members points and specific activities.

I do post a monthy recap where I list the names and points of the top ten members overall and for the previous month. I hope this helps!

One, you do at least 30 minutes a day of something, anything, and you get a fifth of a star.
I've logged two 30 minute workouts and a 45 minute workout in three days, and I still don't have any stars filled in. I played around and added an hour of moderate walking, and it filled in a fifth of a star.

Maybe it has something to do with age? Caryn and I are both under 18, so maybe it requires you to do at least one hour every day instead of 30 minutes before the star is filled. Hmmm..

I think it allows you to set your goals when you start...my guess is it's something to do with that. I think 30 mins a day 5 times a week is one of their minimums of goals, saying that you are not already active but are trying to be. Maybe mess around with your profile? See if it's there?

I've logged two 30 minute workouts and a 45 minute workout in three days, and I still don't have any stars filled in. I played around and added an hour of moderate walking, and it filled in a fifth of a star.

Maybe it has something to do with age? Caryn and I are both under 18, so maybe it requires you to do at least one hour every day instead of 30 minutes before the star is filled. Hmmm..
Yes, it's your age. For those under 18 years old it's 60 min/day.

Thanks :)

Yep, I bumped my age up a year to 18, went back to the "log your activity" page, and there 3/5 of a star was filled in.

Interesting. You know, it would have been very nice if they had a FAQ section or something where they answered this sort of question. I never considered the age variable!

I just signed up. I was in the active lifestyles (on my first week) but switched. Now I'm wondering if I made the right move. At least with the active lifestyle, I have clear cut goals, 30 min 5 days of the week. WIth the point system, I could totally blow off this weeks and not have it matter. There doesn't seem to be a deadline or anything. I can log into fitday for that.

I agree, not having the stars as goals for the other programs is regretable. I guess users have to decide for themselves which is more important to them, having the feedback from the timetable needed to get stars, or working towards a higher medal without them. Too bad we have to choose, thought.

Hi all! I signed up for the challenge. I logged my aerobics from yesterday. This looks like fun.

Hi everyone! I joined up last week, and really like the idea! I love that it motivates me ...trying to fill in all those little stars! And...I just love awards!

I don't see any stars, just precentages.

You only earn stars if you are in the Active Lifestyles program. The drawback to being in that program is that the only award you'll ever earn is the Active Lifestyles award, none of the metal medals. The starting post of this thread has been altered to include this information, if you want to go back and read about it more detail.

I'm pleased to say that I got enough points to get the bronze award a couple of weeks ago, and I'm now 47% of the way to the silver award. While I doubt I'll actually order the awards, it's kind of fun to know you've earned them. :)

I'm loving doing the Presidential Fitness Challenge. As a matter of fact, I've decided to actually order the awards so I'll have something tangible to show for all my efforts. Maybe they will motivate me to continue at this level. I just earned my silver, so I'm ordering today.

Keep it up everyone!

Chickadee

I'm not ordering the awards myself. It's enough for me that you fine people know about it!

Though the tee-shirt with the award won printed on it was kinda cool...

haha i snagged the picture of the ribbons and put them on my web page!! im working on my Gold now!

I just joined in to. I have ben apart of other group challanges on other sites. They seem to work great. They make you accountable in some ways. I hope this can keep e going. I like to work towards soe thing.

well I've been doing this on my own since the end of June but I just joined this group. I've got my bronze!

WHOOHOO!! I am really not great at excercise. I started mine months before you did but I'm FINALLY at 95% bronze myself. You did GREAT!

I just joined! I've been setting goals for my exercise levels all summer and had already met them all. This is great to give me new goals. My son and I did this a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

I think I would have done better on the presidential fitness to motivate me to excercise a min number of times and min per week. But it doesn't allow you to get anything beyond a path. With the medals you keep going.

Got my gold today! :)

WHoohooo! That is phemnomenal! Went for the gold and got it! Do you mail in for your medals?

I tried adding group 29852 and it couldn't find it...

What is the name of the 3fatchicks group?

