Ok Ladies! I have some new stuff sprinkled in here so you returning ladies need to read this over again! I'm sure I forgot a few things but its ok cause I know some of you are gonna be asking ??'s anyway!
Most of these are coming from the previous challenges I've run so feel free to add new questions. I'll try to post answer them as soon as possible
Q: When does the challenge start and when does it end?
A: The challenge starts officially on April 27th and ends on August 9th. I'll start collecting starting weights on April 19th and collect them until April 26th.
Q: Do I have to follow the Biggest Loser Diet plan?
A: No, you can be on whatever diet and exercise plan you are currently practicing or you can start a new one. I can testify that I've been on about 4 different diet plans since I've joined the boards, you try what works and you stick with it.
Q: When will I know what team I'm on? Where will my team post to each other?
A: The teams will be announced on April 26th in the late evening.
Q: Do I have to participate in team discussion and chats?
A: We obviously can not force you to participate. But being on a team means communication and that is key for moving towards a common goal in this challenge. We really are looking for individuals who will check in with their team and participate so we know how you are doing.
It's also important to note that in order to be named Biggest Loser, you must participate. Please see Biggest Loser Title Information for a better clarification.
Q: I heard a rumor that there may be a merger of team threads this round. Is that true?
A: Yes, the rumors are true! Because of the spring and summer months being so slow for the challenge, and the sheer amount of drop outs we have over the course of the challenge, eventually all the team chat threads will be merged into one thread. This will help with team morale and keeping people participating.
Q: Where do I weigh in? When do I weigh in? How do I weigh in?
A: Three threads will be created, one for each team for their weigh ins. You can weigh in any day of the week just as long as it's before the cut off day and time. You can keep any preexisting weigh in days that you may have already in place. For instance I tend to weigh in on Thursdays or Fridays. For others it may be different. There's a specific format that we use to weigh in (see below)
and I ask that once you weigh in that you please do not change your weights. You'll simply be editing the same post in your team's weigh in thread every week so it's all based on the honor system.
Q: What is the format? How do I edit the same post?
A: This is the format for this challenge:
Week 1 (4/27 - 5/3):
Week 2 (5/4 - 5/10):
Week 3 (5/11 - 5/17):
Week 4 (5/18 - 5/24):
Week 5 (5/25 - 5/31):
Week 6 (6/1 - 6/7):
Week 7 (6/8 - 6/14):
Week 8 (6/15 - 6/21):
Week 9 (6/22 - 6/28):
Week 10 (6/29 - 7/5):
Week 11 (7/6 - 7/12):
Week 12 (7/13 - 7/19):
Week 13 (7/20 - 7/26):
Week 14 (7/27 - 8/2):
Week 15 (8/3 - 8/9):
Some people also find it helpful to add the weigh in deadlines to their format to help remind them when the last day to weigh in is.
Week 1 (4/27 - 5/3): (Monday 5/5)
Week 2 (5/4 - 5/10): (Monday 5/12)
Week 3 (5/11 - 5/17): (Monday 5/19)
Week 4 (5/18 - 5/24): (Monday 5/26)
Week 5 (5/25 - 5/31): (Monday 6/2)
Week 6 (6/1 - 6/7): (Monday 6/9)
Week 7 (6/8 - 6/14): (Monday 6/16)
Week 8 (6/15 - 6/21): (Monday 6/23)
Week 9 (6/22 - 6/28): (Monday 6/30)
Week 10 (6/29 - 7/5): (Monday 7/7)
Week 11 (7/6 - 7/12): (Monday 7/14)
Week 12 (7/13 - 7/19): (Monday 7/21)
Week 13 (7/20 - 7/26): (Monday 7/28)
Week 14 (7/27 - 8/2): (Monday 8/4)
Week 15 (8/3 - 8/9): (Monday 8/11)
You can copy these formats from here and post it in your teams weigh in thread. You edit your post each week by clicking the edit button on the lower right hand corner of your post and then add your weight for that week then press save.
Q: What is the cutoff time to weigh in?
A: The cutoff time is every Monday following the week of the weigh in and all weights must be recorded on your weigh in post by 11:59 pm EST. After 11:59 pm the team leaders will review the weights and attempt to contact you for a final time. If we don't hear from you we'll have to take action.
This does not apply to the week of April 19th to April 26th.
Q: What holidays are going to be occurring during this challenge?
A: Passover - April 20th to April 27th
Mother's Day - May 11th
Memorial Day - May 26th (This holiday is not an excuse not to weigh in!)
Father's Day - June 15th
Independence Day - July 4th (This holiday is not an excuse not to weigh in!)
Q: I notice we are playing during sometime that I'm taking vacation. What can I do to keep from being removed?
A:
If for some reason you are taking vacation and are unable to weigh in, you need to let your team leader know ASAP. You have the option to either weigh in early, or you can use a freebie week.
Q: What's a "freebie week"?
A: Freebie weeks are weeks were you either you can't get to the computer or something has come up that you can't weigh in. You have 2 of these for the entire 15 weeks of the challenge. So for instance if you can't weigh in, the leaders use your last weigh in as your weight for the week you miss. Once you use both freebie weeks, and you don't weigh in, you'll be removed from the team.
Q: Is there a way to earn freebie weeks?
A: For this challenge only, since we are in the summer vacation months, you have an oppurtunity to earn a "Vacation Freebie Week". In order to earn this additional freebie week, you must participate in the team chats weekly. These Vacation Freebie Weeks only apply to the Memorial Day Weekend and 4th of July Weekend weigh ins.
Q: How will I know if I've earned a Vacation Freebie Week?
A: If you need to use one, contact a team leader and they should be able to let you know via PM that you've earned a Vacation Freebie Week.
Q: I noticed there are a lot of side challenges to participate in. Is it required?
A: None of the side challenges are required, but it's encouraged that you participate to help out your team.
Q: How do you determine a winner / winning team?
A: We base everything off of percentage of weight loss just like the show.
Q: Will there be a Black Team this challenge?
A: Yes, there will be a black team in this challenge.
Q: Will there be a team for people that can't make the April 19th deadline?
A: No, while we tried this before with the black team, it is difficult to organize late comers into a challenge and have everyone feel the hearty welcome they deserve.
Q: How do you chose who is on what team?
A: Returning members from previous challenges that meet certain requirements have the opportunity to request the team they want to be on. Anyone that doesn't meet those requirements or is new to the challenge is placed on the 3 teams at random to make sure all teams have a similar starting weight.
Q: What's the theme of this challenge?
A: Just Beachy.... all things summer and sun and Hawaiian!
Again feel free to post any questions that come along and I'll be happy to add them to this list.
TBL "Just Beachy" Challenge FAQ
We'll be contacted by our team leaders on the 26th, we follow our own diet plan (whatever that may be), weigh in weekly and participate regularly in chats?
