How to Do a Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge at Work

Research shows that organized weight loss groups have a higher rate of success than individuals when attempting to lose weight do.

Steps

1. 1 Consider the timing. January and late spring are both good times to start a challenge. In January, people often make a New Year’s resolution to trim down; in late spring, people are preparing for swimsuit season and will feel more motivated.
2. 2 Set a time for an organizational meeting. You will need to review the rules of the contest and the guidelines for how the diet works.
3. 3 Recruit contestants to come to your meeting. To persuade people to join in your contest, consider these ideas for recruiting:
   • Add an announcement to your workplace newsletter.
   • Post flyers in the break room, in the gym or in the cafeteria.
   • Spread the word via word-of-mouth.
   • Send group emails giving people the opportunity to sign up for the challenge.
   • Post an announcement on your corporate intranet.
   • Use social media to advertise the opportunity. You can even create your own Facebook page for the event.
4. 4 Set a place for your weekly weigh-in. Also, choose a designated support person who is not participating in the contest to perform the weigh-ins and record the results.
5. 5 Decide on your registration fees. Use the fees that you collect to purchase weekly, monthly, or end-of-contest prizes. Alternatively, you can pool the cash and present a cash prize to the winner of the contest.  
6. 6 Write down your contest rules. Make sure to cover these important topics:
   • The dates of the contest
   • Whether people are losing weight as individuals or whether they will participate on teams
   • The composition of teams, including the number of members and the designated team leaders
   • Location of the weigh-in
   • Registration fees and prize information
   • How weight loss will be scored (scoring based on the percentage of body weight lost rather than on the number of pounds lost makes the contest more fair)
   • Attendance requirements for weigh-ins and any weekly meeting that you plan to have
7. 7 Organize weekly support activities. You will offer emotional support to one another as well as teaching one another new weight loss strategies.
   • Use coffee breaks or lunch hours to get with participants. Discuss what has and hasn’t worked during your weight loss journeys.
   • Join to walk or to exercise. Sign up for a walk-a-thon for charity or sign up for a 5K or 10K race.
   • Work out a deal with a local fitness facility to set up group exercise programs and to provide instructors and personal trainers.
   • Attend health lectures or programs as a group.
   • Hold healthy potluck dinners to share recipes or meet at restaurants that offer healthy food choices.
8. 8 Create your own Biggest Loser challenges. A competitive spirit will help to keep people motivated throughout the challenge.
   • Give prizes or recognition for the most hours exercised each week, the number of steps walked or the number of miles people have walked, run or biked.
   • Set up a spinning class or walk on treadmills to see who can go the farthest in 90 minutes.
   • See who can do the most pushups or sit-ups or who can jump rope for the longest time.
   • Have a contest to see who can climb the stairwell to the top of your office building in the shortest amount of time.
   • Compete on a fitness course, in a relay race, in a tug-of-war or in a swimming competition.
9. 9 Celebrate a job well done. Put together a ceremony to hand out awards to teams and to individuals. Make sure that any prizes are fitness-oriented so you preserve the spirit of the contest.
   • Create a trophy for the winner or for the winning team.
   • Give away small items of fitness gear or a large item like a treadmill or elliptical trainer.
   • Give away a cash prize or a gift certificate to a sporting goods store.
   • Give away a trip to a health spa or a membership at a local fitness center.
   • Award 10 sessions with a personal trainer.

1. Prev:How to Lose Weight As a Teenager
2. Next:How to Stay Motivated to Lose Weight