FAQ's
General
What is WeightLossWars?
WeightLossWars is a free website where you can be a success. WeightLossWars provides its members with "competitions," "motivators," "Adventures in Health," and other helpful tools within a community of support that will give you the motivation that you need to finally reach your health goals.
What are all the bells and whistles?
We were hoping you would ask that! Below are most of the things available to you on WeightLossWars:
- Competitions: Create almost any kind of competition that you can think of; Weight Loss Challenges, Exercise Competitions, Nutrition Challenges, etc.
- Motivators: Select friends to be your motivators. Motivators will receive a weekly email regarding your progress during the past week. Motivators give you the support you need to reach your goals.
- Adventures in Health: Studies show that those who keep a journal of what they eat and how they feel have a much higher success rate in reaching their goals. WeightLossWars gives you a Journal where you can share your adventures in Health. The most interesting entries are added to the Adventures in Health page where you can search and read from others who are striving to reach their goals.
- Recipe Box: Share your favorite healthy recipes with others. Whenever someone adds a recipe it is automatically added to the Recipe Box.
- Tracking: Create any kind of goal to track -- weight, exercise, fruits and vegetables, or whatever you want! Track your progress on WeightLossWars.
- Graph: Everything you track comes with a helpful graph so you can visually see your progress. Graphs can be pasted into other blogs or websites that you have.
- Friends: Losing weight and staying healthy requires great support. On WeightLossWars you can find that support by meeting like-minded, goal oriented people who will be there to help you succeed.
- Tags: Search through our members, recipes, and journals by clicking on tags. Tags allow you to meet people, or discover recipes or journals that are of interest to you.
- MyStuff: Paste HTML code in your own MyStuff section. This is a great place to post pictures, videos, graphics or other widgets that you love.
- More!: There are just too many bells a whistles to mention here. To find out more create your free account today!
How much does it cost?
Membership on WeightLossWars is totally free. As a member you receive all the benefits of the support community to reach your goals. One of the added features that isn't included in the free membership is the ability to create or participate in a competition. If you choose to create or participate in a competition there is a one time charge of $10.
How do I invite people to join with me?
Achieving health goals is much easier if you have a support group of friends. To invite your friends just click on the "INVITE" tab in the upper right hand corner of the website. Those who receive your invite will follow a link in the invitation and will automatically be connected to you as your friend.
To invite more people into your competition, or a competition that you are participating in, click on the "Invite" button that is on your competition page.
What are Tags?
On WeightLossWars you can put words, called tags, on your recipes, journal entries, and profile. These tags should be words that describe your entry, are about your recipe, or are about you.
For example, if you just shared a healthy dessert recipe called "Berry Cheesecake" some great tags would be: berry, cheesecake, dessert, fat-free, cream cheese, guilt free, etc. Those tags would then help someone who is looking for a cheesecake recipe to find your recipe.
In addition to recipes you also will add tags to your journal entries, and your profile to help people find topics that are of interest to them.
Privacy
Is my weight private?
YES! ALWAYS! Unless you choose to show your weight, your weight will always be kept private. To make sure your weight is selected to be hidden click on your "MyHome" page. You will then see a page where you can edit your profile -- the privacy settings are displayed at the top. If you would like to show your weight, then you will need to select the "My weight is public" button.
Your public graphs, and the competitions that you are in only show your change in weight -- meaning -5 lbs, or -3.45%
Can I make my profile private?
Yes. Your profile can be totally private, where only your friends can view your progress. To make your profile private select the "Only my friends can see my profile" button on your "MyHome" page.
Friends/Motivators
How do I invite friends to join?
To invite more friends to join WeightLossWars click on the "INVITE" tab in the upper right hand corner of the website.
How do I add friends or motivators?
To add a friend that is already member of WeightLossWars, click on their "Request Friendship" button that is on their profile page. Once you are connected as friends you can add them as a motivator by clicking on the "MyHome" link and then on your "Friends" tab. Next click on the "request as my motivator" button next to the friend that you would like to motivate you.
To add a motivator that is not yet signed up on WeightLossWars you will first need to invite them by clicking on the "INVITE" tab in the upper right hand corner.
Competitions
How do I create a competition?
There are "Create a Competition" links on the "Compete" page or on your "Competitions" tab; or you can just click here. Once you click on those links you will begin creating your competition. There are only three steps to creating a competition so it is very quick and easy.
What type of competitions can I start?
You can create almost ANY type of competition. Some examples are Weight Loss, Exercise Minutes, 5-A-Day Fruits and Vegetables, etc. You can also create custom competitions! Do you want to create a competition to see who can sleep the most hours? Go a head! On WeightLossWars you have the power to create almost ANY type of competition.
How much does a competition cost?
While being a member of WeightLossWars is FREE, you do need to buy a ticket to create or participate in a competition. The ticket price is a one time fee of $10
Can I buy a ticket for someone else?
Yes. If you created the competition you can buy additional seats (or Tickets) for one or more of your competitors. These additional seats are on a first come first served basis so make sure the folks you want to pay for get signed up first. Once the pre-paid seats are taken up, then the others who join will be asked to buy their ticket.
How do I invite more people into the challenge?
There is an invite link within your competition where you can send additional invites to your friends, family or co-workers.
No one has responded to my invitation letter, what should I do?
WeightLossWars sends invites immediately. If your friends or competitors haven't received the invitation then chances are that their invitation is going into their junk email folder. Try calling or sending them an email to make them aware of your invitation.
