need some input from you knowledgeable gals!!

[queenmaynie]

I need some advice...

I teach a cardio/sculpt class ( 5 per week) and have been trying to implement a "Challenge" contest for the month of May. I am not sure exaclty how to do it so it is fair to everyone.

I have all kinds of students... everyone from teenagers who are dancers to 60 year olds, to people trying to lose weight and people just trying to tone up and get healthy.

I can't pick a winner by weight loss alone, and measurements also won't make sense as some people will gain muscle and some will lose inches.

I have a scale that weighs pounds, body fat percentage and water. I plan to use that and also take measurements.

Sooo, can you guys give me some ideas about how to do this contest fairly?? Do I set personal goals and then see who comes closest? Do I have two categories? I am planning to have some fun smaller contests at the end of the month like under 30 vs. over 30 ( maybe do some type of endurance challenges or push up challenges, etc.)

Again, I would like to have ONE grand prize winner ( they will win a month of free unlimited classes).

I have all the freedom I want on how to run this thing ( I teach in a dance/music/drama Conservatory of the Arts... they also have Pilates but mine is the only other exercise class)

Any and All input would be so welcomed!!

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Miss Lee]

I don't know if this will work for what you want to accomplish, but I once entered a contest at our local Y that was really fun and something that anyone could do.

We had to "travel" across the country on cardio equipment over a designated period of time -- a matter of weeks. Obviously it was based on an honor system, but every time you did a cardio workout on a machine you would record the mileage, and the first one to reach the goal destination won a prize. I seem to recall that the runner's up got a T-shirt or something. Anyway, it was fun and motivating. They put up a colorful map of the US with all sorts of pictures, and little tacks were used to mark mileage.

What I liked about it was that there wasn't a body weight or measurement goal -- it was a distance goal and something that everyone could do at their own pace and level.

 

[materialsgirl]

Michele, I'm participating in a similar challenge at work right now. It's called Moonwalk, and the goal is for the team (in this case, my company) to accumulate enough collective walking/exercise miles to get us to the moon and back. We all have to wear pedometers and log other forms of exercise as "miles" (there is a conversion chart). It's pretty neat - you get prizes every 500 miles you walk. There really isn't a "winner" or anything, but it's fun to have some friendly competition among companies in the area.

And sorry, I realize this isn't the kind of challenge the original poster was looking for. But I have input there too!

My gym recently did a Body Attack 6-week challenge, and at the beginning, everyone had to do a fitness test (it was some kind of an endurance test that involved running back and forth across a basketball court until you couldn't keep up with the required pace anymore). They also did weight and body fat measurements. Then, at the end, they did the same measurements again and another fitness test. I think the winner was determined based on percentage improvement from the original measurements. That way, anyone could win, even if they weren't the fastest runner or the strongest lifter, or whatever. It was about how much improvement you made relative to your own starting point. Pretty neat challenge, really.

 

[seeking_guns]

I am participating in a "Biggest Winner" competition at my work. Our challenge started in January. Everyone paid $10 and we were weighed in. Initially, they were going to look at BMI as well, but now it is strictly by the numbers on the scale. Neither of which is the best determiner of progress, IMO, but then again, I'm not sure what else they could do that would be practical and not create a whole lot of work for someone. The team that loses the most weight doesn't have to pay for next month's weigh-in.

Each month, the two teams meet and the organizers announce the winning team and the individual who lost the most weight overall that month. And - surprise - it's always been a guy who's the biggest winner every month. So, I think it'd be nice if they'd look at it in terms of the biggest male and female winner. Also, this might sound corny, but I think it would be fun if we had some kind of goofy prop - like on those Survivor-type shows - a dumbbell or toy fridge - I dunno just *something* symbolic of the monthly victory.

I think it is going to be a challenge for you to make it fair...If it's too complicated to set individual goals, definitely have a male winner and a female winner...I also love the idea of over 30/under 30 and the individual challenges you mentioned...I think having those types of category breakdowns will make it so that everyone can compete.

Overall, it's an awesome idea! I think your students are going to really appreciate you doing this for them and having some new incentives to work hard. Our program at work might have a flaw or two, but people are making positive changes in their lives and are getting healthier and seeing results, so in the end, I think we're all winning.

~Cathy

 

[dorothyrd]

I think consistency could be one of the evaluations. People keep track of how often they come. The problem with that is you will probably have some ties in that. So then under consistency, the tie-breaker could be something dealing with their personal goals and how close they came to it.

 

[dorothyrd]

I think consistency could be one of the evaluations. People keep track of how often they come. The problem with that is you will probably have some ties in that. So then under consistency, the tie-breaker could be something dealing with their personal goals and how close they came to it.