ASPIRE “Get Ripped” Summer Challenge

Welcome to ASPIRE’S “Get Ripped” Summer Challenge. I decided to change “Get Lean” for “Get Ripped”, because, well it sounds cooler and we all want that anyways. Plus, it’s beach season and we’ll be wrapping up on the first day of Summer.

What could be better than giving yourself and your body 30 days of clean eating, getting off sugar, dairy, cheese, inflammatory foods, alcohol, insulin spikes, low energy, etc?

We did this during the Holidays and had some great feedback. At the very least, people became aware of what they were eating, drinking and how it was affecting them and their workouts.

Remember: you can do ANYTHING for 30 days. If you decided to wear a pirate costume for 30 days straight, you’d feel pretty normal at the end of it.

For those who brush it off immediately, why are you allowing yourself to FAIL before even getting started?

Don’t even mention the excuses. We’ve heard them all. The kids, the warm weather, Memorial Day, the initial BBQ, the fact that Dairy Queen is now open….

It’s not that hard. Seriously. As a fitness professional, I have been a guinea pig for tons of nutritional prescriptions to find out what works and what doesn’t. I have done some HARD and pretty uncomfortable things (worse than a pirate costume). Paleo, and Whole30 were the easiest, most sustainable of all.

Challenge Rules and Scoring

Buy in: $35, cash

You will receive a binder with the full “rules”, what to eat, what not to eat as well as some motivational articles, a food log, etc.

We will do 3 things before our Challenge to track progress:

• 3 Bodyfat sites and score (total)
• Female: triceps, abs and thigh
• Male: pec/triceps, abs and upper back

We will not be doing full %’s for this challenge. There are a few formulas for getting the % and all are different. We care about specific changes in the above places and you will be scored on total change.

Additionally, we will take a frontal picture and side picture of you in a sports bra/no shirt for males. These will never be published or released and only Tommy/Erica will see them.

Third, you must fill out your food log 100%. Write down everything you have, including a “cheat” if you do. Those without a food log at the end of the Challenge will not be considered for the prizes.

Lastly, you will write a short 500 word (or less) essay on how you did with the challenge, what was difficult and what you learned.

Winners will be chosen by the Aspire Fitness staff, myself and Erica based on total bodyfat change, food log details/compliance, and a combination of before and after pictures as well as essay.

PRIZES!

1st place: one month FREE membership at Aspire Fitness, free one-hour massage session, gift card from undisclosed food vendor, cash prize.

2nd place: 50% off next month’s membership at Aspire Fitness, one month supply of fish oil

3rd place: gift certificate ($25) 

How to Stay Compliant on the Whole30

Sugar = Sugar = Sugar. Learn to read your labels, and all the disguises “sugar” can take.

Give Your Sugar Tantrums a Time Out. Staying “Whole30 compliant” isn’t just about the food choices you make.

Dessert Demons in Disguise.  What to do when the need for “just a little something sweet” sneaks up on you.

Weekend Motivation. The first few days are easy… but what do you do when things start getting tough?

The Carrot Train to Crazytown. Thinking about your nutritional plan is a good thing, but let’s not lose the forest through the trees.

Food, Grocery Shopping and Recipes

The Whole9 Conscientious Omnivore Series.  How to make healthy, responsible high quality animal protein choices, focusing on a variety of issues.

Paleo Poor:  Your Guide to the Grocery Store.  How to maximize your Paleo pennies when buying Good Food.

Five Reasons to Go Seasonal.  Our Seasonal Produce Guide helps you make fresh, healthy choices on a budget.

Whole9′s “Steal This Meal”. A whole host of Whole30 approved recipe creations and meal/snack ideas.

Whole Life Eating.  Whole9 Envoy Tom Denham’s original, Whole30 delicious approved meals and snacks.

The Clothes Make the Girl. Whole9 Envoy Melissa Joulwan’s crafty and creative “Dino-Chow” recipes.

Chowstalker. A portal to the best Whole30-compliant recipes; grain free, legume free, sugar free, and real food.

The Foodee Project. Thousands of Whole30-compliant recipes submitted by fellow food and nutrition bloggers.

So, there you have it.

Sign-ups are open and we will be doing bodyfat/pictures until next Wednesday, the 23rd.

The challenge kicks off on Monday, May 21st, 2012 and will run exactly 30 days.