Body Composition Challenge

I challenge each of you to reduce your body fat, increase your lean muscle mass, and improve your mental well-being.

This challenge is designed to give us the avenue to better our mental and physical health.  This challenge is about making a positive body composition change which in turn raises self-esteem and self-image.  Everyone who accepts this challenge will positively improve their quality of life, mental state, and physical performance (at the gym, during workouts, in races, on commutes, in bed—you name it!).

Here are the rules:

• Define your baseline
  • Body Mass Index (Height / Weight)
  • Initial self-administered skin caliper test—see below for how to do this test and accepted inaccuracy disclaimer (meaning it doesn't show actual boidy fat % but will be used to track progress/change only)
  • Take a photo and post it in your log
• Set your goal
  • BMI goal, body fat goal, mental health goal, etc.
  • This is a personal goal to each of you and may be a combination of lots of things
    • My goal is to wear a Spiderman costume for Halloween.
• Post the following every Monday.
  • Current weight that day
  • Results of a self-administer skin caliper test.  We will use the test on this website for ease (http://www.acefitness.org/calculators/bodyfat-calculator.aspx).  This test is far from accurate but it will help us track progress.  The only way to get an accurate reading is to have an experienced professional administer so we are just going to use the self-test to track progress only.
  • Photo taken on the day of posting—do not fear this requirement.  Photos do not lie and that is why they are important to track progress.  At first we will all hate this.  Later, as progress is made (and it will be made), we will want to look back and see our change.  This change is what will motivate us even more and raise our self esteem.  Yes…it does suck that we let it all hang out (well not “all” on BT or we will be banned) for everyone to see.  This is also a HUGE motivator to make a change!  Just wear what you feel comfortable in for your photos each week.  All we need to see and believe the progress of our change and there is no better way than using photos.

 Other details:

• Challenge starts 1 August 2011 and ends 31 October 2011 (3 months to make significant change or progress towards your goals)
• I will track everyone’s progress in a spreadsheet which I will post in this thread every week.
• Please only accept this challenge is you are willing and able to commit fully to the rules and for the full three months (or until 31 October depending on when you accepted this challenge).
• Please add all challenge participants to your “friends” list and open your log to them.  This is so we can inspire and check in with everyone to keep us all accountable and motivated to succeed.

As I stated above, my personal impetus for this challenge is my Spiderman costume.  I have not ever been able to wear this costume with pride (I got it in order for Spiderman to come to my nephew’s birthday party---the things we do for family—this was a mortifying 30 minutes for me) and I want to wear it proudly this Halloween.  I have three months to get there.  My inability to take my shirt off (or become Spidey) really affects my mental well-being.  I am affected emotionally by my fitness level and how I look to myself (others do not really care but I do).  Posting my progress to become Spiderman will keep me honest and accountable to my goal.  In short, my motivation will come from you and your successes in this challenge and the knowledge that you are watching me and expecting me to stay on track with my goal.

 WHO IS IN?????