I messed up, can I change things in my challenge?
You bet! If you are the competition creator then a little (EDIT) link appears next to the Competition details section of your competition. Click that link to change the title, dates, and other details of your competition.
What should I set as the award?
Set what you want. "Each competitor donates" requires a contribution, that you specify, by each competitor at the end of the competition. This is donated to the winner, by all his competitors. You could put, as the award, "I will supply the prize" and so the entire award is donated by you. Or you could select "Other" and pick any award and style that you want.
How long should the competition be?
A competition can be as short, or as long as you want. However a longer competition allows the development of healthy habits, and eliminates those dieters who can lose a lot of weight fast. Make it long enough so the winner deserves the reward they get. A typical length is between 3 and 6 months
How is the winner scored?
That depends on the type of competition that you selected. It can be based off of Total LBS lost, % of body weight lost, total exercised minutes, etc, etc. As participants enter in their weight, exercise or other info, the leader board for their competition is automatically updated to show who is in the lead.
Why doesn't the leader board have my correct weight loss?
Chances are that you forgot to enter your start weight on the START DATE of the competition. If you go back and enter your start weight on that date then it should fix the problem. If it doesn't please contact us.
How does the winner get the Award?
Each competition has its own reward or incentive. Some groups give a cash award, while other groups supply babysitting, or movie tickets. Whatever reward your group decides is what each participant has agreed to contribute. When the winner is decided each competitor should provide their part of the reward. Ultimately it is up to the winner to collect his/her reward.
Does the whole Award go to the winner?
Distributing the award is up to each participant of the competition (if the competition is a "Each competitor donates.") If "I will supply the Prize," or "Other" was selected then the creator of the competition is responsible for the distribution of the award.
How do I get my winnings?
Once a competition is finished WeightLossWars immediately calculates the winner. You are responsible to follow the award arrangements you made with your competitors.
After my competition is completed, how long can I view it?
Past competitions remain on your profile for as long as you are a member of WeightLossWars.
Journals
Can I make my journal private?
Yes. If you have selected to make your profile private then only your friends can view your profile and jounal.
What should I write in my journal?
Studies show that people who keep a record of what they eat and how they feel have much more success at reaching their health goals. In your journal you should record your daily successes, thoughts and struggles. Tell your story! Let us know what choices you were faced with and how you responded to those choices. As you do this you will begin to make better health choices each day, knowing that you will accountable to your friends and motivators.
How often should I write in my journal?
To get the most out of the power of a health journal you should record your activities every day.
What is "Adventures in Health"?
Adventures in Health™ is an aggregate journal where the most popular and best entries are posted. We constantly add new, interesting posts from our members, so check back often to read up on their "Adventures in Health™."
Recipes
What is the Recipe Box?
The Recipe Box is a collection of all of the recipes that members of WeightLossWars have shared. You can browse through the recipes and search for healthy additions to you diet. Don't forget to share your favorites as well!
How do I submit my recipe to the Recipe Box?
All you have to do is post a recipe on your profile and it will automatically be added to the Recipe Box for other users to use. To add your own recipe click on your "MyHome" link, then on your "Recipes" tab.
MyStuff
What is this section for?
Your "My Stuff" page is a place where you can enter in your own HTML code. Why would you want to do that? Lots of reasons:
- If you host your photos somewhere online you can paste simple html code on your MyStuff page in order to share some of your photos with this community. (A great place to post before and after photos!)
- If you found some hilarious videos on YouTube, why not share it by pasting the embed code here.
- Post other HTML widgets from your favorite sites so you can express yourself.
How do I post stuff in here?
Click on your "MyHome" link, then on your "My Stuff" tab. This is where you can post your HTML.
Can I make MyStuff private?
Yes. If your Profile is set to "Only My Friends Can View My Profile" then it will be private -- just between you and your friends.
What if I see something inappropriate in someone else's MyStuff section or profile. Can I report it?
Yes -- and we hope that you would. There is a little "report inappropriate page" link on the left hand side of everyone's profile. Just click that link and tell us about the profile. We will then take immediate action.
Other
Can I change my Password?
Yes. Click on the "Account Settings" link in the upper right hand corner of the website. You will see a place to set a new password. If you have forgotten your password you will need to click on the Forgot Password link on the Sign In page. A link will be sent to your email address that will allow you to change your password.
Can I close my ccount?
Yes. While we hate to see you go, you can permanently close your account from WeightLossWars by clicking on the "Account Settings" link in the upper right hand corner of the website.
How are my items shipped?
WeightLossWars uses either UPS or the USPS to ship its products. All shipping costs are paid for by the consumer at checkout.
What is WeightLossWars return Policy?
If you are not satisfied with your WeightLossWars product purchase you may return the unused item within 30 days of receipt for a refund. Send the item addressed to:
WeightLossWars Returns
963 W. 670 S. #23
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
No refund is given from shipping charges and you are responsible for the item until it reaches WeightLossWars including all shipping charges. Be sure to include in your return the invoice and your full name and contact information. Below is a list of items that are not refundable.
Non-refundable Products and services:
Items that are not refundable include clothing, hats, towels, water bottles, and any and all sabotage or food items. The service charge for participating in a competition is non-refundable. Make sure the competition you want to participate in is correct and that you are committed to the requirements of participating which includes the service charge. For questions regarding returns or exchanges send an email to customerservice@weightlosswars.com.