LONG BEACH LOSERS | WEIGHT LOSS TEAM CHALLENGE

g Where Losers are Winners
Justin Rudd's "Long Beach Losers" 12-week Team Weight-Loss Challenge is Taking It Off

Okay, you can win some (money, that is) and you lose some (pounds, that is) if you are part of this contest. My goal is to promote healthier lifestyles, prevent illness and better manage chronic diseases in the Long Beach area with this contest that focuses on weight control and camaraderie. Do you want to be fit or fat? You've got nothing to lose, but a few pounds. So, put your money where your mouth is and let's take it off! -Justin Rudd!

What is the "Long Beach Losers Team Challenge?"

1. BAINBRIDGE, GA THIS YEAR... 4 $64,000 awarded 4 500+ participants 4 8 tons of weight was lost 4 $971 to each winning teammates 4 video & more

   A 12-week weight-loss/wellness competition organized by Long Beach advocate and fitness expert Justin Rudd and sponsored by his beach fitness classes.
2. The challenge will begin with a weigh-in on Wed., Aug. 1, and will end with a weigh-in on Wed., Oct. 24. 
3. Teams of five people compete to lose the highest percentage of weight - not necessarily the amount of weight - during the competition. (i.e. starting weight of 220 lbs. and ending weight of 200 lbs. would be a loss of 9% body weight)
4. Cash prizes (based on number of participants) will be disbursed to the top teams and individuals at the end of the 12 weeks.

How does it work?

1. Each team member must weigh in each Wed. (weigh-ins are private) and pay $5 per week to remain in the competition.
2. For every pound (or any fraction thereof) gained, as of the previous week's weigh-in, the person must pay $2 (i.e. if you gained 1.2 lbs. since the last weigh-in, you'll owe $4).
3. Cash prizes are distributed at the end of the competition to the top teams and overall biggest losers. (All fees collected from team members are distributed to the winning teams and individuals in the end.)

Why will it be successful?

1. Team effort motivates participants to stay focused on losing weight through diet and exercise.
2. Cash prizes motivate participants to remain competitive throughout the 12-week program.
3. Team members choose their own diet and exercise program.

Who can join the contest?

1. Any business, civic organization, church, or individual may form a five-person team.
2. There is no entry fee to participate, other than payments of $5 at each Wed., weekly weigh-in, starting with the initial weigh-in on Wed., Aug. 1, 2007.  Entrants may pay the full amount up front, but there will be no refund if you quit or get voted off a team.
3. Anyone, 18 and older, who wants to lose weight may participate.
4. Please form your own 5-person team. You must start the contest as a team of five.
5. Event organizers may choose to not allow some folks to be in the contest, if they feel the person does not need to lose weight (i.e. too thin, pregnant).

What are the benefits of the Long Beach Losers program?

1. Weight loss and regular exercise lead to better health.
2. Team competition promotes camaraderie, encouragement, accountability and motivation among team members and others.
3. Healthier people have less medical expenses, which may decrease health insurance premiums.
4. Weight loss leads to more energy, increased productivity, and higher self esteem.

Added Benefits

1. OPTIONAL: Half-price classes: Sun., (9 a.m.), Mon. (6:30 p.m.), & Wed. (6:30 p.m.). Reg. $10. Justin Rudd's Beach Body Sculpting classes til Oct. 24). Bring a pair of your own light hand weights (10-lb. max., 3-8 lbs. per hand recommended, Justin will use 10 lbs.) and a large towel to the classes. Meet on the concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore. Class details at www.SandChallenge.com
2. Weekly cash & prize drawing for people who weighed in that week, starts Aug. 8. Winners listed on this page in the left-hand column each Thurs. Winners must claim their prize by the following Wed. at 8 p.m. by contacting Justin@JustinRudd.com or simply pick up their prize at the Wed. boat launch ramp weigh-in.

How do teams register?

1. Form a team of 5 people. (Any individual, 18 and older, may join any team.)
   
2. Teammates do not have to live in Long Beach, but must be able to weigh-in each Wed. in Belmont Shore.
3. Choose a unique name (i.e. Defeat De-fat, Inch Busters, Big Butts R Us, Profit & Loss, Diet Divas, Shrinking Assets, Waist Warriors, Jelly Bellys, Honey Buns, Big Daddies).
4. E-mail your team name to us to secure it, Justin@JustinRudd.com.
5. Participants should attend the initial weigh-in any time from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 1 on the boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore.  Free parking. Bring your first $5 cash and the signed registration/liability form (click here to download the pdf file now). Forms also available at the event. Alternate initial weigh-in location/time can be arranged upon request to Justin@JustinRudd.com.
6. No team registration can take place after the first day of competition.
7. In some instances, individuals will be allowed to join the contest after the initial weigh-in date.

