Hi Friends!
Hope you all had a great weekend. We’re postponing Bean Bytes today because I have something super exciting to share with you guys! I know a lot of you loved the #LiveLeanEatGreen challenge in October and asked for another one. Well…. ask and you shall receive! I’ve teamed up with one of my best blogging buddies, Elle from nutritionella, to bring you guys a six week challenge to help you stay on track during the holidays! Elle just finished her dietetic internship so we’ll both be becoming Registered Dietitians in early 2013.
We’re super passionate about nutrition and wellness and LOVE helping others eat right and stay active. Since we know the holidays can make it hard to stay on track with healthy habits, we wanted to come up with a way we could help you guys! Here’s what we came up with…
Introducing the Elf for Health Holiday Challenge! This is a six week challenge that will run from the Monday after Thanksgiving thru the first week in January. There will be daily tasks, daily winners, prizes, weekly newsletters, and a Facebook group for support.
And are you ready for the best part? You’ll have an elf to support and encourage you! When you sign up, you will also be committing to be an elf for someone in return. Over the course of the challenge, you will have three different elves.
Sounds like a great way to stay motivated and meet new people over the holidays doesn’t it?! Since this challenge is internet based, anyone can participate… no matter where you’re located! All you need is access to the internet and an email address.
So what does an Elf do?
Elf Duties
As an Elf, you are expected to support your assigned buddy with their holiday health goals and the daily challenges. Elves & buddies will be reassigned every 2 weeks. You are only asked to email your buddy 2 times per week:
- Monday: Send your buddy an email to help them with the challenges for that week. Ideas of things to include/attach: your own personal tips & tricks, inspiring words and/or images, a new, healthy recipe or workout to try.
- Thursday – Saturday: Any time during these days, check in with your buddy! For example, ask them if they tried a new recipe, workout, or had fun with any certain challenges. Feel free to tell them how you did with your challenges, too!
Anything more than those 2 emails is up to you but feel free to go above and beyond this to show your support! Just a few ideas: send your buddy Tweets, shout outs on our Facebook Page, email a fun workout you liked or send a hand written recipe or note.
Important Dates
- *Friday, November 23rd at midnight: sign up deadline for all 6 weeks
- Sunday, November 25th: Round 1 Elf assignments emailed
- Monday, November 26th – Sunday, December 9th: Round 1
- Sunday, December 9th: Round 2 Elf assignments emailed; Round 1 “Best Elf” winners chosen
- Monday, December 10th – Sunday, December 23rd: Round 2
- Sunday, December 23rd: Round 3 Elf assignments emailed; Round 2 “Best Elf” winners chosen
- Monday, December 24th - Sunday January 6th: ROUND 3
- Sunday, January 6th: Round 3 & participant grand prize winners chosen
*If you missed the initial sign up deadline, you can still participate:
- Sign up before December 7th for Rounds 2 & 3
- Sign up after December 7th but before December 22nd for Round 3
Not clear about something? Email Elle or Lindsay!
Prizes
We are working on getting some of our favorite companies involved to provide you guys with awesome prize packages. We will update our challenge pages with prize specifics once we finalize the brands we’re working with (hopefuly later this week) but for now we will have:
- 3 prizes for “Best Elf”, one awarded at the end of each round
- 1 grand prize for best participant awarded at the end of the challenge determined by participation, hashtagging and being an awesome Elf.
There will be a daily challenge winner chosen each day. Daily winners will be entered for a chance to win the grand prize!
Best elf prizes will given based on participation and nomination. If you love your elf, let us know so we can consider them for a Best Elf prize. Best Elf prizes will be awarded at the end of each round.
Still with me?
Challenge Calendar
If so, you’re probably wondering what the daily challenges are, right? See below for the list. It’s printable, so print it out and hang it somewhere to remind you participate, or add it to your Google calendar!
Sign Up
Want to sign up?! Fill out the form below.
