These rules are incorporated into and incorporate the Services Agreement, to which all participants must agree in order to register and participate.
It only takes a few minutes to register and start having a blast!
Each team must have exactly five members.
- Once on or after the Start Date, and
- Once within two weeks before or on the End Date.
Check out the verified weigh-in rules below.
Step on your own scale once a week and enter it on the HealthyWage website (these weigh-ins should not be verified). All the other participants need to know where they stand in the challenge, so it's important for everyone to keep up with weigh-ins.
Prizes are awarded based on a ranking of the teams according to team mean proportionate weight loss. Team mean proportionate weight loss is the average of each team member’s proportionate weight loss, which is measured by finding the difference between a participant’s verified starting weight and verified ending weight, and dividing that difference by the participant’s verified starting weight. When we tabulate the results, we do not count weight loss beyond 16.59% for any team member.
Yes, you can lose more than 16.59% (you will NOT be disqualified), but the extra weight loss won’t count toward your team’s average. The goal is to get your entire team to lose a healthy amount of weight!
Your team must take a before photo (either a team photo or individual photos). If you choose not to submit the before photo(s) for the first mini-challenge, that's okay. Just hang on to your photo(s) until the challenge ends.
The teammembers of each winning team will receive a check for one-fifth of the prize money won by that teammember's team.
In the unlikely event of a tie or weight-reporting (or other) dispute, the winner of the tie will be the team that earns the most aggregate votes in the optional Mini-Challenges that take place every other week during the Team Challenge program. Each team will receive instructions by email and on the Team Challenge team page for submitting entries in the Team Challenge Mini-Challenges. The criteria for voting on each Mini-Challenge is the same: voters are instructed to carefully review the entries and select the one entry that is the most likely to inspire the most people to lose weight and be healthy.
Several team challenge mini-challenges will be held during the course of the team challenge. Each team is eligible for a mini-challenge prize. Your team can only win one mini-challenge prize per team challenge (if you win more than one mini-challenge, your prize will be awarded to the next highest-ranking team). Teams will receive instructions in advance of each mini-challenge and, in order to win a mini-challenge prize, your team must submit the team's entry according to the instructions provided. No one is permitted to cast more than one vote in any one mini-challenge. In order to make the team challenge fair, it is important that the voting be objective. Please carefully consider the entries and then vote for the one entry that you determine is the most likely to inspire the most people to lose weight and be healthy. Please note that, as discussed above, the Mini-Challenge voting is also important in the unlikely event of a tie in the over-all Team Challenge. In the event of a tie, the team with the most aggregate votes over the course of the Mini-Challenges during the program will win the tie.
This challenge is only available to employees of ALJ.
For most HealthyWage challenges, you get your weight verified:
Note: If you submit a second verified weigh-out during the weigh-out window, you must delete your first submission.
Note: For the HealthyWager Challenge, you MUST verify your weight with a verification video. There are two video options available.
This is our most popular option and also the easiest, and you can do it in the comfort and privacy of your own home!
You can make your video with a partner (fun!) or even do it by yourself using a full length mirror. Once done, just upload it to your challenge dashboard and that's it! You're done. You can use your phone or a camera, whichever is easier for you. The HealthyWage website is mobile friendly, so uploading from your phone can be done quickly and easily!
Here's an instructional video to show you just how easy this method can be!
See the complete list of required video shots below, for detailed instructions on this and a demo of the self-video method. Also, please note that shooting the video with the HealthyWage App makes this process even easier.
Another easy option! Just print your VerifyMe! form from your challenge dashboard and take it to any health or fitness professional (we recommend you call ahead). They will sign your form indicating they witnessed your weigh-in, on the form and return it to you. Just scan it or take a photo of it with your phone (easiest option), and upload it to your challenge dashboard.
Some location and witness options include: your local gym, pharmacies, corporate wellness clinics, walk-in clinics, HR reps, nurses, your personal doctor, your personal trainer or your chiropractor.
If you're participating through a company: HealthyWage will provide a list of weigh-in centers located around your work-site via your challenge dashboard, beginning about one week prior to the challenge start. You can find this link at the top of your dashboard, just under the top header:
These locations have partnered with HealthyWage to perform weigh-ins for a particular employer. We have set these up for your convenience, but use of one of our clubs is not required unless otherwise specified.
An option for Meeting members only! Simply print out the Verify Me! Form and take it with you to a meeting. Then, have the staff member that weighs you fill it out according to the directions in Option 2 above.
You can also have the WW staff member film your video while doing your weigh-in. Just make sure you follow the directions outlined in Option 1.
Keep in mind that HealthyWage loves WW; we have WW lifetime members on our staff; and many WW franchisees and employees love HealthyWage; however, HealthyWage is not endorsed by WW, which is a registered trademark of WW International. Please do not ask for a special weigh-in for your HealthyWage challenge (just do it as part of your normal WW weigh-in) or do anything else that would cause WW to bear a cost on behalf of HealthyWage.
That's it! If you still have questions, please read through the Verified Weigh-in FAQ below. Still have questions? Just give us a call and we'll help you get it sorted out: 1-888-636-3832
Regardless of the method you choose to weigh-in, your verified weight information will be kept entirely private, and only be viewed by HealthyWage staff. Weight is never shared publicly, and only percentages are displayed on your profile, to your teammates or shared with your employer.