What are the rules?

1. Long Beach is the 11th fattest city in the U.S. Men's Fitness, 2007

   ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO YOUR DIETARY HABITS OR YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ROUTINES.
2. All participants must be at least 18 years of age by Aug. 1, 2007.
3. Weigh-ins are private and confidential. We will only publicly share the percentages of weight loss of the team.
4. All participants will weigh in every Wed. at one of the two Belmont Shore venues:
   - Justin Rudd's Wednesday evening beach body sculpting classes on the concrete boat launch ramp at at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore.  Weigh-ins between 6:30-8 p.m. This class is optional and 1/2-price (only $5) for those in the Long Beach Loser program.
   - Runners' High, 5338 E. 2nd St., Belmont Shore, during regular 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. business hours.
5. Participants should attend the initial weigh-in any time from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 1 on the boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore.  Free parking. Bring your first $5. Alternate location/time can be arranged upon request to Justin@JustinRudd.com.
6. No disrobing or loading up allowed during weigh-ins.
7. T-shirts and shorts are recommended for weigh-ins. We suggest no shoes.
8. No measurements will be taken.
9. Healthy eating and exercise are encouraged.
10. No weight-loss surgeries during the 12-week contest.
11. Drastic weight loss (over 5 lbs./week) is discouraged.
12. No sabotaging other teams.
13. Everyone must weigh-in weekly (on Wednesdays only) or a $5 fine will be added, per week, in addition to that week's $5. Basically, if you have to miss a Wed., simply bring $15 the next week ($5 for the missed week weigh-in, $5 for the fine, $5 for current week's weigh-in).
14. If you miss a weigh-in one week, your previous week's weight will be recorded for the missed week (i.e. zero weight loss for that week).  
    
15. Missing consecutive weigh-ins may result in disqualification.
16. Participants must weigh in with photo ID. 
17. Weigh-ins may take place with or without other teammates.
18. Feel free to bring a sheet of your own to record your weekly weight fluctuations.
19. Weigh-ins may not take place any other times, days, or locations than those listed above.
20. Team members can only be voted off (by their team members) for failing to weigh-in or for steadily gaining weight.  Only one team member may be voted off a team.
21. Team members who consistently weigh-in but who do not lose a great deal of weight, may not be voted off.
22. Weekly, average team weight-loss percentages - not participants' weights - will be posted at www.JustinRudd.com/loser.html and may appear in local media.
23. Results for the final three weigh-ins will not be posted publicly.
24. 400-LB. SCALE: The digital bathroom-type scales will be identical at the two weigh-in locations (Runners' High and Granada Ave. boat launch ramp).  Our scale max. is 400 lbs.  Alternate weigh-in location can be provided for anyone over 400 lbs.  Simply contact Justin@JustinRudd.com in advance.
25. See "drop out" and "how to win" rules below.

What if team members drop out?

1. We don't encourage dropping out. You need all your team members to remain in the contest and to lose weight in order to have a better chance at winning.
2. Team members can not be replaced.
3. Team members who have dropped out may always re-join their team, as long as their fines and fees are paid up.
4. Team members may drop out, but the contestant's last paid-up weigh-in will be reflected in the team's final calculations.
5. To drop out, give written notice by e-mail to Justin@JustinRudd.com.
6. Team members may drop out, but their weight-loss percentages will be calculated into the team’s totals. Again, it's advantageous to keep teammates on your team and losing weight.
7. It is the responsibility of the team member to pay all fines each week. All fines and weigh-in fees must be paid by those still in the contest on/by Wed., Oct. 24 to be considered for prizing.
8. There must be at least three original teammates still on the team through the last weigh-in to be considered for a team prize, but remember, to have a better chance at winning, you need a higher sum of weight loss which can best be achieved by five teammates.
   

How do you win the contest?

