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Weight Loss Challenge

  • Venue & Location

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    Varies

  • Fee & Registration

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    Varies, Registration Required

Description

Impact more than just the weight on your scale. Prevent and reduce the cost of chronic health conditions and achieve lifelong behavior change by prioritizing your physical health and emotional well-being by joining the Weight Loss Challenge!

This Challenge takes place from August 12, 2024 - February 14, 2025. Initial Weigh-in Week takes place prior to kickoff during the week of July 29-August 2. Final Weigh-in Week will take place from February 10-14, 2025.

With your paid registration you receive:

  • Built-in accountability
  • Access to group health coaching courses
  • A chance to earn part of the $10,000 prize pool
  • A digital toolkit designed with your overall health and well-being in mind
  • Free access to the ReFresh Nutrition Program, created by registered dietitians (a $50 value!)
  • New! - St. Luke's employees who are enrolled in the wellness plan can earn points towards their premium reductions for participating in the challenge
  • Invitations to join monthly, lifestyle medicine webinar sessions featuring engaging speakers highlighting the dimensions of well-being; physical, social, emotional, occupational/financial, environmental, spiritual, physical, and social

Our goal is for you to sustainably lose 1% of your total body weight each month for a total of 6% by the final weigh-in. Those who meet all requirements (weigh-ins and weight loss) will equally split the $10,000 prize pool at the end of the six-month session!

The Weight Loss Challenge kicks off twice a year, running for six-month durations. Participants may choose to re-enroll at the end of the 6-month program to foster long term behavior change! If you've made your goal and are re-enrolling, you will participate as a Keep it Off Cash member. More on this is outlined in our FAQs and rules.

Although this is primarily a St. Luke’s employee focused program, community members, spouses, and accountability partners are welcome to join! Example: if you are a St. Luke’s employee and your spouse wants to participate – they are welcome to join, and you can extend an invitation to them to join Virgin Pulse by adding them to your account.

Registration

Registration Instructions

Register Online

Individuals who wish to register for the Challenge after the general registration deadline can register, pay, and will receive all the benefits of the program but WILL NOT qualify to compete for prize money or perseverance prizes. Please note, you will also absorb the associated processing fees from Eventbrite. Participants wishing to join following the late registration deadline will be asked to register for the next six-month program.

SCHEDULE AND ATTEND EACH REQUIRED WEIGH-IN - If you miss one of the required weigh-ins, you are still in the Challenge and will continue to receive health tips, may attend webinars, and participate, but you are no longer qualified to win prize money.

Please note that you will also receive a notification reminder via email at the mid-way point of the Challenge to provide a digital upload of your weight loss progress (failure to upload this information will not disqualify you from being awarded prize money) 

Download the official rules.

Required Weight Checks

Weigh-in Dates:

  • July 29– August 2, 2024 – by appointment only for most sites! Site information, guidelines, and scheduling links will be sent to participants in a timely manner prior to weigh-in week or can be found on our official website
  • February 10-14, 2025 - 6% body weight lost by final weigh-in OR “maintain, don’t gain” for Keep it Off Cash participants

NOTE – Refer to the Weigh-in Site Informational documents to access the schedule, guidelines, and contact information of each site to make an appointment.

Register Online

Special Instructions

If your employment status with St. Luke’s changes, or you are not employed by St. Luke’s, you are required to complete, sign, and submit a W9 form to receive a prize payout. Please complete the form and return it to us prior to August 2, 2024.

Weigh-ins

Please select a location below and review the instructions for your preferred site. Please note, walk-ins are not allowed, and these sites are not available outside of the designated weigh-in weeks.

Treasure Valley, McCall, Fruitland, and Baker City Weigh-in Site Information

Elmore, Magic Valley, and Wood River Weigh-in Site Information



Classes & Events

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  • calendar icon
    Next Date & Time
    Thursday, Oct 24, 2024 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
    price tag icon
    Varies, Registration Required

    The ReFresh program is a four-week nutrition education course designed to help you get on track with healthier eating.

Click each question below for its answer:

What happens after I register?

You'll receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite (Note to Gmail & MSN email account holders: check your spam folders) Next, schedule a weigh-in! 