We will be sending out a weekly newsletter reminding you of the weekly challenges so look out for a confirmation email to confirm your participation & newsletter subscription. If you don’t receive a confirmation email, check your spam box. If you still can’t find a confirmation email, let one of us (Elle or Lindsay) know ASAP and we’ll add you to the list.
Buttons
Did you sign up? If you’re a blogger, grab a button:
<div align="center"><a href="http://nutritionella.com/elf4health" title="nutritionella" target="_blank"><img src="http://nutritionella.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/version3edited.jpg" alt="nutritionella" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://nutritionella.com/elf4health" title="nutritionella" target="_blank"><img src="http://nutritionella.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/version5edited.jpg" alt="nutritionella" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Follow
Make sure you’re following us for the latest updates, daily challenge reminders and winner announcements by social media.
Info Pages
Tell us, what are you most challenged by during the holidays?
Oh this is such a neat idea!!! Thanks for putting in all that effort to create this! I think I will join for it, sounds awesome!
I am obsessed with this idea! Love it so much!!! Signed up immediately obviously and I’m already waiting for my elf!!! Love love love!!! What a FUN way to stay healthy through the holidays and help others out along the way too!!!
Andrea recently posted..Week Recap, Sending Blog Love, and Marinara Sauce
LOOOVE the challenge calendar!!
And I never say things like that
Miz recently posted..My tattoo stories.
What an awesome idea!! It looks like so much work has gone into this. I’m not going to sign up, because I can’t commit to it and I don’t want to disappoint someone I’m trying to coach and support, but I will tweet it for sure!
The Candid RD recently posted..Gluten Free Fig, Apple and Sage Stuffing (Meatless Monday)
Just signed up! Love this idea!!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted..Vlog: New Workout Routine
You are seriously amazing for all of the wonderful opportunities to connect that you orcastrate for all the rest of us. I can only image how much work it take, thank you!
Anne recently posted..En Papillote Lemon, Garlic Hake with Sweet Potatoes
This is such a fun idea!!! Signing up now! Can’t wait!
Danielle @ Clean Food Creative Fitness recently posted..Marvelous in My Monday
What a cute idea! (of course, the rhyming significantly helps the cuteness
)
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers recently posted..Resting Up
AWESOME AS ALWAYS!! Such a great way to stay healthy and accountable during the holidays!
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail) recently posted..My Weight Evolution
I LOVE the idea of this challenge! And that your challenges include things to show love for others and the spirit of this season.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Aiming for Normal
I’m so excited about this! Hopefully this is the kick in the pants I need to get my pre-baby body back!
Heather @ What Does She Do All Day? recently posted..I can’t work like this!!!
LOVE this idea! I’ve been looking for a holiday challenge and I think this will be perfect!
I LOVE this idea & just signed up! Great thinking, ladies! Also, whoohoo on completing your dietetic internships & becoming RD’s soon!!! I can’t wait until that is me, but I still have a long way to go. Looking forward to the challenge & making new friends!
Oh, & my biggest holiday challenge is not inhaling every single baked good I encounter.
What a creative idea! I love the calendar with a challenge for each day. I am already doing another holiday challenge so I don’t know if I can commit to this as well, but I’ll definitely help spread the word!
Laura recently posted..An Unconventional Marathon Training Plan
Love this. Need this!! Signed up. Thx girl!!!!!!
Kelly @ No Sugar Sweet Life recently posted..Thanksgiving Side: {Tangy Green Bean Casserole}
Great idea! I just signed up!
This sounds so fun! I am most challenged by all the sweets that are EVERYWHERE during the holidays.
Zarah recently posted..Scenes from the Week
LOOOOOOVE this idea!!!!! I am in!
Paula Kiger recently posted..In A Jam
Wow! What an incredible thing you put together!!! Amazing really!
Kierston recently posted..#CHARGE Your BODYtteries!
Already signing up — I’m so excited!!!!