We recommend you wear one layer above underwear (i.e., women should wear a tank top and shorts and men should wear a t-shirt and shorts) — no shoes, no coats, no belts, nothing in pockets (turn them out), etc. Our primary concern is that you wear basically the same thing for your starting and ending videos and that you wear minimal clothing.
No, you are not required to use the same method nor return to the same location for both of your verified weigh-ins, however, it is at your discretion. Remember there can be differences in scales that may or may not impact your final standing.
No, you have two choices: if it is a personal, bathroom scale, it must be digital. If it is an upright, public scale (like one in a Dr's office) the display must be visible during all shots. The scale must measure weight in either pounds or kilograms, and must be zeroed out or balanced prior to the participant's weigh-in. The scale must be on a flat, hard surface (not on a carpet or rug). See here for more details about approved scales.
We try to keep it simple (but fair!) and we're certainly not perfectionists, so do the best you can to incorporate the following shots into your video. The most important thing is that the video is uncut, clearly shows the date, the scale zeroed out, and your weight while on the scale (up close so we can read it, and with full-body so we know it's you!). Here is a list of the shots:
You can delete a verified weigh-in by:
Make your best effort to ensure that your verified weigh-in has been measured and reported truthfully and accurately.
As part of our review, we occasionally request that some (very few) participants submit an additional weigh-out video. If an additional weigh-out video is required, HealthyWage will contact you with instructions.
Optionally, you could also keep on hand a set of full-body before-and-after photos, and have your teammates do the same. You do not need to submit the photo(s) to HealthyWage.
Your verification may not be valid if: a) HealthyWage does not receive the verified measurements within 72 hours after they are taken, b) if your verification does not take place within the specified verification period of your challenge, c) if HealthyWage is not able to locate your verifier or confirm your verification with your verifier, d) if your verifier indicates that he/she did not personally take your weight and height measurements, or e) if your verifier refuses, upon HealthyWage's request, to provide a sworn statement about the verifications, or other request made by HealthyWage.
These rules apply to all our challenges.
Go for it! You can do all of our challenges at the same time! A few specifics:
- You can sign up for as many Jackpots at one time as you wish
- You can only sign up for one team challenge at a time (but you can sign up for other challenges at the same time as your team challenge)
- You can only sign up for one HealthyWager at a time (but you can sign up for other challenges at the same time as your HealthyWager)
Once at the start and once at the end of each of your challenges, you must have your weight verified. Verification can be done from the privacy of your home by making a Video and uploading it to our website. Or, you can visit a health club or physician and have them verify you.
We use proprietary algorithms, weigh-in reviews and, if necessary, outside investigators and law enforcement to catch cheaters. The legal consequences are not worth the benefit. Rule-breakers don’t get refunds – don’t even ask. The rule also applies to folks who are dishonest with the HealthyWage crew or a verifier or anyone else in connection with your challenge.
Doing unhealthy things in order to “game” the challenge is prohibited, including, but not limited to, deliberate weight gain (before, during, or after a HealthyWage challenge), starvation (defined as eating fewer calories each day than your doctor recommends), excessive exercise (defined as exercise that exceeds your doctor’s recommended amount of exercise, in terms of type, frequency and duration), water deprivation, unusual water consumption, self-induced vomiting, diuretics, laxatives, or any weight loss or weight gain plan that your doctor does or would advise against, or that, in HealthyWage’s sole and exclusive discretion, would be considered unhealthy or unfair by an ordinary person.
Be nice, please! Harassment of any kind, whether of your own teammates or other teams or non-participants is prohibited. You are encouraged to support your teammates, but you covenant and agree that unwelcome emotion, physical, or other abuse is absolutely forbidden. Harassment shall also include any words or actions that, in HealthyWage’s sole and exclusive discretion, would be likely to cause any of your teammates, or any other person, to feel pressured to do any of the unhealthy things defined above.
Well, duh!
If you become pregnant during your challenge, you are entitled to postpone the challenge until a future date. If you enter a challenge while pregnant, you will be disqualified. Weight loss caused by giving birth to a baby (/-ies) does not count. Sorry mom!
We believe strongly that an important part of the service we provide is a negative reinforcement that helps you avoid procrastinating and quitting, which would be undermined if you could simply change your mind or find an excuse to quit. Moreover, our pricing is based actuarial models that assume no refunds. There are no exceptions except in rare, evidence-documented medical situations – email us at accounting@healthywage.com if that applies.
You may not have liposuction, bariatric surgery, or any other weight-loss surgery during your challenge or within 1 year prior to your challenge start date.
This rule rarely applies. It applies only when you are finishing a team challenge or HealthyWager and lost more than 2% per week since your last verification.
You can't end a challenge with a weight that is less than 2% per week (rounding up) less than your last HealthyWage verification. If you do, your ending verified weight will be adjusted upward so that it is no lower than 2% per week lower than your last HealthyWage verification.
Bob starts a HealthyWager at 201 pounds on May 1. On May 5, he finishes the team challenge he started earlier in the year, and his ending weight is 178 pounds. That's a violation of the rule because Bob would be claiming to have lost way more than 2% of his weight in less than a week. 2% of 201 is 5 pounds (rounding up), so Bob's May 5 weight can't be any lower than 196 pounds. HealthyWage will adjust his team challenge ending weight up to 196.