The 50 Million Pound Blog

Summer is as good a time as any to win some extra money!

So, take a minute to track your progress, and you'll be entered to win $1,000 VISA® Gift Card!

Check out the Update Today, Win Tomorrow page for a word from Dr. Ian and more details on how you can win.

Give up the pounds, not the fight!

The Miss Black USA Pageant celebrates being smart in body, mind and spirit. So it's only fitting that this year's delegates have joined The Challenge.

From now until July 15, 2009, you can follow these talented women – plus help your state's delegate win big.

The delegate who collects the most support from her state will win a $5,000 scholarship!

Visit the special profile page for your state's delegate and show your support.

This year we're having fun while losing weight.

Our data shows that those who join a team on the site lose 20% more weight than those who don't. Medical research confirms this and reports that those who have a support or buddy system lose more weight and are more successful at keeping it off longer.  So we thought we'd have a teams competition to have some fun while building this critical support.

This contest won't officially start until March 2nd, but we want to give you an advance notice so you can get ready to go when it starts!

Here's what you can do to get ready.

1. Make sure you're registered at 50millionpounds.com.

2. Join a team of 10 or more or start your own team. If your already part of a team, that's fine and you can still be part of the contest, but make sure the team has at least 10 members.

3. Lastly, get an understanding of the healthy lifestyle principles that are contained in Dr. Ian's new book, The 4 Day Diet™. How well you can embrace and demonstrate these priciples will be one of the important criteria in deciding a winner.

Remember, the contest doesn't officially start until March 2nd, but don't wait!

Get busy right now and get a jump.  Your experience, lifestyle changes, and success on the program will make your story all the more compelling!

One lucky voter will win $1,000

The Challenger of the Year contest is underway and your vote will help decide which Featured Challenger from 2008 made the greatest impact inspiring others to lose weight and get healthy.

How the contest works
A total of 12 Featured Challengers were chosen to participate in the 2008 Challenger of the Year contest based on the impact their stories had on other Challenge participants. The Featured Challenger earning the most votes will become the 2008 Challenger of the Year and receive a $1,000 Visa® gift card.

Vote early and vote daily for your chance to win $1,000!
Anyone can vote by visiting the Challenger of the Year contest page. Voting for the contest runs thru midnight December 29. Each vote (a maximum of one per day) earns an entry into a drawing for an additional 1,000 Visa® gift card. One lucky voter will be randomly drawn from all votes cast for this $1,000 prize. So vote early and vote daily!

Have a comment for one of the contestants?
The Challenger of the Year contest is also an open forum for you to communicate directly with the contestants. Post your comments for any of the contestants here or directly on the contestant’s Featured Challenger page by clicking the link next to their photo below.

Meet the contestants
Here are the contestants for the 2008 Challenger of the Year contest. A summary of their Challenge journey and details about who is leading in the contest is available on the Challenger of the Year contest page. Click the link below to read their original Featured Challenger blog story.

Remember vote early and vote daily!

Tikia Brown-Montgomery and Michael Montgomery, Indianapolis, IN

Charmen Daley, Orlando, FL

Tahira Davis, Cleveland, OH

Marcella Jones, Yorktown, VA

Anna Mary Lopez, Orlando, FL

Femi Martin, Brandon FL

Christopher McCray, Hampton, GA

Kenya Morgan, Salisbury, NC

Craig Nash, Chicago, IL

Michelle Thomas, Colorado Springs, CO

Lawana Williams, Southfield, MI

Deborah Wright, West Haven, CT

Challenge team competitions heat up as the weather cools. You can be a part of it all and help your school or Alma Mater win scholarship dollars! 

Check out the chart below. Find your school's team, join, and participate to help your team win!

Great news!! 

The person who signs up the most people wins a trip for two anywhere in the continental US and a $1000 VISA gift card (same as cash) to spend on their trip! Second place wins a $500, and third wins a $250 VISA gift card - just like cash that you can spend anywhere!

Here are the 4 steps you can take to be eligible to WIN:

1. Click here to invite your friends, family, and co-workers
2. Please enter your e-mail address and password (the one you used to register for The Challenge).
3. Then enter up to 10 of your friends’ or family’s e-mail addresses in the boxes.
4. Lastly, enter the code at the bottom of the screen, then hit SUBMIT.
   