Brittany @ Read, Run, Repeat recently posted..Things that are making me smile… 11/9/12
Love Love Love this!!! Thank you both for putting all the time in to create this! Signed up as soon as possible! Can not wait to get started!
Great idea! We all could use a little accountability during the next 6 weeks.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Lesson Learned
Love the idea! Love that you get to get to know new people every two weeks. Great.
Katie @momslrb recently posted..Giving Thanks for Perspective
What a great idea! I just signed up for another Holiday challenge so I am not sure I can do this one as well but I am seriously considering it. I will definitely spread the word.
Jamie @ Thrifty Veggie Mama recently posted..Eggplant and Sundried Tomato Spread
Sounds super fun! Just signed-up. Thanks ladies for creating this challenge!
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit recently posted..Move It Monday…Turkey Time Is Almost Here!
just signed up!! I love having a little health challenge every day…My biggest struggle for healthy living during the holiday season is that dessert table–I have a hard time treating myself in reasonable amounts and it’s always sooo tempting for me to enjoy way too much sugar.
Danica @ It’s Progression recently posted..pics from the weekend: new furniture and a Christmas tree
This is an AWESOME IDEA!!! I can’t wait to see it all go down! So exciting!!
jobo recently posted..FEF: volume II
I see that one of the challenges is for a no make-up day, does that mean men are not allowed to join in on the fun? I would like to if that is alright with you ladies.
Jacob Coon recently posted..Photo Challenge November week 3
We’d love to have you!
Well then I am in and that day of challenge should be pretty easy for me!
How fun and exciting! Count me in!
Carli recently posted..Add Your Latest Pins to Your Blogger Sidebar
Gosh I can’t wait. I’ve been struggling soooo badly so hopefully this will help me
Shannon recently posted..5DSD ended with a binge
oh man oh man oh mannnnnn !!!!!
Meredith @ DareYouTo recently posted..Start a Conversation
YES, I am so excited! Just signed-up
Life’s a Bowl recently posted..He’s Turning 30!
How exciting.. signed up, tweeted and blogged about it! The calendar is stuck on my desk ready to start.
Keeley recently posted..Elf4Health – Christmas Challenge!
Lindsay, you always have the best ideas!! I am signing up for this to keep me focused this holiday season. Thank you!
Jenni recently posted..A Bathmat with Memories
I’m always up for a challenge, especially during the holidays!
Tania recently posted..Menu Plan Monday – Nov 19
Love this idea… all signed up, can’t wait to start! I definitely need some motivation!
Noelle at Noelle’s Notebook recently posted..GBN: Week 15
Great idea! The holidays overwhelm me… so many things to do and expectations (my own being the highest)! I am joining to keep myself accountable and keep the pounds away! What a fun idea!
Nicole recently posted..Soggy Phone
So glad I found this before the deadline! Woot!
Run with Jess recently posted..The Voyage to Tulsa #Rt66run
So looking forward to this!! I even figured out how to add the button to my archaic blog. Thanks
I’m excited to have found this challenge. I’m marathon training right now so am not having any trouble staying active and on task with working out, but I am eating so poorly. It’s really frustrating me because I’m working so hard that I don’t understand why I can’t stay motivated to fuel myself with healthy foods to support that.
meghan @ little girl in the big world recently posted..Turkey Trot and Family Time
we’re so excited to have you!!! hopefully we can help!
I’m a little late to all of this but holy wow I love this idea. i’m so glad you guys extended the sign up through today. I would have been seriously bummed if I missed out on this.
Thank you so much for putting this together for us! What a fun way to stay on track this season!
charlotte recently posted..On Being Human
yay! glad you found it!
I’m always sucked in by the sweets and chocolate. It’s always my downfall. I’m not a big Christmas dinner eater, but I’m a serious chocolate fanatic.
I just signed up for round 2 – I need all the accountability and holiday spirit I can get!
Lisa recently posted..A running injury WHILE NOT RUNNING?
Love this!!! i just signed up for round 2 and 3
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily recently posted..The Bed Won