Team Challenge FAQ
Click here for upcoming team challenge dates.
Contact us
For fastest response: email us at info@healthywage.com.
Gyms and HealthyWage members can call support at (888) 636-3832.
Our general fax number is: (651) 964-3499.
Rules
To see the rules for the Team Challenge go here.
Why should I join?
Because it works and it's a lot of fun! Team weight loss is exciting and effective because it harnesses the power of positive peer pressure, the excitement of achieving goals with teammates, and the thrill of competition and big cash prizes. Participants in the contests have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in the last two years. Teams forming now!
How does it work?
The Team Challenge is a three-month weight loss challenge in which teams of five compete to win cash prizes. The winning team is the one that loses the greatest percentage of weight during the contest.
How much does it cost?
The entrance fee is $25/month (or $75) if you're participating through a company. The entrance fee allows you to compete for the cash prizes. Lose 10% of your weight six months after your challenge ends and you can receive a full reimbursement of your registration fee.
When will my next payment installment occur?
If you selected to pay in installments (as opposed to one single payment), your account will be charged every month. Any challenge not paid in full by 3 weeks before its end date will have any remaining owed payments processed at that time.
How do I know my payment information is secure?
HealthyWage is committed to protecting the security of your personal information, including payment information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure. For example, all participant data is collected and transmitted over secured connections using 256-bit encryption. All pages on the HealthyWage website are served over SSL. All payment data is handled following rigorous Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards set by VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. We process payments via a highly reputable third-party payment processor and never store your sensitive payment information on our own system.
Can I participate if I am located outside of the U.S?
HealthyWage is available to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico & throughout Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe and Asia. If you are participating through an employer, such as Halliburton, you are generally allowed to participate regardless of your location in the world. Unless you are participating through your employer, you may not participate if you are a resident of North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan and others.
How do you help me stay on track during the twelve week contest?
The Team Challenge is based on team support and motivation, which provides accountability and success. To make it lots of fun, each week, we provide you with tips and tricks to help you and your team stay on track.
Do I need a team of five?
Yes, it's a team-based weight loss challenge. You can have your co-workers on your team. If you don't have a team of five, don't worry—we will match you up with teammates when the contest starts (we make sure everyone is on a team).
What if I can't get enough people together for a complete team?
Don't worry, we've got someone for that! Our Chief Fun Officer will work with you to make sure you are on a complete team. Once you're signed up, email info@healthywage.com and just ask for assistance. If you've got one or two others signed up with you, we'll also make sure you stay together! Teams will be locked and no changes will be allowed two weeks after the challenge start date (if you sign up later than that, your team will remain unlocked for a week), so make sure you let us know right away if you need help!
Is there a deadline for registering and weighing-in at the beginning of the contest?
No, but the longer you wait after the contest starts, the less time you'll have to lose weight!
How long into the competition can I change my team?
A team can be changed within the first two weeks of the challenge. After two weeks, teams are locked and your team can not be changed (exception: if you sign up later than two weeks into the challenge, your team will remain unlocked for a week).
A member on my team does not have a verified weight, what do I do?
If you still have an unverified member on your team a month after the start date you are stuck with them. So make sure you are aware of the status of your teammates by going to the teammate section on your dashboard and clicking the ‘i’ icon.
Can I participate in more than one challenge at the same time?
Absolutely. You can participate in up to 10 challenges at the same time! So double-up, even triple-up to maximize your winnings for the same weight loss! But remember that you can only win a top team prize in the $10,000 Team Challenge one time.
What happens if I am let go by my participating employer?
While some of our challenges are associated with participating employers, the challenges are associated with HealthyWage, therefore your employment status will have no impact on your eligibility in a challenge.
Do I need to have my weight verified?
Yes—twice: once at the beginning of the challenge (anytime on or after the start date) and once at the end (within two weeks before, or on, the end date).
How do I get my weight verified?
It's super easy -- you have two options:
- Download our mobile app (after you register) and follow the simple, on-screen instructions to let one of our referees remotely witness your weigh-in [takes about two minutes];
OR - Print the "Verify Me!" form and have a qualified witness sign the form after watching you step on the scale -- any doctor, nurse, health club staff member or WW employee is qualified to be a witness. Then take a photo of the signed form and upload it to your HealthyWage account [you need about 10 seconds of your witness's time].
How do you calculate a team's percentage weight loss?
We take the average of each team member's weight loss percentage, rounded to the nearest tenth (for example 5.1743% would be rounded to 5.2%). To calculate your individual weight loss percentage, take the number of pounds you have lost divided by your starting weight.
Do you have any rules to prevent excessive, unhealthy weight loss?
