A new challenge is upon you.
I have done a bunch of challenges and each time I get more insight into how people perform in these challenges and why. How long is too long for a challenge? How much should you tell people to do? How rigid should the requirements be? It brings me to an interesting psychological test.
The Candle Problem
This interesting psychology test has received a lot of attention recently due to a couple popular book releases. The test was created in 1945 by Karl Duncker, a Gestalt psychologist. It is a cognitive behavior performance test that looks at functional fixeness. Duncker gave the participants a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches, and asked them to attach the candle to the wall so that it did not drip onto the table below.
Can you solve the problem?
The solution to the problem, as it is in most of this cases, is simple. You use the thumbtacks to attach the box to the wall and use it as a candle holder. You use the matches to light the candle.
What I find to be most interesting is not the test itself, but people’s reaction to the test under different circumstances. This test has been done a hundred times over in different ways. They have tried timing it, giving rewards, or underline certain words in the problem. They also manipulate the arrangement of the items. Each time the reactions are different and provide an insight into the person who performed the task.
What does the candle problem have to do with this new challenge?
One of the most interesting results of these tests were when participants were offered a reward for completing it in a fast manner. They rated the average times of completion for the test and those who were offered rewards did worse.
Why?
This wasn’t a technical problem. Meaning, the candle problem isn’t the same thing as changing a tire. Ask people to change a tire as fast as possible for money, and you will see money change their performance for the better. Ask people to solve a creative or long term problem for money, and pressure of the challenge and the reward can potentially cause problems.
Due to this type of assessment of human behavior, I thought I would see how the lack of pressure would apply to this challenge. I want to see how people react if they are given lax requirements and unknown reasons for reward.
The rules
Rule #1 – You have to fill out your goals for the next 30 days.
Rule #2 – You have to check-in 30 days from now in the check-in post.
Rule #3 – Anyone can play. Members will have support and be eligible for special prizes. See more information below.
How to enter
All you have to do is fill out these questions in the comment form of this post. That is it.
1. Name – Real name is not needed, but you must leave a valid email to be notified of your prize if you receive it.
2. Goals for the next 30 days
3. Reason for entering challenge
Entry Deadline is April 21st 2010
Prizes
Non-Members – 3 Non-Members will receive
- 3-month free membership to LeighPeele.com
- 3 cookbooks from the Body By Eats collection
($75 value for each person)
Members – 2 Members will receive
1 – Freestyle Suspension Trainer System
1 – Fat Loss Troubleshoot Full Package
1 – Body By Eats Package + Extra Cookbooks
1 – 90-Day Workout/Nutrition Journal
1 – Women’s Health/Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises
($300 value for each person)
Members will also have a support thread for their goals, the ability to do weekly check-ins, and of course be able to use the forums in general along with bonus site materiel as always.
How to win
All you have to do to win is check in on May 21st 2010, and answer the following questions in the comment section.
1. Name – Real name is not needed, but you must leave a valid email to be notified of your prize if you receive it.
2. Goal for the challenge
3. Your results based on your challenge goal
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days
That’s it. That is all you have to do to win a prize.
How do I choose the winners
That will be told at the end of the challenge. Boy, aren’t I a stinker.
So, get to posting. If you want to become a member, you can find out more information for joining here.
Related posts:
goal is to keep working hard and eating clean to get to my size healthy
why?
i started my journey in a wheel chair @ 297 pounds, high bp and type 2 diabetes. i am now down to 154 pounds no high blood pressure and reversed my diabetes and i’m now running. and i would like to keep it like that. i have 8 grandchildren that would like to deep me around lol my 6 yr old grandson calls me his hero so l have alot to live up to!
Go Girl!!! That’s awesome! That takes guts and a MAJOR will to live. I hope others are inspired by your incredible success.
Name: Sarah
Goal:
1. To journal the next 30 life altering days. I will be giving birth to my first child.
2. To not judge myself as I go through this transition. To just enjoy the moment(even when they are stressful) and the miracle God has given me and my husband.
Reason for entering:
I’ve been wanting to journal for years. I’ll do it for a few days but then always “forget” and figured this would be a very neat time to do it. And since we don’t necessarily need a weight or aesthetic goal, this will be perfect.
Plus, I would love to win something. I’ve never won anything except for the 3 digit when I was 10 .:-)
Challange Results:
1. Name –
Sarah
2. Goal for the challenge-
To journal the next 30 life altering days. I will be giving birth to my first child.
2. To not judge myself as I go through this transition. To just enjoy the moment(even when they are stressful) and the miracle God has given me and my husband.
