What are the rules?

1. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO YOUR DIETARY HABITS OR YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ROUTINES.
2. Participants should attend the initial launch at 6pm -7pm on Fri 27 Aug 2010 at Fitness2428 Personal Training Studio in Wharf St Forster.  If you cannot attend that time slot, contact jade@fitness2428.com for alternate initial weigh-in time/date.
3. All participants will weigh in every Friday at any time from 6am to 6pm. There are strictly no alternative weigh-in locations, days or times during the contest. Weigh-ins are private and held at Fitness2428 in Wharf St Forster.
4.  Weigh-ins may take place with or without other teammates.
5. For the launch bring your entry fee $15 + first $5 ($20 total in cash) to the first weigh-in. We do not accept cheques or credit cards. You may pre-pay the entire $80 up front.
6. Each week at weigh-in pay $5 (cash only) to remain in the competition, unless previously paid.
7. For every 0.5kg gained, as of the previous week’s weigh-in, the person must pay $2 (i.e. if you gained 1 kilo since the last weigh-in, you’ll owe $4).
8. Everyone must weigh-in weekly (on Fridays only, regardless of the excuse) or a $5 fine will be added, per week, in addition to that week’s $5 weigh-in. Basically, if you have to miss a Fri, simply bring $15 the next week ($5 for the missed week’s weigh-in, $5 for the fine, $5 for current week’s weigh-in).
9. If you miss a weigh-in one week, your previous week’s weight will be recorded for the missed week (i.e. zero weight loss for that week).  
10. Cash prizes are distributed at the end of the competition to the top teams and overall biggest losers. Fees collected from team members are distributed to the winning teams and individuals in the end.
11. Weigh-ins are private and confidential. We will only publicly share the percentages of weight loss of the team.
12. No disrobing or loading up allowed during weigh-ins. Remove heavy watches, belts, wallets, etc. before stepping on the scale.
13. T-shirts and shorts are recommended for weigh-ins. No shoes.You are required to weigh in at the final weigh-in wearing basically what you wore to the initial weigh-in. We will make notations like "with jeans" in our notes. (For example, if you weighed in with jeans on at the initial weigh-in, you must weigh-in with jeans on the final weigh-in.)
14. No measurements will be taken. (It is suggested that you take your own measurements and a starting photo).
15. Healthy eating and exercise are encouraged and Fitness2428 will provide basic nutritional guidance.
16. No weight-loss surgeries during the 12-week contest.
17. Drastic weight loss (over 2kgs a week) is discouraged.
18. No sabotaging other teams.
19. Feel free to bring a notebook of your own to record your weekly weight fluctuations.
20. Weekly, average team weight-loss percentages - not participants’ weights - will be posted at www.fitness2428.com.au and may appear in local media.
21. Results for the final three weigh-ins will not be posted publicly; we want to keep the suspense.
22. SCALE: We use a digital bathroom-type scale. Our scale max. is 150kg.  Alternate weigh-in location can be provided for anyone over 150kg.  Simply contact jade@fitness2428.com in advance.
23. See "drop out" and "how to win" rules.
24. We will add your email address to our distribution list and stay in touch with you about this contest via email.
25. We can NOT adjust a woman’s weight if she is in her monthly cycle.
26. It is up to each team member to regularly check his/her email to read the weekly updates from the contest organisers.
27. Any account conflicts regarding weight or payment should be made to jade@fitness2428.com only, and immediately. There is no alternative. Alerting other Fitness2428 staff during work hours is not acceptable.
28. Competitors do not have to be Fitness2428 members.
29. Fitness2428 employees are able to enter the challenge however are not eligible for prizes and any acquired winnings will be donated to nominated charities.

What if team members drop out?

1. We don’t encourage dropping out. You need all your team members to remain in the contest and to lose weight in order to have a better chance at winning.
2. Team members may drop out, but the contestant’s last paid-up weigh-in will be reflected in the team’s final calculations.
3. To drop out, you must give written notice by e-mail to jade@fitness2428.com
4. Team members may drop out, but their weight-loss percentages will be calculated into the team’s totals. Again, it’s advantageous to keep teammates on your team and losing weight.
5. Team members can be replaced in some instances. As long as team agrees and previous team member has no outstanding financials. Team members who have dropped out (and who have not been replaced) may re-join their team (with team approval, and as long as that teammate has not been replaced, and as long as their fines and fees are paid up).
6. It is the responsibility of each individual team member to pay all fees/fines each week. All fines and weigh-in fees of 4 team members must be paid on/by the final weigh-in to be considered for prizing.
7.  There must be at least two original teammates still on the team through the last weigh-in to be considered for a team prize, but remember, to have a better chance at winning, you need a higher sum of weight loss which can best be achieved by four teammates.
8. No refunds or transfers, for any reason (including medical, marriage, job status, pregnancy, work scheduling, etc.).
9. The purpose of the fees is to encourage all participants to stay in the contest and focused on the goal of weight loss.  As agreed to on the entry form, every contestant is required to pay $5 every week of the 12-week contest, even if one drops out (for any reason).  Plus, everyone is to pay the initial $5 weigh-in fee.  So, that’s a minimum of $80 if you make it to every weigh-in and do not gain any weight during the contest.  And, there is an additional $5 penalty for every week that a contestant misses a weigh-in, for any reason.  
10. If a contestant drops out, it’s basically $10 owed per Friday left in the contest.  For example, if you miss the final five weigh-ins you would owe $50.  As noted in the rules above, you can re-join your team in the contest at any time by simply weighing-in and paying your fees up to date.