The idea to organize a Biggest Loser-type competition with some friends came to me in my sleep. I woke up, turned to Mike, and said, "I should organize a weight-loss thing, but it should include an entry fee, so someone can make like $100 for losing a little weight."
The final jackpot is $2180.
I didn't expect this idea to gain so much support after I announced it, but let me tell you one reason I'm glad it did: I encouraged all the participants to use the hashtag #biggestbloggingloser on Twitter, for support and community and to get to know each other, too, and now whenever I crave something sweet or something bubbly or something greasy and fatty, I click on that hashtag and am instantly inspired. Instantly re-motivated.
Strength in numbers. Oh yes.
It's not really about the money (okay, sure, it's a little bit about the money) but as my wise sister said: if you stop drinking a bottle of wine a week, if you stop eating out so often, if you stop mindlessly snacking on food you aren't hungry for, at the end of 12 weeks, you very well could save the amount of the jackpot.
I am proud to be a part of this group, and this group includes:
Caitlin (@HBapothecary)
Tammi (@tammimarie)
Kendall (@kngibbard03)
Alison (@rambocandy)
Kristie (@kristie999)
Lori (@Lori_V_F)
Kerri Anne (@kerrianne)
Anne (@annabellespeaks)
Katie (@kbaxterk)
Kate (@kategiovinco)
Heather (@heather_24)
Alicia (@JustVos)
Jenny (@JennyCook)
Moira (@themoira)
Maggie (@andtheducksaid)
Heather
Kristen
Ginger (@rambleginger)
Jen (@onenjen)
Zach
Kimberly (@kimberly_bilder)
Laurie
Tara (@taralynn404)
Emily (@EmilysHollow)
Amy (@justatitch)
Tara (@MrsDangelo)
Theresa (@bubbletearesa)
Nanette (@Nanette)
Nora (@hopeitkeepsup)
Danielle (@ant_danielle)
Jennifer (@jayesel)
Ashley (@akaleiart)
Carla (@CharlieSue)
April
Jennifer (@jigglefreejenn)
Dianna (@adoseoffabulous)
Whitney (@barbetti)
Karen (@karensugarpants)
Amy
Ali (@alimartell)
Gav (@gavmartell)
Jen (@jenbernardi)
Ashley (@ashleyb1182)
Katherine
Jessica (@jayjaysaidso)
Alexa (@alexaflotsam)
Laurie (@lauriewrites)
Kristin (@kristabella)
Carrisa (@andsosheblogs)
Jerilyn (@Serendipity75)
Erica (@alldressedup)
Melissa (@misplacedtexan)
Nicole (@notperfect)
Beth
Annie (@anneoftroy)
Amie (@Amie31)
Keri
Mia
Linda (@Sundry)
Crash Test Mommy (@crashtestmommy)
April (@jadetomato)
Michelle (@michelle12344)
Casey
Erin
Nichole
Victoria (@dinsdaleatlarge)
Elsha
Kristin (@OTOP)
Brandi (@brandi_b)
Caitlin
Michael (@phenom1984)
Parking at Home (@parkingathome)
Mona (@kirida)
Stephanie (@stefcia)
Lara (@purplelara)
Ann (@glamgranola)
TJ (@tjlafave)
Rachel
Saly (@saly)
Mary (@mimiallme)
Monkey
Kim
Cindy (@CASundberg)
Lisa (@heylardass)
Elizabeth
Diane (@gingermaxim)
Eilis (@TheWeazie)
Bob
Shari
Kelly (@kellylou)
Angela (@Aferg22)
Elizabeth
Wendy (@wAthleticMonkey)
Kate (@KateThorne)
Kelly (@craftyb)
Holly (@hollyburns)
Alice
Andrea (@alphamommy)
McFatPants (@mcfatpants)
AndreAnna (@modernmatriarch)
Jen
Micah (@micahkemp)
Megan (@mamabub)
Elizabeth (@ebj123)
Florencia
Heather (@sggonechubby)
Manda (@insidedog)
(Phew, that was a task!)
You know, donuts are delicious and the couch is way more comfortable than the treadmill, and it really should be commended when 100+ people band together and decide to do away with the tasty and the comfy and decide to change their lives and their waistlines instead.
Happy losing everyone!
Huzzah! Nice work, Jennie! Will you also create a Twitter list we can all subscribe to, too?
Posted by: Jen | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:33 AM
Love it, love it, love it. I'll be cheering you all on and, hopefully, getting fitter right beside you.
Posted by: agirlandaboy | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:49 AM
You are amazing. Thanks! again for all the hard work you've put into this, babe.
Posted by: Kerri Anne | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 02:02 AM
So awesome! When the vending machine calls to me to eat chocolate donuts and a real coke I click the hashtag and realize why I shouldn't do this because I have so many people to be accountable to. I hope to see the enthusiasm and support throughout the ENTIRE 12 weeks..why because we are all awesome!
Posted by: Vos...just for a little while longer | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 02:07 AM
Great job, Jennie! So excited to be a part of this!
I actually just went through and added the rest of the Tweeps who weren't already on my Biggest Blogging Loser list. You can find it here: http://twitter.com/#!/list/Nanette/bbl-16
Posted by: Nanette | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 02:17 AM
No matter where I end up at the end, thank you so much for putting this together! It's finally given me the motivation to start!