We also encourage employees to download the Virgin Pulse app. More info can be found on our website and by viewing the weigh-in site informational docs.


Do I have to register online to participate?

Yes, it’s the only registration option as it helps to ensure the accuracy of your information. 

Visit Eventbrite to register.

How do I schedule a weigh-in and when do these occur?

Weigh-in weeks take place January 29- February 2 and July 29 - August 2. 

You will email our team a mid-point accountability weight April 22-28. 

You will receive links to the weigh-in site informational documents via email or can access them on our website.

How often do I need to weigh in?

We require two on-site weigh-ins during each six-month period of the program (initial & final weights) to remain prize eligible. 

We also ask for ONE digital upload via email at the mid-point of the program. 

You will receive a notification reminder to upload. We do not accept drop-ins or weekly weights.

What should I wear when I weigh in?

Please wear light fitting clothes such as a t-shirt and shorts/capris/sweats. Jeans/heavy clothing is discouraged. 

It will be marked on your weigh-in form, and you will be expected to wear similar clothing at your final weigh-in.

What is KEEP IT OFF CASH and how do I participate?

If you received a prize payout during the previous Challenge as a first time participant and are re-enrolling, you will be part of the Keep it Off Cash group. 

Your program goal is to "maintain, don't gain". Your final weight must be the same or less than your previous final weight.

How do I win prize money as a keep it off cash participant?

Those whose weights are the same or lower than their previous final weights (taken during last challenge) will win an equal share of the $10,000 prize money to be split among the other eligible participants. 

Please note that participants are only eligible to compete for and receive prize payouts for a total of 18 months, i.e. once as a first time participant and twice for keep it off cash. 

Keep it off cash participants who have fulfilled their 18-month window of eligibility can continue to enroll and in lieu of a prize payout, can compete to win their registration payment back.

How many times can I compete in the Challenge?
You are eligible to receive a prize payout for 18 months (3 consecutive Challenges). Once as a first-time participant and twice as a Keep it Off Cash participant. You can compete beyond the 18 months to earn the cost of your registration back (must continue to meet program goals to remain eligible).
I didn't meet the final goal in a previous challenge, but can I register now?

Yes! However, participants are only eligible to compete for prize money in the weight loss challenge for a total of 18 months, regardless of having received a payout or not; i.e., once as a first-time participant and then twice as a keep it off cash participant. 

If you have exceeded this timeline, you may enroll, and will receive all the benefits of participating in the program, minus eligibility to receive a prize payout or perseverance prizes.

Keep it off cash participants who have fulfilled their 18-month window of eligibility can continue to enroll and in lieu of a prize payout, can compete to win their registration payment back

What if I want to re-enroll after participating in the six month program?

Did you meet your weight loss goal of 6%? 

  • YES: You will then be designated as a keep it off cash participant and your goal will be to maintain don’t gain. Your final weight must then be EQUAL to or LOWER than your final weight from the previous challenge.
  • NO: You will not receive any allocation of prize money and can choose to register for the next available weight loss challenge program. You must attend the initial weigh-in for the new program and the weight loss goal remains the same (i.e., must lose 6% of your total body weight based on updated measurements) to remain eligible for prize money.
How are winners determined?
Winners are determined by the percent of body weight lost – NOT the number of pounds lost. 

Our goal is for you to lose 6% of your total body weight by the final weigh-in and for Keep it Off Cash participants to maintain their metrics.

How is prize money distributed?

New participants who lose a minimum of 6% of their total body weight and keep it off cash participants whose final weight is the same or lower than their starting weight will win an equal share of the $10,000 prize money to be split among the eligible participants.

Do I have to pay taxes on prize money I might receive?

Yes. Cash gifts, prizes or awards are considered supplemental wages by the IRS and are subject to the supplemental taxation rate of 35.65%. 

These wages must be reported as taxable compensation to the employee regardless of the amount and must be included in the employee’s year end W-2.

Can I still participate and win if I'm an employee of St. Luke's?

Yes. Only those of us who directly organize and promote the challenge are unable to compete for prize money. So, sign up and start creating a healthier you!

