03 Apr
Announcing TWLC4
One year ago I asked you to join me in TWLC3… and then I got pregnant and dropped out (AND didn’t tell you why I wasn’t participating for months and months so I’m sure I looked like a terrible weight-loss-challenge initiator). This time nothing is going to hold me back from reaching my goals. There will be no pregnancy, and no excuses. My plan is to do TWLC rounds in 6 month increments until I have reached my happy weight. If things go well I’ll be able to quit after TWLC 6, or October 2014. Want to see if you can make it to your goal weight before I do?
If you’re not sure you want to join, check out the results from TWLC1, TWLC2, and TWLC3. I want to be those ladies. Join me. Join us!
Want to see where I’m starting out?
Actually that was last month, March 15th, 5 weeks post-partum. But you get the idea. Lots and lots of work to be done. In the past I’ve collected money myself, but I’m very happy to say that I no longer have to attempt that momentous task. If you want to compete for cash you can do so using DietBet.com, which I’ll talk more about below.
April 15-October 15 2013
The Components
1. Spend the next 6 months competing for a Jenna Cole Photography Session (compete for free, but you have to send in before+after photos of your body, plus before+after scale shots)
2. Monthly DietBet rounds, where everyone competes to win their $25 back, plus the extras from those who don’t reach their goal
The Resources
1. Join the TWLC Facebook group.
2. Use the hashtag #TWLC4 on Twitter.
3. The Google Doc. It’s a place to fill in your measurements, tell your story, link to your blog, and watch your competition progress throughout the challenge. If you’d like to have access to the Google Doc see below under “How To Be Granted Access to the Google Doc”.
Jenna Cole Photography Session
A portrait session with Jenna Cole Photography (individual, with romantic partner, or immediate family) awarded to the person with the highest percentage of weight lost between April 15th and October 15th 2013. Can be redeemed wherever I am at any point in the future. I currently live in the San Francisco bay area, and am willing to drive up to 2 hours one way to do the session. I also visit my family in Washington state regularly. Are you in Poland? Sometimes I go there too (and if you’re in France, go ahead and win because I want an excuse to go there.) You are free to try to win this no matter where you live, and then if I ever travel where you are, or you travel where I am, we can meet and do your pictures then.
How To Enter to Win a Session with Jenna Cole Photography
Step 1:
Copy and paste the following sentence in the comment section below. PLEASE COPY THE SENTENCE EXACTLY AS SEEN BELOW.
I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
Step 2:
1. Start drafting an email with the subject line “TWLC4 Before Picture – Insert Your Name Here”. THIS IS CRUCIAL! YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED UNLESS YOU DO THIS EXACTLY AS DETAILED.
2. Email me a before picture of you from head to toe (or neck to toe if you prefer). I need a picture of your front, back, and sides if possible. I suggest *not* wearing black, wear light colors and tight fitting clothes so you can see a difference!
3. Include a picture of the scale while you are standing on it.
4. Pictures must be received before April 15th. Get them in right now! (Get them in sooner and you’ll have a little bit of a head start over everyone else.)
Emails should be sent to thatwife [at] gmail [dot] com.
DietBet
What is DietBet?
As the site describes it: DietBet is a game where you’ve got 4 weeks to lose 4% of your starting weight. To begin, everyone puts money into the pot. After four weeks, whoever’s hit their 4% goal is a winner and splits the pot. DietBet verifies everyone weight at the beginning and the end by giving you a random word to include with your weigh-in, a word you only have access to 48 hours before the game starts (and at the end). This nifty little rule helps prevent cheaters. You can read more about how it works here. I’m in the middle of my first bet with the site right now, and it looks like I might actually make my goal. I’ve been eating better and exercising more diligently than I ever have before.
How to bet.
1. Sign up for my first DietBet (future DietBets will be advertised on Twitter, the Facebook group, and on That Wife).
2. Send in a picture of yourself to the DietBet admins (don’t worry, they’ll walk you through the process)
3. Pay your money
4. Win your money back!
4. Renew each month if you’d like to continue betting with me
How To Be Granted Access to the Google Doc
Copy and paste the following sentence in the comment section below. PLEASE COPY THE SENTENCE EXACTLY AS SEEN BELOW.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
Failure to log percentage lost at least once per month will result in revoked access to the Google Doc.
FAQ
I’ll add to this as I see questions pop up in the comments below.
Do I need to send you a picture to participate in TWLC4?