1. For the grand prizes, our goal is to be able to present the winning team's teammates and the overall biggest individual loser with at least $850. Remember, the overall goal in this contest is for each participant to lose weight over the entire 12-week period. We feel that the outline/rules below for "how to win" will help to achieve that goal for all involved.
2. Cash grand prizes will be awarded to the winning teams (divided equally by teammates who complete the contest and who are paid up), based on the sum of the individual teammates' weight-loss percentages (initial weigh-in to final weigh-in on Wed., Oct. 24). It is therefore most beneficial to keep your teammates on your team and losing weight. We expect to offer cash to the top-five placed teams for this team grand prize.
3. Cash grand prizes will also be awarded to the biggest individual losers, based on individual weight-loss percentages (initial weigh-in to final weigh-in on Oct. 24). We expect to offer cash to the top-five placed individuals for this individual grand prize.
4. Additionally, there will be a cash prize to the one team with the highest averaged percentage of overall weight loss by each teammate who is left in the contest at the final weigh-in (Wed., Oct. 24). The following rules only apply to this award: To win this award, there must be at least three teammates remaining on the team. It is permissible for two of the teammates to drop from competition on/by the 6th week's weigh-in (Wed., Sept. 12) and not affect their team's final average. Any teammate(s) who drops out after the 6th week's weigh-in (Wed., Sept. 12) will get their weight-loss percentage tallied in to the team's final average, which is likely to damage the team's final percentage.
5. Grand prize awards will be given only to the teammates on a team who are still active and paid-up in the contest as of the final weigh-in on Wed., Oct. 24. Any winning team's teammates who are not active and paid-up in the contest on the last weigh-in date will forfeit his/her share of the grand prize money. Forfeited money will be donated to Justin Rudd's nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team.
6. Cash grand prizing for teams and for individuals is expected to be approx. 5 deep (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th places). The exact number of winning teams and individuals will be made known only at the awards ceremony.
7. All team and individual winners will split the jackpot (amounts and percentages to be determined).
8. All cash winners must first sign a W-2 form provided by the Community Action Team (CAT) at the awards ceremony before they receive their cash.
9. All persons registered in the Losers contest (even those on teams) are eligible for the individual loser awards.
10. It is possible to win one or more team prizes and an individual loser prize.
11. Award amounts to be determined by the amount of fees collected into the jackpot over the course of the contest. We anticipate an approx. $12,000-$15,000 jackpot.
12. These rules and guidelines may be updated and/or changed, as necessary, by Justin Rudd and the Long Beach Losers contest organizers.

Questions?
Event organizer Justin Rudd, Justin@JustinRudd.com

Online
www.JustinRudd.com/loser.html

FINAL WEIGH-IN
Wed., Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m., 1 Granada Ave. on the boat launch ramp. Same location as the first weigh in. No weigh-ins at Runners' High on this day. Same scale as the initial weigh-in.

AWARDS CEREMONY
Will be held on the sidewalk in front of Washington Mutual Bank on 2nd St. @ Nieto Ave. at 7 p.m., sharp, on Thurs., Oct. 25, the evening following the final weigh-in.  Seating is not provided. Please dress warmly. The ceremony is expected to last approx. 40 minutes.

HOW DOES A TEAM WIN THE LOSER CONTEST?
Cash prizes will be awarded to approx. five teams in the Long Beach Loser contest, based on the total of the individual teammates' weight-loss percentages (initial weigh-in to final weigh-in). An additional cash prize will be awarded to the team with the greatest percentage of total body weight loss. For the grand prize, it is therefore advantageous to keep teammates on your team throughout the contest and encourage them all to lose weight. There will also be cash prizes for the indiviuals who lose the greatest percentage of body weight. READ MORE

IF YOU MISS A WEIGH-IN
Everyone must weigh-in weekly (on Wednesdays only) or a $5 fine will be imposed. Basically, if you have to miss a Wed., simply bring $15 the next week ($5 for the missed week weigh-in, $5 for the fine, $5 for current week's weigh-in).

WATCH LOSERS ON KABC-TV7
The news came and taped a segment during the weigh-in and sculpt class on Wed., Aug. 8. WATCH IT NOW: ABC7.com

BE A LONG BEACH LOSER
Although our teams are already secure and locked, I can sign you up for the program as an individual.  Basically, you'd fill out the entry form and weigh-in each Wed. for the remainder of the contest (even though you are more than a few weeks behind), and be eligible for all available prizing, except the overall team awards.  You'd also qualify to take Justin's Sun., Mon. and Wed. sculpt classes for half price (reg. $10).  The waiver is HERE.  Do you want to be Long Beach's Biggest Loser? 

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LONG BEACH "LOSER WALK"

THE MORE FOLKS you recruit for this morning walk, the more cash you could win.  Cash prizes to the individuals and Long Beach Losers team who recruits the most walkers. Choose the 4-, 6- or 8-mile walks on the scenic beach bike path.  Start/finish at the Granada Boat Launch Ramp, 1 Granada Ave. Half of money raised will go to the Long Beach Losers jackpot.  The other ½ will be distributed to the Losers team and individuals who recruit the most paid participants in the Loser Walk. Each Loser walking will get 2 points for themselves and their team and each guest they recruit will bring the team and themselves 1 point. $5 advance, $10 day-of entry. Strollers and jogging welcome.
Loser Walk Winners
Team: Cinco De Shrinko
1st Pl. Individual: Marla Israel
2nd Pl. Individual: Cynthia Callahan
3rd Pl. Individual: Marlen Torres