BL 11 Spring Challenge Planning Thread -- winds of change are a blowin'

[lisah0711]

Our current BL 10 challenge runs through December 17th. From December 17th through December 31st we will have a BL Alumni Thread for the holidays. This is a more informal thread where you can still get the support that you need to make it though that busy time of year but without the structure of weigh ins, etc. There will be more details on that as we get into December.

The BL 11 Challenge would start on 1/1/11 and run for about 14 or 15 weeks. Unfortunately we never know the spring schedule ahead of time so ususally guess and adjust if needed.

The big changes for the BL 11 Challenge is that we will be needing a new group of folks to step up and take the leadership roles. Our long time weightkeeper, LuvBaloo, is taking a well deserved break. Our Healthy Habits (formerly known as the "Challenge of the Week" or COW) coach, jenanderson, is on hiatus and we are not sure when, or if, she will be back. I am also ready to take a break from my organizing and hostessing role. Fortunately, Connie96 is willing to continue as WIN! coach.

Please be assured that we all are committed to working to make this a smooth transition for everyone and continue to be active members of the BL challenge. I hope that all of youwill continue to help, lead and coach in whatever form the BL challenge takes because it it is the strength of our group that makes this a successful endeavour for so many!

All the hallmarks of our recent challenges: the weigh in, going with what the majority of participants want, weekly coaches, a forgiving and welcoming atmosphere, even weeks into the challenge, will remain.

So, tell us your thoughts. What do you like best about the BL challenges? What do you not like? Are you interested in taking on a leadership role? Coaching? We want to know.

 

[tigger813]

I sent LuvBaloo a PM this morning to say that I would be happy to take over as weight keeper! I hope to be maintainer for the spring and this would be a great way for me to stay involved as much as possible.

Excited about the Alumni thread! That will be great to have during the holidays with all that support!

I will also pick at least one week to be a coach!

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks, Tracey, for offering to be weightkeeper!

 

[cclovesdis]

I'll definitely volunteer to take on the Healthy Habits portion. I'll also coach whenever. First week, last week, middle, whenever.

However I can help, let me know.

I think weighing-in is very important. I love the QOTD and having a weekly coach. I appreciate the support of everyone here and think it's valuable for the maintainer's and losers to chat on the same thread. We are all hoping to be maintaining soon and could really benefit from their insight. We also share other things too, like a good restaurant find or a new product that is low in points, etc. that I suspect we'd all like to discuss. Just my 2 cents.

CC

 

[LuvBaloo]

Thanks Tracey and CC for jumping right in :cool1.
I'm sure you'll both do great!

Personally I'll be continuing as a participant and am willing to take on one week as coach.

I think if we get a lot of members like last January, its best to start off as two groups with different people coaching in each thread to ease up on the duties. I also think its important to merge the 2 threads as soon as things slow down with people who drift away.

Regardless of how it ends up being organized, I'm positive that the good atmosphere will continue and that is definitely the most important part

 

[LuvBaloo]

I think its great that the poll lets up pick 2 options
I picked #1 and #4

 

[Rose&Mike]

I had to think about this for a day. You all know I don't like change. I am sad to see things changing, just because I really believe I couldn't have done this without this group. But everyone will still be around, so I think it will be ok. And change is not always bad.

I voted for 1 and 4. I wouldn't have picked the two threads in the past, but I think we are losing people who are overwhelmed by the large thread at the beginning. And I figure I can always lurk on the other thread--and even throw my 2cents in on occasion.

I am happy to coach, and would even consider hosting one of the threads if everyone thinks I am up to the task.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to keep the challenges going.

 

[lisah0711]

It's nice to see everyone jumping in and offering to take on different roles.

That is the nice thing about the BL challenges -- they are successful, no matter what form they are in. It it is the strength of our group that makes this a successful endeavour for so many!

The multiple thread thing hasn't been tried for awhile. Rose you could definitely hostess a thread. donac also offered to hostess a second thread at one time. If multiple threads are done people should be able to move freely between threads and they will probably need to be merged at some point in time. The last time we had teams there were maybe three people on my team by the end. The other thread was totally dead.

I would be happy to be an active participant and coach one week. And, of course, help with the transition.

 

[mikamah]

Thank you Lisa, Shannon, Jen, and Connie for all that you do to contribute and make these challenges so successful.