3. Your results based on your challenge goal:
I failed on goal 1. I never ended up journal even though I constantly thought about it and felt guilty for not following through on the commitment I had made.
Goal 2 is a hard one to “judge” since there are no true measurements. I can say that I am the happiest I have been in my life. I gave birth to an amazing baby boy and suddenly it has become very easy not to judge the way I look and I truly am just living every moment because i know they will go too fast.
Is this because of the challenge goal? I dont really think so.
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days
I probably really shouldn’t have even participated. It sounded good at the moment but it prob. was not the correct time in my life.
I will say though, I think I would need more accountability to become successful. This was way to lax for me.
1. Name – Real name is not needed, but you must leave a valid email to be notified of your prize if you receive it.
Brian LaFrazia
2. Goals for the next 30 days
To lose 15 lbs.
3. Reason for entering challenge
I am embarking on a career change – to become a Certified Personal Trainer – and I have to tighten up.
Thanks!
Name – Charles
Goals for the next 30 days – Go back to logging meals daily, still need to cut fat but will not be aggressive until after warrior dash on May 1.
Reason for entering challenge – I hit a diet break at the end of CML and have not been very consistent. I need to stay plugged in and involved.
Jennifer
Goal for the next 30 days: Log meals daily, workout 3 days a week. I would like to go from a size 6 to a size 4.
Reason for entering challenge: The last few weeks I have been slacking off and I need to get back into my routine. I also need to do something for myself again. I am a homeschooling mom and everyone seems to get my time and attention but me.
Name: Carrie
Goals:
1. Continue rebuilding my cardio endurance for this year’s fitness events (tons of cycling and at least 2 sprint triathlons). Specifically, this means getting close to 30 min 5K’s again and cycling a minimum of 50 miles/week over the course of this challenge.
2. Develop my official training and diet macros and schedule for the training season.
3. 121-122 lbs., currently lingering 126-127 lbs.
4. Make some sort of decision regarding my career and what direction I want to go.
Reason for entering:
a) I need to get back to my happy, active self. I’ve struggled the last four months and will be so much happier when I’m past the breaking in phase and back to normal activity levels.
b) I’ve gained incredible amounts of knowledge from Leigh in the last year. I believe in her and want to show her my support…okay and maybe win some of her stuff. And I love the community in the member forums!
c) My mind needs some peace. There are a lot of positive things about my current work situation, most of all the people I work with and the support they offer me, but I’ve spent too long waiting to do the type of work I always intended to. I want to do what I’m passionate about, and that’s being a positive influence in the community and also living a healthy and fit life. The second part I’ve got down most of the time. It’s time I focus on my career and stop wasting time waiting and not utilizing my true talents.
Wrap-Up:
Well, I’ve been pretty successful at my first goal. I’ve been steadily plugging away and building up my tolerance, especially on the bike. I started swimming again, but have been running minimally. That’s about to change this weekend though, because I’m going to a triathlon bootcamp and will spend one of the days working on running. So goal #1 is steadily improving.
I didn’t work at setting my routine and macros like I should have. I actually forgot that was one of my goals. I wish I had posted it somewhere, because I really could use it. I think I’m going to do that going forward…does that count at all?
I have completely failed at losing the #’s I need to. I’m exactly where I was. I’ve been eating strawberry yogurt pretzels, they are my current devil. But I’ve also had some off weeks, due to allergies and a family emergency that took me away from training for 2 of the weeks.
My last goal was career-focused. I didn’t really expect to have that one nailed down in 30 days, and I don’t. But it’s constantly on my mind and I’m constantly writing down little notes and ideas, and trying to figure out what exactly I should be doing, in what form, and how to work towards that. I know part of what I want, but the fact that I’d rather be outside swimming, cycling and running during the warm weather months will delay me from working towards it. But it will also give me some more time to figure out which direction to take and to form some sort of plan. So I’m not doing too bad with that goal. Not making as much progress as I’d like, but still making progress…kind of.
Thoughts for the past month?
I haven’t done as much as I’d like to, but I’ve learned that it’s okay for life to get in the way sometimes. I had a pretty bad family scare this week…my brother-in-law found out he had a large brain tumor and had to have it removed and we still don’t know what’s going to happen next, and it’s solidified the fact that we all need to appreciate what we have in life, and not to stress over little things. If we’re lucky, we’ll have plenty of time to work towards our goals, and if we’re not lucky – just be sure to take advantage of what we do have and appreciate it.
