Twitter is one of the most useful social media tools. It is great for connecting with people, especially other healthy living bloggers. It is a surefire way to get motivated, ask for help, and receive support.
Awesome By August and Super By September are all monthly weigh-in challenges hosted by other bloggers that utilize Twitter’s hashtags as a method of instant communication (think of hashtags like specific categorical labels).
These two challenges spawned my own personal challenge: Drop Dead Gorgeous by December.
Drop Dead Gorgeous by December is open to everybody. I’m using it to keep myself on track but would love for others to join me, whether you blog or not. Healthy living is for everybody!
It will not be focused primarily on weight, and weigh-ins are optional.
Why?
Because being gorgeous shouldn’t be defined solely by a number. You are more than just a number.
1. You can join at any time, but once you’re in, you’re in for good.
If you join now, you’re required to send me an email, comment, Facebook message, GChat about your progress on a weekly basis. None of this wishy washy business. Once you’re in, you’re in.
2. I will post people’s progress only if they want it to be publicized.
This is supposed to be an individual challenge, a way to better your personal life. I am here to support and encourage you, but if you don’t want the whole world knowing, I respect that too. But you will still be required to email me your weekly progress.
3. The challenge starts this Sunday, August 22 and ends Sunday, December 19.
Please send me all of the necessary information by 11AM EST/8AM PST every Sunday morning.
4. Have FUN.
I am a big promoter of doing things you enjoy, of embracing the moment, of surrounding yourself with laughter, love and friends. This is a personal challenge and not a competition.
This challenge was created to make me better as a whole, not so I can beat somebody at weight loss. Drop Dead Gorgeous by December aims to make each and every single person that joins feel better about themselves, both inside and out.
We are all winners.
1. A picture of you holding up a positive sign for yourself.
The picture must be different every week. The sign can be the same.
The sign can vary from I can do this to I am beautiful to I am strong and powerful. Whatever inspires you, write it down, look at it, read it, and hold it up proud.
2. Your current week’s weight as well as your challenge start weight. *optional
I am looking to lose, but some people are actually looking to gain. I might overeat, but others undereat.
If a scale goal is not part of your journey right now, you don’t have to include it! Just put N/A (not applicable) for this portion. Not everybody is defining their health by the number on the scale, and they shouldn’t have to. Fitness and healthy living should not be determined by only a number.
3. Your goal(s) from now, or whenever you decide to join, until December.
These goals may NOT be weight-related. You are not allowed to have a goal tied to a number on the scale.
Goals can include everything from trying a new recipe to running your first 5K. It can be something like making your bed every morning or saving a dollar a week.
Whatever your goal(s) are, they cannot be tied to your scale weight (lose 20 pounds, lose a pound a week, etc.).
Try to limit your goals to a maximum of five, but if you’re ambitious, that’s great too.
4. ONE thing that you are proud of for the week.
This is where you brag about something you did well, a milestone that you reached, an impossibility that you turned into a possibility. BRAG!
5. ONE thing that you can improve upon for the following week.
Because this healthy journey is about overall betterment, we can all find something to improve upon. Maybe it’s to squat 10 pounds more. Maybe it’s to be more punctual. Maybe it’s to drink one more glass of water.
1. A supportive, understanding community.
In my opinion, this is the ultimate prize. Nobody judges here. Nobody critizes. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed. You’ll have a safe environment where we all respect one another and cheer each other on. We’ll pick you up when you fall, celebrate when you succeed. There’s no better prize than this one.
2. A personalized holiday card from me!
I wish Hallmark would sponsor this one, but I’ll be printing out postcards and sending it to each and every participant (again, optional if you want to disclose your address to me) at the end of the challenge.
3. The feeling of accomplishment and success by the end of 2010.
The year goes by fast. I started strong, and I want to finish it off strong.
Once again, Drop Dead Gorgeous by December is open to everyone. This means both guys and gals. Gorgeous is typically used to describe a female, but I don’t like social norms.
Gorgeous is how we feel about ourselves, both inside and out.
Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments and let me know if you’re interested!
If you are interested, please email me at halfofjess@gmail.com with your starting weekly report by Sunday!
If you have a twitter, follow me and use the hashtag #dropdeadgorgeousbydecember.
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
I’m in! I’m in! I’m in!!
Me too!!
I’m SO IN!!!!
I found your site from a friend’s posting, and I couldn’t be happier!! I love your blog, and I love this idea.
LET”S DO IT!!!
