A new start

It's a new year, and I am going to go ahead and assume you all have new found enthusiasm for some weight loss and fitness gain.

Geeks to Gods was a positive success last year, and we all did exceptionally well, so let's show the company that it wasn't a once off thing, and that IT is going to stay fit and healthy. It's time to start a new 12 week challenge. Welcome to:

Gods and Gladiators

Friday 13 January - Thursday 5 April 2012

This time it's going to be a little different. For one thing, we are going to invite more non-IT types, so if you know of anyone that really wants to join us, let me know.

The other big difference is going to be the evaluation of how we are each doing during the challenge. Gods and Gladiators is going to be more of a personal goal based program, and we are going to ask the fitness team to choose our final 3 winners.

Each of us will need two goals:

1. A physical goal, based on changing the way you look. This can be anything related to how you look, for example: a specific weight, a dress/pants size or even a person you want to look like.

2. A fitness goal. This can be anything fitness related, for example: competing in the Argus, finishing the two oceans in a certain time, just being able to run/cycle/walk 10/20/30km, 20 pushups in a row, etc.

The fitness team is going to use these goals, and how well we achieve them, to decide the winners of the program, so you need to think carefully about them, Make sure they are challenging - goals that you will need to work to attain - but please also make sure that they are reasonable - goals that are attainable in 12 weeks with hard work.

We won't have weekly winners anymore, but we will have special mentions for people who are working especially hard, or achieving milestones towards their goals.

We are getting Caroline twice a week again for the duration of the program, but we will have a meeting soon and take a vote to decide what kind of workout we'll be doing with her. Caroline is also going to do some fitness assessments, I will let you know soon when and how these will be done.

We're going to organize a few fun and energetic things to do as a group outside of the club as well, like hiking up table mountain.

There's also a new blog for this challenge:

www.godsgladiators.blogspot.com

I will add all the participants of the challenge as authors so that you can post your goals in your own words, and blog your challenge experience as the 12 weeks go by. I am also going to leave the blog as world readable, I think we have all learned that it is easier to stick to a challenge when you are accountable.

To start things off, I will blog my goals for the challenge. Take a look if you need some inspiration for yours.

Let the games begin!