At first I was going to vote for the lighter version because I was feeling guilty. I'd like to step up into a more active commitment, but then would feel awful if I couldn't keep up, and am afraid it would stress me out more when life is crazy. I definitely want to stay involved with coaching. Thank you Tracey and CC for quickly volunteering to take over those roles, and thank you Rose and Dona for offering to host a team. That changed my mind on my vote. I love the support and inspiration from the daily chatter, and do enjoy the weighins and reading the results. I think if I was losing more regularly I'd like the weighins even more. I love having a weekly coach as well at the qotds.

I too, feel like I would not be where I am today if I hadn't been doing these challenges and found such wonderful support.

 

[Cupcaker]

Hi everyone. I just found this thread right now Im willing to help out anyway needed: coach, data keeper, etc. Luckily next year I dont have coursework so I will have extra time!

This was my first challenge. I definitely like the QOTD's as they helped inspire, motivate me, and informed me on some new resources that I could use. The weekly weigh ins were also nice because they kept me on track. I also participated in the HH. Without that, I wouldnt have been able to lose as much weight as I did. So overall I liked everything

I can understand the idea for the multiple threads and how it can help people not feel so overwhelmed. But also, by hearing what everyone had to say, I have learned a lot.

Lisa, Shannon, Jen, and Connie- thank you so much for organizing everything. I really appreciate it. Without you ladies and everyone participating, I wouldnt be where Im at.

 

[pjlla]

I would be more than happy to try and take over a hostessing position. It would certainly force me to make this more of a priority. If that isn't needed, then of COURSE, you can count on me to coach. Not offering to do anything that involves numbers though!! Me and Math just don't get along!

Whatever the majority decides will be just fine with me.................P

 

[SettinSail]

You all know I am a newbie here and not the most succesful of weight losers, but I plan to join in on the Winter challenge as well and will be happy to coach one week. I am voting to keep things as they are, its all fresh and new to me! Thanks so much to Shannon being the weightkeeper, Lisa for hosting, Connie for WIN, Jen for HH and ALL the weekly coaches!!

Shawn

 

[lisah0711]

So it's looking like the majority of the participants want a full on challenge.

Right now two threads merging into one is leading. In my mind we would have two threads with their own hostess. Each thread would have it's own coach of the week until the threads were merged. Then the hostesses could co-hostess the new thread and there would be only one coaching schedule. I think it would be important to allow people to freely move between the threads. It might help the weight loss if there was a team challenge.

I have the following folks offering to take on roles in the next challenge:

Weightkeeper: tigger813
WIN! coach: Connie96 (would also help with weightkeeping if needed)
HH coach: CC
Thread Hostesses: Rose&Mike
donac
Hostess: pjlla

Weekly coaches:
tigger813
cclovesdis
LuvBaloo
Rose&Mike
lisah0711
mikamah
Cupcaker
pjlla

That is half the number of weekly coaches needed right there!

Keep on telling us what you do and don't like and if I put your name down for something you didn't volunteer for, let me know!

 

[lisah0711]

With pjlla's husband being injured I feel that it is safe to say that she will not be able to be the hostess for this round. We need someone to be the hostess and general organizer as well as do the coaching schedule when the threads merge -- any volunteers?

 

[Rose&Mike]

Lisa--if no one else is interested, I will be happy to do it. It can't be that much more than hosting a thread, right?

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks, Rose! I think we will pick up some more folks for coaching, too, when we get the alumni thread going on the 17th.

 

[tggrrstarr]

I just found this thread, I would be happy to coach for a week, just not in January. It would be my first time, so just let me know what all is required. I have a pretty good idea though from the current challenge.

 

[lisah0711]

I just found this thread, I would be happy to coach for a week, just not in January. It would be my first time, so just let me know what all is required. I have a pretty good idea though from the current challenge.

Thanks for volunteering to coach! It's a lot of fun and our coaches historically have great numbers after a week of coaching. Coaches post QOTD, do replies and generally keep the conversation moving -- it's not too hard with our bunch because we always have something to say!

 

[flipflopmom]

Toss me in as a coach, too. Lord knows I always have something to say! :


But we'll be at HHI for part of the first week, so that's a no go.

 

[cclovesdis]

Taryn: We love you for it!

I'm willing to coach on both threads, just not on the same week. Maybe week 2 on one and week 3 on the other? Or weeks 3 and 4? You can throw me in anywhere except week 1 and only because it sounds like that will be a very busy week at work. I'd love to coach week 1, but I can't promise that I'll be the best I can be, so I have to say no. I'm rambling, but you get the point.

Have a great day everyone!