My goals:
- No sugar 6/7 days of the week
- Exercise at least 10 min every day
- Battle stress with non-food solutions
- Stay positive
I tend to do well and let things slip out of control. That was last weekend. I am right at the point where a 30 day challenge is exactly what I need to get myself back under control and on target for my Thanksgiving weight loss goals. Thanks for putting this one out there Leigh!
Name: Michaela
Goals:
1. To drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day
2. To keep my kitchen clean
Reasons for entering:
1.Curiosity
2. So far I haven’t been able to make myself do either of the above, so entering this challenge might help.
My goals were
1. to drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day, and
2. to keep my kitchen clean.
I didn’t make 1.5 litres every day, but I did increase my water intake.
I failed miserably at the second one.
This challenge taught me that in order to achieve my goals I need to either be more highly motivated or to be more accountable.
Name:Chuck Smith
My Goals for the next 30 days:
To exercise 3 times a week, both weight training and cardio. To eat at an appropriate caloric intake to lose 10 pounds.
My reason for entering the challenge is for accountability and support.
Name: Samantha
Goal: To stick to my LP custom program 100%
Reason for entering: It will be fun!
1. Name – Samantha
2. Goal for the challenge – stick to my Leigh Peele program 100%.
3. Results – During the 30 days I had a couple of unexpected trips, and lots of visitors but and was able to maintain the program well. I decided I was going to have fun and I made sure I did. I am extremely happy with my results – I have been following Leigh’s program for 8 weeks now and without running myself into the ground, I am achieving results beyond my expectations in terms of body composition and flexibility.
4. Final thought – I have never taken part in a challenge before and the accountability aspect definitely helped keep me on track.
Name: Shirley
Goals: To exercise three times a week. Be very good with my nutrition and lose 5 pounds.
Reason for entering: Thought it would be fun and keep me on track.
T
Goal-To be a positive role model in improving my husband and son’s eating habits at home without lecturing and nagging. I’ve manage to accomplish much healthier eating habits and would like to have my family see how much better your body feels when you make better choices about nutrient rich foods. I would also like to finish the book I’ve started within the next 30 days.
Why-My husband has high cholesterol and his poor habits are setting a trend for my son and it helps me, too. It seems like our time together is based around eating out and would like to change this to better habits. As well, I need to make sure I sit down and take time for myself.
I’ve completed my book which helped me to cook with new foods, fun and different!
Getting the family to try them is another thing.
I’ve still gone out to eat with my husband & son, but choose to have nothing & eat at home with something I want. While the changes are minimal, my husband is making better choices. He orders items on the side to control his portions & has reduced his sugar intake. I’ve tried to keep my lips shut on my opinions, but that’s the hardest part. I also pack his lunches and cook a lot. I think I’ve made some success, but much work to be done. My son always gets some sort of veggies on his plate.
[...] May 0 [...]
I was sick for about a week and a half, combined with convention attendance, led me to eating at maintenance to recover as quickly as possible.
During this period of maintenance eating I re-evalutated my goals to be primarily strength-oriented and essentially ditched what my goal was here. I’m not, presently, trying to lose any fat… just gain as little as possible until I’m strong enough to do some pull-ups and wicked deadlifts, then peel some fat off while maintaining that.
I was educated to maintain strength while shedding fat, but I just sort of realized that I don’t even really HAVE a notable amount of strength to maintain. So I’m going to chase that first, especially now that a modeling career has been abandoned.
Name: Emma
2 – Goals: Lose 4 kgs (9 pounds); Stop binge eating for 30 full days
3 – Reason for entering – I work better when I have to be accountable for a goal, so hopefully having to report back will be good motivation. Plus site membership would be a nice bonus.
Love your work Leigh
Result s- I have put on 1 pound and did not stop binge eating (probably did it at least twice a week).
Terrible result. No excuses, but I think that the fact that I did not have this in the forefront of my mind didn’t help. In fact, I kinda forgot about it till listening to Leigh’s latest podcast this morning… On the upside I have become a member on Leigh’s site in the last 30 days, have started a 12-week challenge, and already feel like I’m in a better spot than I have been lately. Here’s to change! (Unfortunately it wasn’t during the last 30 days…).
Emma
Results? I just checked back and of my five goals I totally followed the eating mindfully/keeping track on Fit DAy, #s 2,3,4 I accomplished partially and #5 fell by the wayside. Maybe it should be one goal at a time?
30 Day Check-in
Couldn’t find my original post but things are going well. Lost some pounds and it looks like I gained some muscle mass. Good motivator.
