Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Who can join?
Any person who lives or works in Rhode Island can join our program. To participate in the weight loss division, a team member must be at least 18 years old.
How many people can be on my team?
There can be 5-11 people per team. All teams must have at least 5 members and can have no more than 11.
How much does Shape Up RI cost?
There is a $15 per person registration fee, paid for by the individual or the employer.
What does the $15 registration fee include?
The registration fee includes: 1) digital pedometer; 2) Shape Up RI reminder wristband; 3) weekly health newsletter; 4) Shape Up RI staff support; 5) electronic competition logbook; 6) free access to dozens of health and education events for your team; 7) eligibility for prize giveaways from our sponsors.
What are the wristbands all about?
Every participant will receive the signature Shape Up RI wristband. The band is meant to foster a sense of community among all of us who are participating in this health effort. It is a sign of community and team spirit and cooperation. We are all on this healthy journey together. The wristband also serves as a self-reminder each time we are about to take a shortcut or eat something that may work against our fitness and weight loss goals.
When is the deadline for entry?
The last day for a team captain to create a new team is January 21, 2008. The deadline to join an existing team is Friday, January 25, 2008.
Will my weight be public on the website?
No, your individual weight will never be known by anyone but yourself. You will enter it directly into our secure online system every two weeks. Your pedometer steps and exercise hours will be visible to you and your team captain.
Do I have to enter the weight loss category?
No. There are three divisions in this competition: weight loss, exercise hours, and pedometer steps. Your team may enter one, two, or all three divisions.
My team captain signed our team up for the weight loss division. Do I have to compete in that category?
No. Every individual will have the ability to opt-out of the weight loss competition, even if their team captain registered the team for that category. This is because many individuals do not wish to be in the weight loss category but still want to participate on a team. A team will need at least 5 members competing in the weight loss category in order to be included in the weight loss rankings.
Can I opt out of the pedometer or exercise hours category?
No. If the team captain enrolls the team in the pedometer or exercise division, all members of the team must compete in that division. We strongly believe that teams that are working together to pursue the same goals will have the most success.
What does exercise hours mean?
Exercise hours means the total number of hours of moderate intensity physical exercise you log throughout the campaign.
What counts as “physical exercise”?
Exercise is defined as moderate intensity activity. Any activity in which you are consciously pushing yourself and increasing your heart rate counts. This includes brisk walking, jogging, spinning, running, swimming, weight lifting, other sports, etc.
Can I wear my pedometer while I am exercising?
Yes, any steps that you track on your pedometer can count toward your total pedometer steps, even if you are also counting that time toward your exercise hours total. So wear your pedometer all day, every day. And when you are running on the treadmill at the gym, make sure you have your pedometer on!
What does the winning team receive?
The top ten teams in each division will be honored online at the end of the program. The top three teams in each category will be honored at our closing awards ceremony.
What are the responsibilities of the team captain?
The team captain is the motivational leader of the team. The captain is responsible for organizing the team and their activities, motivating team members, and for making sure that every member reports his or her progress on the website bi-weekly.
How do we report our team’s progress?
Every team member keeps track of his or her own weight and/or exercise using the competition logbook. Every two weeks, we will remind you to log into our online system to submit your progress. If you wish, you may give your log sheet to your team captain to be entered on your behalf.
If I set personal goals in the TeamTracker system, does that affect my standing in the competition?
No. Goal-setting is to help you succeed in the program. Your goals will have no impact on your team’s ranking.
How do you prevent cheating?
This program can only be successful by building a community with a strong spirit of trust and collaboration. To that end, we rely on the honor system to ensure that all progress reported by participants is accurate. It is fun to compete and win, but the real success in this campaign comes from being honest with ourselves and legitimately reaching the ambitious goals that we set.