IMPORTANT NOTE: Each person you invite is automatically sent a message from The Challenge asking them to register.  You will only get credit for those people who actually go to the site and register.  If they get the e-mail telling them to register, and they don't register, you WILL NOT get credit towards winning one of the prizes.

You can also click here to get started, and invite everyone you know!

Remember, it’s completely FREE to register for The Challenge. And, the contest runs from April 24, 2008 through May 15, 2008. Click here to view the official rules and regulations.

The more people you get registered, the greater your chance of winning a trip for two and the $1000 VISA gift card (to spend on your trip), a $500 VISA gift card, or a $250 VISA gift card!

April is Challenge Month!

Our anniversary celebration will last all month. As part of that, we are giving away one iPhone to a Challenge participant each week in April.

Last week's winner was Chelsea F. from Stockbridge, GA! You can be our next winner, all you have to do is login and update you account.

Click here to login and update your account and be eligible to WIN!

This is just one way for us to celebrate and thank you for your commitment to our community.

Make this Challenge yours and remember: we're making history together!

Click here for the official rules and regulations for the iPhone sweepstakes.

Respond today!

Deadline:  Noon, MONDAY, April 7

It’s your time to shine and influence thousands. 

My team and I have received an incredible request from Ebony, JET, and their new website Ebonyjet.com. They want to interview and follow four couples, families, and/or individuals who are changing their lives by taking on The Challenge. They want to catch you at the beginning of your weight loss effort and follow your journey.

If you just have a feeling that they should choose you or your family, share your story with us!

Click here to submit your story for a chance to become a featured in Ebony and JET, or Ebonyjet.com!

Please include:

• Details regarding how you and your loved ones are taking on The Challenge together,
• How long you/your family has been on The Challenge,
• Pictures, and
• If it applies, the name of your Challenge Family Team.

Believe me when I say: your story is influential. Magazines, blogs, and newspapers know people are affected by your struggles and successes. They know your story can encourage others to live healthier. Now it’s your time to step up and help others learn how to truly live!

Click here to submit your story for a chance to become a featured in Ebony and JET, or Ebonyjet.com!

Thanks for your interest in The Challenge and remember to "give up the pounds, not the fight!"

Yours in The Challenge.

~Dr. Ian

It’s our anniversary!!

I’ve got great news! You might’ve heard me mention celebrating our one-year anniversary on the Steve Harvey Morning Show or other radio programs. Well now I’m happy to report that my team and I have worked out the details, and I want to share the news with you first! 

In staying true to our celebration style, there are some incredible prizes that you are eligible for just by updating your account with your new weight. 

Each time you update your weight on the site, your name will be entered in a drawing for one of the following 3 prizes:  

• An iPhone
• A $500 VISA® Gift Card
• A $1,000 VISA® Gift Card

So each time you update your profile you increase your chances of winning one of these great prizes.

We will draw the winners’ names on our anniversary day – April 7. So, increase your chances to win by updating your account everyday! 

I get so excited when I run into many of you whether I’m in your town, same hotel, or the airport. Few things compare to how proud I am to hear you say that you are signed up for The Challenge, have lost weight, and are feeling better than you ever imagined. There’s just one problem—when I ask if you’ve updated your account with your new weight, many of you say that you’ve forgotten or haven’t had the time.  Well, unless you update your weight, your hard work won’t count toward our big goal of 50 million pounds.  The computer can only count those lost pounds that you actualIy record in your account.  So I’m asking you to please come back to the site and login to update your account with your new weight!  

You can become part of America’s most successful and influential weight-loss story. Please share your accomplishments with the nation by donating the weight you’ve lost to our running total. 

 Yours in the fight,

~Dr. Ian   

 Click here to read the official rules and regulations.

We’re kicking off 2008 with a bang!

First of all, we hope you’re enjoying the new website. Secondly, how would you like to win a new NordicTrack® treadmill to help you reach your goal?

All you need to do is update your personal weight-tracker and get as many of your friends to join The Challenge as you can.

Get on your feet and welcome in the New Year, new site, and new opportunity to get healthy!