I forgot to add that I purchased Body by Eats and using the recipes. I am eating more and still losing some pounds. That is wonderful!
name Claire
goals
eat 5 fruit and veg every day
hug my kids every day
exercise for an hour every day
tell my husband something nice evey day
so.. i did them all, but not every day, sometimes my kids annoyed me too much, and the husband got suspicious.. but the upshot is that I have a new job (oh yay) which i start next week, I have joined a kickboxing club and do something that I really enjoy 3 times a week, my diet is healthy and I actually like asparagus, my kids are happier and they talk to me more now. I’ve also lost 5 pounds.
So I dont feel like a failure for not getting all my goals consistently every day, but I am happier and feel less stressed. Thanks Leigh, youre a superstar!
Well, my goal was simple: lose 15 lbs in the 30 days between April 21 and May 21.
Besides the obvious health benefits of doing this (I started at about 245 lbs), I am in training and the certification process to be an IFPA certified personal trainer.
I have lost 17 lbs to date (228 lbs this morning). My cert test is in late-July and my goal is to be 200 lbs by that time.
Leigh – thanks for this contest!
still working hard but went to see a dietition who told me i wasnt eating enough for what i do so adding more cals now which is hard fo me becouse i still need to lose
I could not find my older post. I have lost those stubborn 2 lb and kept them off for 2 weeks now. I have been working out consistently focusing on endurance. Also, while it was not my original goal but I can do 2 full pullups now. Thanks for the contest.
1. Tamara
2. a. daily mobility/recovery, even if it’s just 1-2 moves – as much as I can fit in
b. daily meditation/breathing, even if it’s just 1-2 minutes – as much as I can fit in
c. five weekly workouts, minimum 20 minutes each:
• 2-3 yoga
• 1-2 weight training and 1-2 cardio (or combo weight/cardio)
d. daily compliance at a 20% deficit (approximately 1400 calories/day)
3. I did great with mobility and breathing, and with my workouts (except for last week when my stepdad was first in the hospital; I only managed 2 that week instead of 5). As for eating, I did not track last week, but got back to tracking this week and sticking to my deficit.
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days: My resolve slipped while spending 10-12 hours a day at the hospital for my mom. I was eating whatever I wanted. I’m back to the deficit and it actually feels good, so there’s a lesson there. When I ate my healthy snacks before going to the hospital yesterday, I wasn’t tempted by the candy and cafeteria junk that was there. Breathing exercises and mobility work (and yoga when I could fit it in) are essential to managing my stress.
Name: Linda
Goal for the challenge
1. Improve Sleep
2. Improve nutrition (eat more)
3.Reduce stress
4. Maintain fitness levels thru current exercise program
I was able to make gains in all areas except improving my nutrition.
I am sleeping better/longer on average or 4 days per week. I have reduced my stress levels by refocusing on what is important in my life. Fitness has been rather easy for me this month. Started a new plan and was very motivated doing something new.
I think just knowing I was coming back here to report – even if just for myself – helped me remain on track.
Name: Wes
Goal for the challenge:
1) Lose 1 inch off my waist measured at the belly button
2) Exercise 4 days a week
Results: Lost 2.1 inches off my waist and have exercised at the gym 4 days every week
Final Thoughts: I entered this contest to keep myself accountable. I don’t have a trainer or a lifting partner and I exercise in the morning. I have a 6 month old that won’t sleep so I’m up a lot at night and getting up at 4:40 to go exercise has been tough, but I’ve stuck it out and have been going regularly. A week before this contest starting, I purchased a lifting program that I wanted to stick to, but my personality is the type to start something and not finish. I’m current in week 5 of the program (finished it today) and going strong. I had hit a plateau in my muscle gain/fat loss before I started the program and since I started this program I have lost 10 additional pounds (up to 40 pounds now) and gained a noticeable amount of muscle. Having no one checking up on me has been interesting because it’s made me rely on myself to take care of myself. Thanks for the challenge Leigh and I’m so glad it was a success on my personal journey!
Goal for the Challenge:
1) Drop 11% Body Fat (currently at 13%)
2) Maintain (or slightly gain muscle mass)
* Do this through running mornings (empty stomach) and lifting weights in the evening
* Average 0.5% BF drop per week should help to retain my muscle mass
* Re-Feeds once or twice a week
* Caloric Tapering
Reason: I plan to hit 10% BF within two months then build lean muscle from there. I feel posting this will help me establish accountability and when I hit my goals & I’ll have written evidence of how far I’ve come.