I joined last week on my own, but wanted to add you guys as one of my groups. :(

-Muse

(7 percent to a bronze)

I joined today and the number Ilene entered worked fine for me. I should have done this a long time ago! :)

Hi,
I just joined up and this will be an extra motivator. Thanks for putting it together! I think I will have my kids start working on this as well. Have a great day!

I joined today! I can't wait to receive a bronze medal!! Good luck everybody!

Thanks. I tried again and it worked this time I've only been logging since the 6th of this month. I was tempted to enter all my back exercise since June, but I figured that wasn't the point! Point is to keep me moticated to exercise, so I just started from sign-up day.

just joined up... i'm hoping it'll be a motivator for me.

i HATE exercising, but i LOVE getting rewards! *lol*

I just joined up too. I like watching the star fill up! And rewards?! Score!

Wow that's great! I logged in my last 14 days which is the maximum allowed! LOL wish I had known about this sooner as I have logged 2,350,000 million steps this year on my pedometer plus hours and hours of other exercise!! :)

I have logged 2,350,000 million steps this year on my pedometer plus hours and hours of other exercise!! :)

WOW! that's awesome! :D WTG! :cheer:
i know i've got a pedometer around here, SOMEwhere... couldn't even begin to tell you where, though. dOh! :o

i'm 4 days away from getting my certificate... :) first completion. yay!

theobviouschild: i love watching the stars fill up, too. stars have always been my favorites, anyway... now they're even better, because they're helping me to be more active. woohoo! :D

Wow, congratulations on your certificate! That's super!

Even with just logging my last 14 days I am 15% of the way toward my bronze medal so I will just have to work hard and do all my exercise all over again. :)

Yes, the pedometer is a great help!!!

that's my next goal... to join at the next level, and earn points for medals.

just curious... do you wear your pedometer all day, and log steps from work or other tasks? or only when you're specifically exercising? i'm trying to judge how i should do it...

just curious... do you wear your pedometer all day, and log steps from work or other tasks? or only when you're specifically exercising? i'm trying to judge how i should do it...

I bought an Omron HJ-112 from amazon.com and it registers both. So I log both the total steps (and yes I wear it all day) and also the aerobic steps and how many minutes. So I keep track and log my pedometer steps total but only count as minutes of exercise what shows on the aerobic setting.

I decided to try to figure out how much work I would have to do to get my 750 point maximum for a day. LOL I am now 22 points away from it... less than 5 more minutes on my exercise bike, which I can easily do. :)

I posted everything now that I can back to 10/15 and am at 21%. LOL I also compared myself to others in my categories but it does not make sense the way it says it... I could not figure out how to make it read right... oh well... this is really good for me to have something new to focus on and play with. :bike: :jig: :cb: :dance: :cheer2: :scooter: :moped: :woops: :lifter: :trampo: :running: :swim: :exercise: :strong: :bike2: :ebike: :wl: :tread: :workout: :dancer: :kickcan:

Misti: thanks for the info! :) i like the looks of that pedometer... might have to see if i can get my hands on one.

There is a link on 3FC somewhere... not sure where... that if you click on and buy the pedometer through amazon.com (I could not find it locally) 3FC gets credit for the sale I think.

Boy glad I found this group. I just joined up.

I joined up today - this sounds like fun!

Hi everyone! I've been gone for quite a while so was not logging my points! Drat! :) Oh well.. but I am back and am about 8800 points away from earning my silver award. I did not order the bronze one... was planning to but now I think I will just wait until I get the silver and order both at once.

How is everyone doing? I notice it has been a while since anyone posted here. Let's get moving!!! :)

Sue

Hi Sue

I joined today. I think that this could be fun.

HI Diane! Yay glad you joined! Yes, it is fun. Which type of award did you sign up for? I am working for the medals... heading toward my silver one. It is amazing how the points add up!!!