I'm a St. Luke's employee. Can I pay with payroll deduction?
No. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer this option due to legal constraints.
Can I Participate if I've Had Bariatric Surgery?

Yes!

Can I Participate if I'm Pregnant?

No. Unfortunately, due to health and safety concerns, pregnant individuals are not allowed to participate for prize money. 

Please notify us of your exciting news if you experience a pregnancy during the Challenge! You will continue to receive content but will not be eligible for a prize payout.

I am not a St. Luke's employee. Can I participate?

Yes! This is primarily a St. Luke’s employee-focused program, but community members, spouses, and accountability partners are welcome to join! 

Ex. if you are a SL employee and your spouse wants to participate – they are welcome to join, and you can add them to your Virgin Pulse account.


What Is Group Health Coaching

Health Coaches are encouraging partners on your journey to accomplishing healthy behavior modifications! 

They will help you to stay educated, motivated, and accountable along the way. The group sessions will focus on the pillars of lifestyle medicine.

What is Virgin Pulse?
Virgin Pulse will be supporting the new St. Luke’s Wellness Plan – the program that allows employees and spouses on the St. Luke’s Employee Health Care Plan to earn health plan premium reductions.
I am not an employee of St. Luke's. How will I receive program content without Virgin Pulse?
We primarily communicate via email. Be sure to double check your address upon registering and choose an account that you will check often. You may have to adjust your spam filters.
Can I Form a Team?
We encourage you to gather friends, family, and colleagues to create a team for social support! However, there is no additional prize money for a team category.
Can I Get My Money Back?

Please read all the requirements and rules of the challenge prior to registering, as all registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable to next year’s event, no exceptions. 

This policy stays in effect whether you are injured, have an unexpected business or family emergency, pregnancy, etc. There are no exceptions.

Do I Need to Download the Carium App to Participate?

No, you don’t, but our expectation is that you do and we highly suggest that you utilize it. We will be pushing out all our information and learning material several times a week directly to your phone and the quarterly challenges will only be accessible via the Carium app. 

You will also receive a notification to submit a digital weight update at the mid-point of the challenge. It’s a great way to stay engaged and win prizes!

To get started, download the app from Google Play or the Apple App store. Install and open Carium. Tap “Join Carium” at the bottom and enter code WLC-S23 (for paid registrations only). Check your email for a message from [email protected] and click “verify email” to confirm your account. 

We suggest using your personal email, not your slhs.org email when registering for Carium. If you need further assistance, please email us

If you already have and use Carium, you will be added to the new WLC program group.

Am I Out of the Challenge if I Miss a Weigh-in or the Weight Loss Goal?

You won’t be able to win a part of the prize money, but you will still receive the weekly health tips, you can attend the lifestyle medicine webinars, participate in Carium challenges, and win perseverance prizes.

What is the ReFresh Nutrition Program?

A nutrition education course designed by registered dietitians to help you get on track with healthier eating and setting the groundwork for lifelong diet success. 

Free to Challenge participants! A $50 value.

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on the Perseverance Prizes?

Any valuation of the prize(s) received is based on available information provided to St. Luke's, and the value of any prize awarded may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. 

Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any prize received by an employee of St. Luke's, with a value in excess of $25.00, will be reported to St. Luke's Payroll Department so appropriate taxes can be deducted and reporting can be completed. 

What does this mean?

  • It is your responsibility to report and pay all applicable taxes on any prizes awarded to you if the value is in excess of $25.00. We will notify you if this is the case.
Is This a Medically Managed Program?

No. We recommend consulting with your healthcare provider prior to engaging with and participating in this program. 

This has been designed as a fun and motivating way to lose weight and achieve healthy, sustainable behavior change. However, we have structured the program based on peer reviewed research and evidence-based weight loss guidelines. 

The ReFresh nutrition program has been developed by and is managed by clinical dietitians.

Do I Have to Complete the Exit Survey?

No, but we sure do appreciate it if you would! Completing the survey is important because we use the collected data to plan for the next iteration the challenge and use your feedback to steer our progress forward. 

Thanks in advance!

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?

Please reach out to our team by email. 

You can find further information by downloading the rules.