1. Name – Leah Marlow
2. Goal for the challenge – lose 5 pounds, learn more about fitness and nutrition
3. Your results based on your challenge goal – did not lose 5 lbs, lost 2 and learned a lot
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days
The challenge was really good for me, but not because I lost some weight. I feel like two things happened in the last month. 1. I chilled out about losing weight and being fit on a preconceived timeline. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and it was not making me feel good. It was frustrating me.
2. I learned a lot about eating well and it’s effects on how good I feel physically.
Working out has been easy for me b/c I enjoy it. I like the stress relief I get from moving. The eating well is more challenging but has become a lot easier as I’m starting to get that everything that goes in my mouth will have an effect on my body. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes it’s not. I feel much better when I put the good stuff in and that’s I lesson I’m so glad to finally “get.” Thanks for the challenge.
Name: Rog Law
Goal: Achieve a body weight of 194 lbs
Results: 198 this morning, nakkies.
Jerry’s Final Thoughts: I had a great time being focused on one goal, but then enjoyed myself a little too much last weekend and backtracked a bit. Not upset, because the trade off was well worth it, and I’ll get back on track shortly.
Name – Brit
Challenge Results:
1. Weigh 139 pounds – I weigh 140, but am using a different scale than usual. Who knows, I am in Costa Rica right now and feel amazing so that is that.
(1.a) Attend the gym 3x/week – I did twice a week until May 14 (vacation) and have been very active every day of my vacation so far, but I didn{t really meet that goal.
(1.b) Log every morsel of food every single day – I stopped doing this a week before my vacation.
(1.c) Weekly average of calories = 1400 – Goal met
(1.d) NO ALCOHOL UNTIL MAY 14 (vacation start) – I got super close, but had a few drinks during finals week. It helped me out mentally so I{m actually ok with this.
2. Regain my old flexibility and improve my posture
(2.a) Mobility EVERY SINGLE DAY – Checkarooni
(2.b) Yoga 2x/week – Checkarooni
(2.c) Stop tucking my legs underneath me at work – I caught myself doing this a few times, but I think I am breaking the habit slowly but surely.
Conclusions:
I definitely did not meet all my goals, but I have continued to change my body for the better, even while on vacation. I am in Costa Rica right now and am not avoiding the cameras because I feel confident and proud of the work done so far. I am also not stressing out right now about what I am eating because I know that I can come home and continue to make progress on my life, habits, body, and health. Ive come a long way and this small challenge has helped me see that I can continue to make improvements and still be well balanced and happy.
Plus I have lost four pounds in my week of holiday so far. Not too bad!
I am onto Panama in a few days and then I am back, kittens. Miss all you forumites to pieces!!!
1. Name – Shari Auldridge
2. Goal for the challenge— My goal was to lose 4 pounds, log food daily and do mobilty work daily. I also wanted to do the mobility work my chiro gave me to help with my back/neck issues
3. Your results based on your challenge goal-
My results were very mixed….For about 6 months now I have gone on and off different birth controls, I have been seeing a chiro and a muscular therapist for chronic neck pain and lower back pain. They have ruled out with xrays and mris anything serious and say its just a muscle sprain. It is really getting me down and making it really hard to do much excersise. HOWEVEr that being said, I was able to walk , walk, and walk some more.I DID that. I DID log my food daily, I DID do my mobility work. I DID NOT lose 4 pounds. In fact Ive been pretty bloated with this new round of BC and am going to come off that one now.
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days-
It was good bc sometimes with checks in that are weekly i find myself at the computer alot more. In fact I havent been doing as much sitting at the computer at all, which is a GOOD THING . I need to do alot less sitting at a computer. Overall I feel I gave it 80%, about as good as I can with this ongoing injury. I need to keep working at figuring out the best mobility work for this pain i am dealing with so I can get back to lifting weights again.
Take Care
Shari
1. Name – Melissa
2. Goal for the challenge
- No sugar 6/7 days of the week
- Exercise at least 10 min every day
- Battle stress with non-food solutions
- Stay positive
3. Your results based on your challenge goal
I accomplished my goals without any major problems. I feel great, I am optimistic about my progress. I am definitely making great strides to retrain my brain to taste sweetness and to look for stress relief without food. My weight hasn’t changed much in 30 days.
4. Final words/thoughts about the last 30 days
I think that was a good challenge for me. I hit a few points that I’ve been working on for a while and really made mental strides in doing so. I also was able to find the next thing I need to work on, which is portion control at social events! I need to make that my next 30 day challenge, and I have two-three major social events in that time, so it’s a good thing to do. Thanks for giving us a place to find out something useful here, Leigh!