• Only GHF Members, including international members, are eligible to compete in the GHF Fitness Challenge. GHF staff members, their immediate family, and affiliates of the GHF staff are ineligible.
• You must be 18 or older at the time you submit your Before Materials.
• GHF reserves the right to require a urine analysis of any entrant suspected of using anabolic steroids (including testosterone), growth hormone, prescription thyroid drugs (for non-medical reasons), prescription diuretics, insulin (for non-diabetic use), or any other illegal drugs. If any such substances are detected, the applicant will be automatically disqualified.
• Entry into the GHF Fitness Challenge constitutes your consent and permission for GHF to use your name, photos, and essay (in whole or in part) for promotional and advertising purposes to promote GHF's online fitness program and any future contests, without limitation or restriction. Such consent is a condition of eligibility to enter and win the GHF Fitness Challenge.

Eligible Exercise and Nutrition Programs

You may use the exercise and nutrition program of your choice during the 12 weeks of the GHF Fitness Challenge. However, we recommend that you consider using the appropriate GHF Customized Programs and that you follow the principles and guidelines taught on the GHF site, as they have proven safe and effective.

Deadlines

Start Date
Before Materials* for the GHF Fitness Challenge may be submitted between now and September 1st, 2008. The date your Before Materials are received at GHF is your 12 week Start Date. We'll send you confirmation of this date via e-mail.

Finish Date
Your Finish Date is 12 weeks from your Start Date, and your After Materials** are due on or before this date. We'll e-mail you a confirmation that we have received your After Materials. While we allow a 10-day grace period, any application received after the 12 week period has elapsed will not be accepted.

EXAMPLE:
Start Date: Before Materials* received at GHF on Thursday, August 7th, 2008.
Finish Date: After Materials** due by Thursday, October 30th, 2008.
Grace Period: After Materials accepted if received by Sunday, November 9th, 2008. Receipt on or after Monday, November 10th, 2008, would disqualify this application.

Award Date
Winners will be announced on or before December 15th, 2008.

* "Before Materials" = Before Entry Form, Before Health Status Report, and Before Photos.

** "After Materials" = After Entry Form, After Health Improvement Report, After Photos, and Essay.

Criteria for Judging

Through applying the fundamentals of proper strength-training, cardiovascular exercise, and well-balanced nutrition, you can make significant improvements in how you look and feel as well as in your overall health (decreased risk of disease, illness, injury, etc.)--no matter what shape you're in now! Entrants in the GHF Fitness Challenge will be judged equally on 3 areas of improvement:

1. Improvements in your health as established by the documentation in your Before Health Status Report and After Health Improvement Report. While a desire to look better and the benefits associated with improved appearance are great motivators, far too often people use appearance as the only indicators of successful progress. At GHF, we believe that improved fitness means improved health, and we are committed to acting on that belief. One-third of your evaluation will be based on your improvement in the following areas:

A. Body Composition (body fat % and lean body weight)

B. Increased Strength

C. Cholesterol levels (Total, LDL, and HDL)

You are required to document (before and after) at least 2 of the 3 categories through testing by a certified fitness or medical professional. (GHF can help you locate a professional near you if you do not already know one.) NOTE: Both Before and After test documentation must be conducted by the same professional. GHF reserves the right to make exceptions in some cases, at our discretion.

Although only 2 of the 3 tests are required, you may document improvements in all 3 categories; this may improve your chances of winning in the event of a tie. Click here for testing requirements.

Points possible: 100

2. Improvements in your physique will make up a second 1/3 of your evaluation. For many people, a primary motivation to exercise and eat well is to improve appearance, including losing bodyfat and gaining muscle size and tone. However, those who are already lean can increase muscle size and those with enough muscle can reduce body fat percentage. So, no matter what shape you're in now--good or bad--you'll have the same chance to win as anyone else.

Judging will be based on total improvements in your physique over the 12 week period as documented by the Before and After Photos submitted at the beginning and end of the contest. Click here for photo requirements.

Points possible: 100

3. A 750-word essay describing your experience and fitness philosophy: The last 1/3 of your evaluation is equally important. If you can express how consistent exercise and good nutrition has improved your life, we believe that you can inform and inspire others to make positive changes and reach their full potential as well. Just as improving your physique and overall health will help empower your mind and body, improving how you communicate your thoughts and experiences can also help you gain power! Click here for essay tips and requirements.

Points possible: 100

Judging

The GHF staff of fitness, medical, and nutrition experts will form the panel of 30 judges for the GHF Fitness Challenge. Please click here for more information on the judges.

Step 1: After December 10th, 2008, judges will individually review your materials (Before and After Photos, Before Health Status Report and After Health Improvement Report, and Essay) and evaluate your improvement, awarding between 50 and 100 points in each category, with 100 points indicating maximum improvement in that category.

Step 2: Your points from all judges in each of the 3 categories will be totaled, giving your category scores.

Step 3: Your 3 category scores will be totaled to create your final combined score.

The applicant with the highest final combined score will be awarded First Prize, the second highest score will win Second Prize, etc. In the event of a tie for any prize, the applicant with the highest After Health Improvement Report category score will receive the prize.

Other Rules and Regulations

1. Odds of winning the GHF Fitness Challenge depend on the number of completed entries and cannot be determined in advance. All federal, state, and local laws apply. Void where prohibited by law. All decisions of the judges are final. Prizes are nontransferable, and no cash equivalents or substitutes will be offered, except at the discretion of GHF.

2. Consult your physician or health-care provider before commencing any new exercise, nutrition, or supplementation program. Participants in the GHF Fitness Challenge assume all risk of injury, harm, or loss of any kind arising from participation. Participants release GHF and its entire staff from any and all risk, loss, injury, damage, or harm that may arise from participating in this contest.

3. Entry into the GHF Fitness Challenge constitutes your consent and permission for GHF to use your name, photos, and essay (in whole or in part) for promotional and advertising purposes to promote GHF's online fitness program and any future contests, without limitation or restriction. Such consent is a condition of eligibility to enter and win the GHF Fitness Challenge.

All photos and essays submitted becomes the property of GHF, and submission of your entry shall be deemed a voluntary transfer to GHF of your right, title and interest, including copyright, to your photos and essay.

4. If you have a change of address, phone number, or e-mail between submission of your Before Materials and the date the winners are announced, you must notify GHF by e-mail or in writing to Global Health & Fitness, 10117 SE Sunnyside Rd., Suite F301, Clackamas, OR 97015. Prize winners who cannot be reached through the contact information provided within 60 days forfeit their prize.

Questions? Email us at info@global-fitness.com. You'll get a prompt, detailed response within 24 hours.