Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Shape Up Duke?
- What do I get when I register?
- Do I need a computer to participate?
- What are the responsibilities of the Team Captain?
- How many people can be on my team?
- What if I can't find four other people who want to be on my team?
- What are the competition divisions?
- What if less than five people on my team choose a particular division?
- Do I have to enter the weight loss category?
- Can I change which competition divisions I want to participate in?
- How do I report my progress?
- Will other people be able to see my weight online?
- Do I need to report my weight to my team captain if I do not have access to a computer?
- What counts as “exercise”?
- Can I wear my pedometer while I am exercising?
- How are team standings calculated?
- When will team standings be published?
- If I set personal goals online, does that affect my standing in the competition?
- What are the wristbands all about?
- How do you prevent cheating?
- How is Shape Up Duke different from Eat Wise and Exercise?
- Is LIVE FOR LIFE® offering prizes for this 12–week Challenge?
- What if I lose or break my pedometer?
What is Shape Up Duke?
Shape Up Duke is a fun, team-based exercise, pedometer steps, and weight loss competition.
What do I get when I register?
You'll get the reward of good health, the fun of challenging yourself and participants, and the satisfaction of meeting your personal goals. In addition, when you register you'll receive a welcome package that includes a high–quality pedometer, weekly newsletters with fitness tips, and access to a robust competition tracking website.
Do I need a computer to participate?
No! Only Team Captains need access to a computer. If you want to join, you can ask a Team Captain to sign you up and log your results online at the end of each round. You also have the option to sign up and submit your results by calling our participant support line.
What are the responsibilities of the Team Captain?
Being a Team Captain is easier than you think! The Captain's chief responsibility is to recruit the team (at least five members). Once the competition begins, the Captain can also help motivate team members and ensure that they report results on time. Online Team Captain trainings will be held at 12 and 2pm on Dec. 18th, 22nd, 29th, and Jan. 5th. You will receive an e-mail invitation with easy instructions to join the webinar remotely.
How many people can be on my team?
You can have 5 – 11 people per team, including the Team Captain. The total number of people on each team cannot exceed 11.
What if I can't find four other people who want to be on my team?
You can connect with other participating colleagues using the online Team Building Forum.
What are the competition divisions?
There are three divisions in this competition: weight loss, exercise minutes, and pedometer steps. Each participant can select to participate in one, two, or all three divisions. If at least five people on a team select to participate in a particular division, then that team will be included in the team standings for that division. If less than five people select a division, the team will not be included in the team standings; however, each team member can still track personal progress in that division. For example, if five people on your team select pedometer steps, then your team will qualify for the pedometer steps team standings. If only four people on your team select exercise minutes, then your team will not be included in the exercise minutes team standings.
What if less than five people on my team choose a particular division?
Let's say only four people on your team choose to participate in the exercise minutes division. Your team will not be included in the team standings for the exercise minutes division. However, the four members who selected exercise minutes will still be able to set exercise goals and keep track of their own personal exercise progress online.
Do I have to enter the weight loss category?
No. There are three divisions in this competition: weight loss, exercise minutes, and pedometer steps. You may enter one, two, or all three divisions.
Can I change which competition divisions I want to participate in?
You can change your selected competition divisions any time until the end of the first round of the competition by using the online system or by calling our participant support line. After the first round, your selections will be fixed and cannot be changed.
How do I report my progress?
You keep track of your own progress using the printed competition logbook or by entering your results online daily. Every two weeks, at the end of each round of the competition, we will send you an e–mail reminder to log into our online system to update your progress. If you wish, you may give your log sheet to your Team Captain to be entered on your behalf, call or email customer support or respond to an automated text message to your cell phone (if you signed up for the text option during registration).
Will other people be able to see my weight online?
Absolutely not! Your individual weight will NEVER be available to anyone but yourself. We know this is a sensitive topic, so we protect your privacy.
Do I need to report my weight to my team captain if I do not have access to a computer?
No. Team Captains will know your weight only if you decide to share that information. You have the option to report your progress by calling our participant support line if you do not have access to a computer.
What counts as “exercise”?
Exercise is defined as moderate intensity activity. Any activity in which you are increasing your heart rate and breaking a sweat counts. This includes brisk walking, jogging, spinning, running, swimming, weight lifting, other sports, etc.
Can I wear my pedometer while I am exercising?
Wear your pedometer all day, every day! Any steps that you track on your pedometer can count toward your total pedometer steps, even if you are also counting that time toward your exercise minutes total. So when you are running on the treadmill at the gym, make sure you are wearing your pedometer.
How are team standings calculated?
There are three separate team standings–one for each competition division. Team standings are based on cumulative results and are calculated as average weight loss percentage, average exercise minutes, and average pedometer steps per participating team member. Your team's average for a specific division will be calculated based on the number of team members actually competing in that division, not the total number of members on your team.
When will team standings be published?
Updated team standings will be published once at the end of each round of the competition. Team standings will not change in between rounds.
If I set personal goals online, does that affect my standing in the competition?
No. Goal-setting is designed to help you succeed in the program. Your goals will have no impact on your team's standing.
What are the wristbands all about?
Every participant will receive the signature Shape Up Duke wristband. The band is meant to foster a sense of community and team building among all of us who are participating in this health effort.
How do you prevent cheating?
This campaign can only be successful by building a community with a strong spirit of trust and collaboration. To that end, we rely on the honor system to ensure that all progress reported by participants is accurate. It is fun to compete and win, but the real success in this campaign comes from being honest with ourselves and legitimately reaching the ambitious goals that we set.
How is Shape Up Duke different from Eat Wise and Exercise?
Shape Up Duke is different from Eat Wise and Exercise in that it provides a social network that will encourage involvement and teamwork among all participants, while using friendly competition to motivate. Shape Up Duke is a 12–week team competition (versus 10 weeks) where teams compete in three divisions: weight loss, exercise minutes and pedometer steps. Those involved will report their information over the phone, online or personally to a team captain.
Is LIVE FOR LIFE offering prizes for this 12–week Challenge?
Yes! As our way of saying “keep up the great work!”, the top teams and individuals in each division will receive SHAPE UP DUKE T–shirts!
What if I lose or break my pedometer?
If that happens, you can request a replacement. Each participant will be limited to one replacement. To obtain a replacement, please call 1-877-614-7160.