Only for the Jenna Cole session. But even if you aren’t going for that, send the picture! Once you’ve lost the weight, you’ll be kicking yourself for putting it off. You’ll want before pictures to put up on Facebook so everyone can oooooh and ahhhhh over your efforts. You deserve those compliments.
How will I know that I’m signed up for the Jenna Cole Photography session prize?
I will write a reply to every picture submission email to let you know I received it.
Will you post my picture on the blog?
Only with your consent. NO PICTURES WILL EVER BE SHOWN WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. I am happy to crop photos, blur out faces, and would never use your name along with your photo unless you let me know it was okay to do so.
Do you have to sign up for DietBet to be included in TWLC4?
No. There are several different ways you can participate in TWLC4.
1.You can participate by utilizing the resources noted above.
2. You can compete, for free, to win a session with Jenna Cole.
3. You can pay $25 and compete in the monthly DietBet rounds.
Or you can do any combination of 1-3. It’s up to you!
How regularly do I have to check in on the Google doc? Every week? Once a month?
If you want to continually have access, you need to check in once a month.
Can I start late?
I’m excited that this round of TWLC will accommodate those who want to start at any time, except if you want to compete for the Jenna Cole photography session (you must email me your before+after+scale shots by April 15th if you want to compete for that in TWLC4). DietBets will start over each month, so you can join for the months that work for you. Join us in the TWLC Facebook group whenever you can.
When do I sent in my DietBet information?
Once you sign up, DietBet will email you details regarding what you need to do next. It’s really easy, I promise! I’m just the host for the challenge, everything else is done through them.
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
YAY! I’m so in!
1I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
2I wish I could but I’m still pregnant! (probably for another couple of weeks!)
3Can we start late? (Not to win the photography session, but to be part of the google docs and Facebook page.) I am pregnant and due in May and would love to be part of TWLC 4 to help lose the baby weight and reach my goal.
Jenna Reply:
April 3rd, 2013 at 10:57 am
You can start at anytime, the only thing that you can’t participate in if you start late is competing for the Jenna Cole session. Otherwise, join us for the DietBets this summer, and be part of the Facebook group. We would love to have you!
I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I’m actually going to sign up for http://www.healthywage.com where it’s 10% of weight!
5I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
6I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
7I`m undecided! I`m nervous about the whole thing where Dietbet can make you go “verify” your weight at a pre-approved place, because if you end up spending money to get weighed at the doctors then it somewhat defeats the purpose of winning your money back. But it does seem very intriguing!!
Some Snapshots Blog
Jess
Jenna Reply:
April 3rd, 2013 at 2:48 pm
You can use your scale at home. Do you have one? Or you could use one at the gym if it’s in front of a full length mirror.
I like weighing myself at home pretty frequently so I can graph my weight, so having a scale is a must for me.
Best of luck to everybody! I seriously thought I’d be joining you but I’ve already lost all the baby weight plus a lot more. I look forward to seeing your journey again. I’m always super impressed and proud of your commitment and perseverance on these challenges.
9I wish you’d go easier on yourself. You have lots of time to lose the weight. Taking a picture of yourself 5 weeks after baby bums me out! You are more than just a number. I’m not participating but I wish you luck and hope you take it easy.
10When does the diet bet month start?
11Oh, I see. It is April 15, I thought you meant it started already but actually we can join at any point before then!
Jenna Reply:
April 4th, 2013 at 6:54 am
Yes. And a new one will start each month on the 15th.
I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
13I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
14I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
15I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
16I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
17I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
18I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
19Ahh, I’m really hoping the facebook group will be the source of support & motivation I need to get through spring quarter of school while also trying to shed some pounds!
20I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
PLUS
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
Thanks for doing this! What great motivation!
21I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
Super excited for this round because I too had to drop out of the challenge because we were expecting. She’s about 3 1/2 months now and I’m ready to shed the weight!
22I am really interested in doing this…I’d love to bring my hubby along for the challenge! This may be a strange question but are boys allowed?
Jenna Reply:
April 9th, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Yep! I’ve never had a guy send in after pictures, but I think it would be awesome if someone did!
I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
24I’m fairly certain I’m signing up this year, BUT I also shared with my readers today
http://stresscasey.blogspot.com/2013/04/lots-of-link-love.html
XOXO
25Casey
I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
26I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
27I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
28I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
29I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
30I would like to compete in TWLC4 to lose the highest percentage of weight to win a portrait session with Jenna Cole. I will email you exactly as described below.
I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress.
31I would like to be added to the TWLC4 Google Doc list where I will log in regularly to enter in my progress
32