What are the rules of being able to participate?
Every participant must be at least 18 years of age on the day of their registration into Lighten Up East Texas.
Every participant must also registered into Lighten Up East Texas at a designated LUET weighing location within one of these Texas counties: Smith, Gregg, Rusk, Cherokee, Anderson, Henderson, Rains, Van Zandt, Kaufman, Wood, Upshur, Camp, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Delta, Lamar, Red River, Bowie, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby, Nacogdoches, Angelina, Sabine, San Augustine, Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Houston, Fannin, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Freestone, Leon, Madison and Walker counties.
You do not have to be a resident of any of these counties to enter. If you live in Louisiana, Arkansas or Oklahoma, and you work or commute into East Texas, then you can still enter and participate in Lighten Up East Texas. Maintaining a healthy body weight and an active lifestyle is not confined to state lines!
How much does it cost to participate?
There is no cost to enter this challenge. Lighten Up East Texas is free!!
What prizes could I possibly win?
The Grand Prizes for Lighten Up East Texas are contributed by the sponsor organizations of Fit City Tyler, and are be awarded at the Fit City Tyler Celebration Event.
How do I register?
To enter, you will need to have a starting weight registered at one of our designated weighing locations during the "Weigh-In" period. Every registered person will be contacted to return to an official entry location in order to have a final weight entered. Every participant can earn an entry into the grand prize drawing for every 5% of weight that is lost from their starting weight.
· 5.0% - 9.9% = 1 entry
· 10.0% - 14.99% = 2 entries
· 15.0% - 19.99% = 3 entries
· 20% or more = 4 entries
If I did not register at the KickOff event, can I still participate?
Yes! You can visit any of our public weighing locations before January 31st.
How can I learn if my registration has been entered into the database?
Every person who provided an email address or a cell phone number during their registration can receive an email from Lighten Up East Texas in February. You will receive either a text message or an email hat your starting weight has been entered into our database.
How will you know when I have lost 5% or more of my weight?
Lighten Up East Texas will not know when you have lost 5% or more of your weight until you return to a weighing location and have your final weight recorded in our database. Your final weight will be subtracted from your starting weight, and the number of pounds that you will have lost will be divided by your starting weight. This formula will calculate the percentage of pounds you have lost during the Lighten Up East Texas regional weight loss challenge.
How can I track my weight loss?
You CAN use one of several smartphone apps (LoseIt, Weight Watchers Mobile, Gym Pact) or to use any of these websites (MyFitnessPal.com, My-Calorie-Counter.com) that you can use for an online record of your personal weight loss.
You can also perform quick math by reading the next question . . .
What is 5% of my starting weight?
The Fit City Tyler Steering Committee agreed that all body shapes and sizes can receive improved health benefits from a 5% reduction in body weight. This strategy can be applied to persons weighing 150 pounds, 250 pounds, 400 pounds, etc. Also, the concept of Lighten Up East Texas encourages the participation of all East Texas residents to live healthier lifestyles that will promote a slow and a sustained weight loss. These reasons motivated the rule of a 5% weight loss in order to receive an entry into our Grand Prize drawings.
There is a very easy way to determine 5% of your current weight. Let’s use the example of someone who weighs 200 pounds. First, you would take the first 2 numbers of your weight (20) and divide that number by 2. So, 20 divided by 2 equals 10. In this example, a 200 pound person would need to lose at least 10 pounds before they return to have a final weight recorded. In other words, they should weigh less than 190 pounds before the end of May.
Let’s try this again. A person who weighs 382 pounds would need to lose 19 pounds. How did I get that number?
Well, the first 2 numbers of their weight is 38, and dividing 38 by 2 equals 19. If I subtract 19 pounds from 382 pounds, that would equal 363 pounds. So, in this second example, if a person who weighs 382 pounds registers into Lighten Up East Texas, then they would need to weigh less than 363 pounds in order to receive an entry into our Grand Prize drawings.
Now, calculate 5% of your current body weight. You will need to lose that many pounds before the end of May in order to receive an entry into the Grand Prize drawings. You can earn another entry for every 5% of weight that you lose. Multiply your 5% by 2, and you can earn 2 entries by losing that many pounds.
What happens if I do not lose 5% of my starting weight before the "Weigh-Out" period?
All registered weights and all calculated percentages will not be rounded. Therefore, persons who lose less than 5% of their starting weight will not receive an entry into the Grand Prize drawings.
Do I need to return to a weighing location every week? Every month?
For the purposes of this regional weight loss challenge, our staff is only collecting your starting weight and your final weight. You may return to a location and have your weight loss checked, but the staff at each location is not required to maintain a record of your weight loss.
If you provided an email address or a cell phone number, our staff will contact you electronically in April. If you did not, then our staff will call one of your listed phone numbers in April.
Can pregnant women enter the weight loss challenge?
If the mother is due before the end of our "Weigh-In Period", she could register before she gives birth or she can wait until after she delivers her child. Her ability to visit a weighing location should be considered based upon her expected due date and upon the guidance of her doctor.
What is the reward for entering the Lighten Up East Texas weight loss challenge?
You have to be at least 18 years of age and lose at least 5% of your weight, so that you will be entered into the random grand prize drawings. The mental and physical changes that you will enjoy include safely losing body fat, increasing your lean muscle mass, and becoming a better version of yourself.
This challenge is open to anyone over the age of 18. Everyone can win the prize of improved health, which can be enjoyed for a lifetime.