Yes. In order to encourage healthy weight loss, we only count weight loss up to 16.6% per person. Any individual weight loss beyond 16.59% does not count for the challenge. So, the winning team is the one where each team member gets closest to the cap. Note: it is OKAY to lose more than 16.6% (you won't be disqualified), but the extra weight you lose above 16.59% will not count toward your team's weight loss for the challenge.
What are ribbons and why do I need to earn them?
Ribbons are a fun way to keep track of your effort and achievement, and research shows that you're more likely to lose weight if you divide your goals into bite-size mini-goals. The ribbons take this concept to another level by making the mini-goals social (people can see when you earn a ribbon) and fun. You can earn ribbons for taking certain actions and for achieving certain milestones throughout the challenge, as well as via team based achievements. For example, you will earn one weekly weigh-in ribbon for recording an unverified weight at least once per week (12:01am Sunday to 11:59pm Saturday (US Pacific Time)) on the site. Ribbons are not required, but they are important because (1) they improve your odds of success; and 2) in the event that you are tied with another team in the challenge, the tie will be broken based on which team has earned the most ribbons ("team aggregate ribbon count").
What if there's a tie?
Please note: the tie-breaking rule below applies to challenges starting on or after Jan 30, 2015. If your challenge started before Jan 30, 2015, please see the previous version of the FAQs.
In the event of a tie for weight loss percentage, we will break the tie by looking to the team aggregate ribbon count of each team -- most ribbons wins. In the case of a tie for team aggregate ribbon count, we will pool the relevant prizes and divide equally among the tied teams. For example, if two teams are tied for first, we will pool the first and second place prizes and divide the total between the two teams (and the next highest ranking team will get the third place prize). If four teams are tied, we will pool the first, second and third place prizes and divide the total between the four teams. No other teams will win any prizes. All determinations of winners will be managed by HealthyWage and are final – they cannot be appealed.
How do you calculate a team's ribbon total ("team aggregate ribbon count") for tie-breaker purposes?
For the purposes of team aggregate ribbon counts, team ribbons will only count one time toward the team total, even though they are awarded to each individual on the team.
The team aggregate ribbon count for tie-breaker purposes is the sum of all teammates' "Individual Ribbons Won" plus "Team Ribbons Won." For example, a team of 5 may have 12 earned ribbons each, including one awarded for the 2% Team Weight Loss ribbon. Each individual on the team (5) will receive this team ribbon and it will count toward their personal ribbon totals, however only 1 ribbon will be counted in the team aggregate ribbon count (not 5). This team's ribbon total would be 11 personal ribbons x 5 teammates = 55, plus one team ribbon = 56. The team aggregate ribbon count for tie-breaker purposes can be found on the challenge leaderboard and under "Team Total Ribbons Won" on team profiles.
Cheerleaders are not eligible for ribbons and their ribbons do not count towards the teams total ribbon count.
Is there any way to get a discount on my registration fee?
We offer a referral program where your entire team's participation will be free of charge if you invite your employer to join the contest, and at least two other teams sign up. Click here to invite your company to join. Alternatively, if your company is already participating in the contest, you may be eligible for a discount on registration because some companies choose to cover part of the cost for employees who participate—just like WW at Work. Ask your HR department if they are covering part of the cost for the HealthyWage program.
Can I participate if I am pregnant?
No. But you can sign up if you've recently had your baby, if your doctor says it's okay.
What if I get pregnant?
Your challenge is suspended the minute you think you might be pregnant -- just let us know. You have 60 days after that to supply proof of pregnancy from your clinic/doctor. You may resume your challenge once you are cleared by your doctor to participate again.
Can I participate if I am on weight loss pills or if I have had or am planning to have bariatric surgery?
You may not have bariatric surgery during or up to one year prior to the contest. Diet pills may be used only with advanced Doctor approval. Contact us at info@healthywage.com to discuss this before signing up.
Do I have to live in the same city as my teammates?
No! You and your teammates can live in different parts of the country, and get weighed-in at different gyms and/or doctors.
Do I have to get a membership or a personal trainer at the gym where I weigh-in?
No. You are under no obligation to any health club weigh-in station. While we encourage you to support our sponsors and partners, the weigh-ins are free and without obligation.
Can I get a refund?
Part of our job is to prevent you from giving up, so you can't quit -- there are absolutely no cancellations or refunds. HealthyWage will suspend your challenge if you are pregnant.
Will others see my weight information?
No. No one else will see your actual weight (including your employer). Only your percentage weight loss will be visible to other users.
How and when do I get paid?
HealthyWage pays you via check or Paypal (your choice). You get paid in as little as 12 hours after you win, but the review process can take longer (occasionally more than a week if our referees determine your case requires additional investigation).
Are there any payment fees?
There is a processing fee for a paper check of $7.00. If you choose Paypal, Paypal will charge a fee of 2.9% + .30 cents, except in special circumstances when HealthyWage pays the fee (e.g., Team Challenge Reimbursement Prize).