Posted by: Ginger | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 02:19 AM
WOW---look what YOU inspired!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL :-D
Posted by: Court | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 02:42 AM
Wow! That's insane ... in a great way! I'm printing out the screenshot to put on my fridge ... and my fridge at work, and my cubical and maybe the mirror in my bathroom. It makes me not want to eat for the next three months and that's saying something! It also makes me wish I did twitter but I'm already addicted to social media - I can't do that too!
Is anyone interested in a FB group too?
Posted by: april | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 05:52 AM
Jennie, you are seriously amazing for doing this. I can't imagine the extra amount of work it is (actually...I can, which I how I know you are awesome). Thank you so much for doing all this -- it has truly ben a gift, and the best $20 I ever spent!
Posted by: Caitlin | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 06:49 AM
uh..been. It has BEEN a gift. Who's Ben?! ;)
Posted by: Caitlin | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Good work Jennie! I am so glad that you organized this because I really needed some motivation to recommit to my weightlose/health.
Posted by: Lori | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 07:37 AM
this is amazing! there is no screwing around now! it's go time!
jennie - thank you so much for starting this! you rock!
Posted by: jenny | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Wow, that's amazing! Good for everyone. I wish I would have known, I totally would have joined! Good luck to you all. That's an awesome prize to win!
Posted by: michelle sauer | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 08:38 AM
Thanks so much for all your work on this Jennie! I cannot believe the size of the pot.
Also, I'm a little late to the game here, but after reading your post about everyone's twitter messages, I realized it would be more fun to join and hear about everyone's progress first hand, so I'm making a twitter attempt - @rambocandy.
Posted by: ali v | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Yeah!!!! So exciting! This is going to be great, thank you for dreaming it and executing it!
Posted by: Kristin C. | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 09:17 AM
This is amazing. Congrats Jennie on a great project! I'll be following along, for sure. :)
Posted by: A. | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 09:50 AM
Awesome!! Thanks for putting all of this together!! Now I need to start a twitter account.
Posted by: Jenn | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 10:03 AM
AWESOME! I didn't realize that many people would sign up! Thanks again for organizing and putting in all this work!
Good luck everyone!
Posted by: Kristabella | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Thanks so much for doing this! If it weren't for you. I'd still be slowly packing on the poundage. I thank you and so does my ass!
Posted by: glamgranola | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Fantastic! I am so excited about eating right and getting active in these next three months and beyond. Maybe I have been holding onto all of my extra fat for an opportunity like this! =)
Posted by: Mary (Mimiallme) | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Okay, I have a twitter account now. My name is on the list as Jennifer, and my twitter is @jigglefreejenn
Posted by: Jenn | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 10:48 AM
So awesome Jennie! Thanks for all of your hard work! So nice to be accountable to such a big group when the cupcake craving hits.
Posted by: Mama Bub | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 11:08 AM
This is amazing! I am super excited to be a part of it. :-)
Posted by: Angela | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Yay! Let's go team!
Posted by: Nichole | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Less than a week in and I already feel great. Feeling like a stuffed holiday sausage is NOT fun. Thanks Jennie!
Posted by: Gav | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 11:49 AM
There are so many of us!! It makes me feel stronger. LOVE it. :)
Posted by: Kellylou | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I'm so excited about this---thank you so much for organizing. You're one inspiring lady!
Posted by: Amy --- Just A Titch | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Thanks for doing that :) I wish they didn't have blogs blocked at work.
Who knew my employer would actually want me to be productive.
Boo!
Posted by: Kendall | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Fantastic, Jennie! Thank you so much for all the work you've done to organize this!
Posted by: Brandi | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:30 PM
I'm not really in to twitter so I'm not following along there, although I am in the challenge. It's nice to have a little extra motivation. I've been going to the gym on my lunchbreak every day this week!
Posted by: Amy @ Journey Mum | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 01:33 PM
I can say with complete certainty that had it not been for this challenge (even though Mike and I aren't technicaly in it - I am looking at you stupid broken scale) we would have continued being complacent in our weight loss goals. But because of YOU, we are doing this. I will be the hardest thing I have ever done, for food as become so much more to me than just fuel, but I am on this bus, no matter how bumpy the ride gets or how badly I want to get off. I am seeing it through, thanks to you
Posted by: Rachel | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 03:22 PM
I can't believe so many people joined! And let me tell you, seeing that final jackpot sure made my motivation go through the roof!
Posted by: Elsha | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Holy crap! That is awesome. Even if I don't win, this will be a huge motivator and a great way to spend 20 dollars. I'm totally gonna win though! Thanks for doing this.
Posted by: Rachel | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Awesome! Thanks so much for setting this up!
Go Team!
Posted by: Diane | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 09:54 PM
This is such a fantastic list! I've loved the enthusiasm/support this week. Thank you, Jennie, for putting this all together :)
Posted by: Tara | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 11:43 PM
This is awesome!
I really just wish that getting my wisdom teeth removed this week helped me..like, at all. SIGH.
Posted by: alimartell | Monday, January 10, 2011 at 02:18 PM
I would love to do this ... I assume it's too late?? If so ... would you consider doing another?? :)
Posted by: jesser | Monday, January 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM
ohhhh... I wish I could've joined this contest to boost my morale to loose haliday fats.
have fun and be healthy!
Posted by: gohealthyat40 | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 07:00 AM