Teresa and Luja, I see you have joined up recently too. Good for you! Go go go! :)

Hi Misti

I signed up for the middle one. I beleive it is the intermediate one. I have to go there now to enter my walk/jog for this morning. I need to familurize myself more with the site .


take care

Diane

Hi Diane

I love the site... it is neat that I can also get a few points for doing housework... sometimes I end up going to do stuff so I can get my maximum points for the day. :)

There is an Active Lifestyle one which a lot of people start out with. Then the Presidential Champions which is the middle one and the one I assume you meant. That is the one I am doing too. I earned the bronze but never ordered it but now I am getting close to the silver... about 6000 more points to go... so will just wait and order both at once.

I look forward to hearing your progress. It's really a neat thing to do and good to keep us challenged!

Sue

Hi everyone

Misti- Your right that is the one that I signed up for. I just logged my morning walk and I am 3% to my goal.

take care

Diane

Good for you, Diane! You will be happy to see how quickly that percentage thingie rises. :) And sometimes I go do a bit of housework or exercise just to make it go up a point! :ebike: I like this one because housework counts, ha! Also at night if I am just a few points from making my 750 daily maximum, I can go do a few things to make it.

It is more fun for me now too that others have signed up. When I go to the comparison chart for 3FC now it shows six people in our group instead of just three. :)

For my walking... when I wear my pedometer... I count the aerobic steps as time walked and then subtract those steps from the total and add in the other steps as "pedometer" steps. That way I can count them ALL without cheating. :)

Diane, what types of exercise do you do? It is fun to have someone here to share with!! :yes:

Sue

Hi everyone

I am 6% tp my bronze.

Sue- How do I get to the comparison chart to see the others?

I usually walk today I did a run / walk but mostly I just walk. I use to run all the time but I have to get some weight off before I start running more often.

I think that I have the same pedometer as you do. I know it is a Omron and it counts aerobic steps but I don't know what number it is.

Have a great day

Diane

Hi Diane

You are off to a great start! Keep up the good work!

To see the comparison, when you are logged in click on "Compare with Others." There is a 3FC group that you can join. There is a group ID number but I am not sure where I got it for 3FC or what it is. Hmmmmmmm.... bet if we search the forum we can find it. If you need me to, I can help look for it later... kind of rushing through this morning.

The comparison chart is strange though... when I try to compare with the whole US or a city chart, etc., it comes up with ridiculous "highs" for the top. One of them said someone had 91,000 points or something for a week which is of course impossible. :) I am thinking about emailing the site for an explanation.

Sue

Hi everyone

If anyone is still there

I am 12% to my bronze, I'm getting their.

How is everyone else doing??

Take care
Diane

===trying again====

HI Diane! Hey I was going to come on tonight and ask how you are doing! You are doing great... it is fun to see the percentages build up.

I am 98% of the way toward my silver! Wow! But the gold is a LOT harder to get LOL. I never did order my bronze but think I will order them both when I do get the silver. I have 876 points to go!!!

Hmmmm the thread sure is quiet! Hope people are busy busy busy working on their awards! Today I earned my silver, yay! Going for the gold but that requires 80,000 points, yikes! Gotta keep moving!!! Puff puff :bike: :swim:

I'd love to hear from others as to how you are doing.

I'm fairly new to the Challege...but I'm happy to say I'm 20% of the way towards my bronze award!! Yay =D

:yay: for you MeOwww. You are well on your way! The points rack up pretty fast when you really work at it!! I got my silver recently and am "going for the gold."

Oh wow thanks so much for posting this thread!

I remember in High School we did the presidential challenge but it wasn't anything like this! Of course I was the heavest girl (person!) in my class and the school wanted us to finish "Running" a mile in less than 9 minutes. I tried talking to my gym teacher and telling her I would gladly Walk the Mile and do the best I could but I couldn't run it. Unfortunately she wasn't the most sympathetic person and said I'd just have to run it anyway. It took me 15 min to run that thing and I thought I was going to die!!!!!

It makes me wonder why back then they couldn't of assessed us all individually and for us girls/guys who were heavier they could have given us a walking goal instead? Maybe we would of embraced excercising long ago if we would of gotten the right encouragement.

Oh well, I just completed 25 min of walking and logged my time. I can't wait to see those numbers grow!!!!! exercise: