What is Lighten ME!?

Lighten ME! is a health and wellness program whose goal is to encourage Mainers to develop nutritional eating habits and increase physical activity through teamwork and friendly competition in effort to combat the country’s growing obesity problem.

The key component of Lighten ME! is teamwork. Having other people who share a common goal, who will work together and who will encourage each other throughout the process is vitally important to the success of the program. Participants benefit greatly from the personal support and camaraderie that is derived from teamwork and it is an aspiration of Lighten ME! to have teams from every town in the state participating.

However, if you do not have a teammate, you can register for the program and compete against other individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need a team?

No. The team approach to the program is encouraged, however we welcome individuals to compete without a team! Just choose COMPETE SOLO in the registration menu.

What categories are offered for my team?

Teams can compete in one or both of the categories.

1) Weight Loss - due to healthy, appropriate diet and exercise
2) Accumulated Activity - in the form of activity miles derived from exercise

Weight Loss Category

• Team weight is submitted and reported monthly
• Weight loss is based on the percentage of weight lost by the team

Accumulated Activity Category (in miles)

Our goal in Lighten ME! is to get people more active. Activity miles can range from parking at the back of the lot, taking the steps, gardening, shoveling snow or recording your daily workout on the treadmill. Program officials are leaving it up to the team/participants to decided what activities they want to record.

Bonus points and Certificates will be awarded to the teams reaching top levels of achievement!
- 1st place: 20 bonus points per member
- 2nd place: 10 bonus points per member
- 3rd place: 5 bonus points per member

We want to sign up today, but think we'll be behind in the competition.

The competition is open 24/7 and can be joined at any time. How do we do it? Lighten ME! uses a proprietary mathematical formula to ensure everyone competing has a fair chance at winning, whether they start at day 1 or day 80 of the competition period.

A team's total activity mileage and/or weight loss totals are weighted to determine a final score. Three factors are taken into consideration:
1.) Days spent in the program;
2.) Number of members on the team;
3.) The amount of weight lost by the team as a whole.

Activity miles are curved slightly differently than the weight loss competition.

Activity Miles and Weight Loss: Teams that begin on day one of the competition (which commences quarterly) are given full credit. People who start closer to the end will be penalized by as much as 50% of their total mileage or weight loss. This keeps the competition fair for everyone.

What is the cost of the program?

....

What is the PAS (Points Award System) ?

The PAS is used as a motivational tool to promote the continued use of the Lighten ME! website. Every day you sign into your member page, you earn a point toward prizes in the Pro Shop which opens at the end of each 90 day competition period.

What are the competition periods?

What are the roles and rewards of being the team captain?

• Registers team
• Motivational leader
• Receives support from Lighten ME! officials

Who benefits from the program?

Everyone! Individuals who along with friends and family work toward establishing healthier lifestyles, companies that integrate the program into their employee wellness programs, cities and counties who are working toward helping their residents combat the growing obesity and no leisure time activity problems facing the America.