I love this! I will be sending you my specs soon!!
yep, I’m in
damn. old credentials. the website linked here is the right one
Soz!!
Renée (@lowfatpie)´s latest post: The last weeks in pictures
Of COURSE I’m in!!! Was there ever any doubt?
You knew I needed this didn’t you
Do you mind if I share this on my blog?
By all means, PLEASE SHARE.
The more the merrier. It’s a growing experience for each and every one of us. We will ALL need the support.
Why can’t I be gorgeous now?
I think that feeling beautiful and gorgeous about yourself each and every day takes conscious effort. There are always people there trying to beat us down, which is why this challenge exists. If we have goals to work towards, not weight-related, we can be proud of ourselves even if somebody is being negative.
I don’t think gorgeous is defined by one look, but it is defined by the things you do to better yourself. One of my goals is to make my bed every single day. It’ll help me feel gorgeous because it’ll keep my apartment tidy
I love this idea. have been working on my goals.. I may have 5…. eeekkkkk.
okay i’m in.
I’m so in! I need some sort of accountability and this is the perfect community for it. Thanks!
Totally in. When do you want e-mail #1??
SeattleRunnerGirl´s latest post: Rest Days
By this Sunday! 11am EST/8am PST is preferable
Totally In! I am actually really excited about the holiday card
We should do secret santa stuff!
I love this! Just what I need. I am most definitely in!
Hi! I’m also from DC! I just found your blog on HLB..Looking forward to reading more
-Lauren
Jess…Brilliant. I can’t even tell you how PERFECT this timing is. I am DEFINITELY IN! I am SO in need of a challenge like this; a personal challenge where it’s about more than just a number…with accountability and comradery with others.
thank you!
LOVE IT!
I am so IN!
I’m in!
Totally in! Thanks for doing this!
Great idea!
Oh, count me in!!! I am getting my report ready (had to print it out so that I didn’t miss anything!!!). Thanks for the challenge!!!! Awesome.
Will repost this on my blog, for sure!!!!
Thanks again!
I’m gonna do it! Even though, at first I thought it was an October challenge, “drop dead gorgeous” being a nod to halloween. But, I think that just makes me morbid to think about it in a spooky way instead of a hot way.
HAHA, a spooky way. I like it
I wanted to do an October one but then I realized that I like long-term challenges more! It’s all about the long lifetime journey, not the short-term.
The report is just on our own blog with a linky to yours?
I think I’m gonna need another blog group after enjoying Super by September………..
Hey! You can include your own report on your blog, but no. Your weekly progress will be sent to me and I’ll have an all-inclusive post with everybody’s progress shown (unless you want to keep it privatized).
Hope that helps!
Thanks for this challenge. I am totally in!! Having some accountability will really motivate me to stay the course. I’ll get my stuff in my Sunday! **hugs**
Okay Panda, you know I couldn’t resist! I’m in!!
Tara´s latest post: OWiS 34…good stress – bad stress
I’d love to participate! Will send you my info by tomorrow.
Just one thing: Isn’t that hashtag a bit long? I mean we only have 140 characters on Twitter, and that is one really long hashtag. Or maybe I’m the only one who has a hard time at keeping it short and sweet on Twitter. Maybe it could be something shorter, an abbreviation or something. Just an idea.
Yep! We can totally do something like #ddgbd
How does that sound?
Sounds great!
Thanks.
I’m In too!!
This is what I need….a personal challenge, sounds great! I’m in!
I’m all over this! Just have to nip out to run some errands but I’ll email you when I get back!! May be able to help out with the holiday cards to if you’re looking for a “sponsor”. I’ll be in touch.
thanks for getting this organized.
Oh, if you could help out with the holiday cards, that would be amazing! I am always looking for sponsors and help
I’m in! BUT I have to email you once I buy a scale, for I am in college and so it’ll be interesting to see how this goes down when I have a mealplan and a microwave.
I want to join…I’m soooo behind on my blogging. Fallen off the wagon big time and trying to get back on board!
I’m in but late! I just fired the Good Times Van (My blog) and I’m ready to get started on a new healthy lifestyle. You can read what all has been going on to get me to this point. Injuries, Buying a house, selling a house, living in a travel trailer yada yada. I’ll get all my info in on Sunday! Can’t wait! Good Luck Everyone!
I just found this challenge via another site. I am such a joiner and am so in! I live in Aus so my weight will be in kilos (not pounds) – hope you are okay with that?
I will send my first email on Sunday.
Thanks for the inspiration Jess.
I’m in! This is just the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for.