Monday, March 15, 2010

Giveaway Winners ... And This Time I Mean It!

I knew from the very first comment that I might have screwed the pooch on this one.

After five comments I knew if was going to be a horribly difficult task.

After twenty comments, I thought it might be impossible…

People need good food. They need new running shoes. Entries to 5K races and half-marathons. Spouses have been laid off and medical bills are billing up.

There’s a sea of need and I’ve only got one $100 life preserver.

Except when Anne at Carb Tripper leapt into the fray and offered up her matching C-note. That touched me so much that I matched her match (but I called no re-matching after that!).

Plus, I’ve got a nice $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift certificate to chunk on the pile as well. I can’t do everything I’d like, but something’s better than nothing, right?

At the end of the day, this weight-loss journey we’re on isn’t about money. However, I was looking for some way to make a tangible impact on somebody else’s trek. I truly wish I could lay some greenbacks on everyone who needs it, but I did the best I could…

The first winner…

Zaababy said...

Since I just discovered that I can now ride a bike I would do just that--buy a bike. Raising 8 kids leaves very little cashola to spend on the Mother of the clan. And if I don't win I'll just keep borrowing bikes and running. Because I CAN!

I love this! I wanted to do something that would have a lasting effect and a bicycle for somebody that can’t really afford to buy one for herself is exactly the kind of thing that appeals to me in this situation. Here’s to the wind in your hair, Zaababy!

For the second winner, I decided to go with one that exemplified the idea of using the cash as a motivation to reach a goal, and I thought this one was outstanding…

Stages of Change said...

My 10 year high school reunion is later this spring, in a little over 100 days.

I would break the hundred dollar bill into one hundred individual dollar bills.

I would give them all to my sister's family, with one caveat: I would start a goal to workout every day for one hundred days, not killing myself, just doing it...every day. And at the end of every workout, I would go see my sister and she would pay me one dollar. I would post pictures and updates.

After 100 days, (and hopefully, having lost enough weight to go back to Washington and see friends and family at less than 100 pounds higher than I was at 18 years old), all the dollars I had earned would be passed on to another weight loss blogger to do something cool and worthwhile with via this exact type of giveaway.

Okay, I actually just had an idea to make my previous idea better. So, the plan would naturally be to workout all one hundred days, and thus pass on the entire $100 to someone new at the end. But, I think if I'm able to do it for all one hundred days, than I would double the amount. So if I workout all one hundred days, and thus earn back all $100, then I will add one hundred of my own, and pass on $200 to some other WL blogger.

Third and last, I wanted to help instigate a change for someone. Maybe help provide the spark that ignites a life-changing course of events. There were several that fit in this category, but this is the one that stood out to me…

Allison @ I heart Change said...

Well, Jack. Since you're sharing cold hard cash I'll share a cold hard fact.

I am afraid of gyms.

I've never been to one. I'm afraid to go. Right now I weigh 220 pounds. I've lost 38. And it's getting harder. So clearly, I need to go. But...

I'm a stay at home mom. I have a hard time spending money on myself even though I'm supposed to consider it 'our' money. When I spend money on myself it feels like I am taking away from my family.

If I won your giveaway I'd spend the money on a gym membership. It would be perfect because not only would I be providing the money myself (sorta) but I'd have to answer to YOU that I did was I was supposed to do with the money.

As for the $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift certificate, I went with a fellow blogger who is dealing with MS and has recently started incorporating regular exercise into her life.

~Oct said...

I would use it to buy a very nice pair of tennis shoes to replace the $14.99 dime-store specials that kill my feet while I'm doing those now hour-long cardio sessions on the recumbent bike multiple times a week.

I'd also send you a very sweet thankyou card for the shoes along with all of the motivation I've gotten from your posts and comments this past year.

You are one of the bloggers who inspired me to exercise despite my MS. Because of our blogger community I now go to the gym at least 5 times a week (sometimes more) and have a personal trainer even though I wouldn't have believed in a trillion (lots, right?) years that I'd ever spend so much money on such things when the economy (and my bank account) is experiencing major suckage.

Because of you–among the other bloggers who regularly read and leave little fires under my ass ... um I mean brilliant words of firm "you-can-do-it-ness"–I'm encouraged with every step. I now understand that sacrifices can be made in the name of a bigger goal.

Money for a trainer rather than for a new outfit.
Time for a morning workout rather than sleeping in.
Lunch at my desk rather than eating out with the guys every day.
And a few minutes to say thanks rather than updating my farmville while I de-stress a minute from all these crazy projects!

All worth it. Thanks Jack. :)


That’s it for the cash prizes, but I’ve also got some concilation prizes made up of (a) healthy treats companies have sent me for me to review that I forgot to and (b) assorted doodads laying about my office.

My runner-up list includes:

Fab Kate
wildfluffysheep (who says you never win anything?)
cmoursler
TJ (only because there's something in my office I wanted to send her anyway)
Kim
ugly girl with a beautiful heart
Steve (get a kitty at the pound, dumbass)
Mary (not Merry Life Mary... y'know, cuz of her mom)
Vb Violet


If the winners and runners-up will email me their shipping information, I’ll get your prizes out to you lickety-split.

Thanks one and all for your participation.

53 comments:

  1. Yay!

    Congratulations to all the winners :)

    But really, we're all winners because Jack shares his thoughts with us everyday.

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  2. Looks like you chose some very deserving winners. Congrats to those who won!!!

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  3. Jack you have a heart of gold, congrats to the winners!

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  4. Bet you'll think twice before doing this again. Great giveaway and great choices on the winners.

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  5. I think Enz deserves something for that comment. That's true Canadian spirit - right there!

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  6. Congratulations to all of the winners! :)

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  7. Congrats to all of the winners! :) I loved all of the stories attached to all of them! Very cool....uumm wait I am a runner up because you are spring cleaning? I am very worried about what you have in your office that you are getting rid of...oh geezz! :)

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  8. Awww Jack you're making me all ferklempt! Just love this. Congrats to all the winners!! BTW I didn't enter because I really don't need a thing except to keep my eyes on the prize and my butt in line ;-)

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  9. You're like a weight loss Robin Hood. Well, except that you didn't rob anyone. Right?

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  10. Yeah for the winners! Congrats.

    Jack. . . you're the best!

    :)

    Julia
    http://jewliagoulia.blogspot.com

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  11. Come on! Throw me a bone!

    I know you have some POM stuff or popsicles somewhere!

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  12. Jack, you have some amazing readers!!! You are a "onderbar" person for doing this!

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  13. That's awesome. Congratulations to the winners. :)

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  14. You did a fabulous job! That was no easy task my friend. You did it with grace and class.
    I swear Jack, I'm in awe of you my friend.

    Thank you for the amazing contribution you make to the weight loss blogging community!

    ZaaBaby!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!! I'm happy for everyone, but Zaa---Oh Zaa--- Get that bike baby!

    My best always
    Sean

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  15. Congrats to the winners!!!!! I know your gift to them will keep them going!

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  16. Congrats winners! And thanks for the opportunity, Jack!

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  17. Oh wow! I am so excited about this. All week I was considering deleting my request because I wavered between thinking about how much I am afraid of the gym and feeling selfish after reading all the brilliant ideas other readers had for passing it forward.

    Thank you so much, Jack!

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  18. Wow, those were some really good entries...awesome choices you made. :) Thanks for putting me on the list too. I never win stuff...I guess I can stop saying that now. lol Awesome.

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  19. Well this was fun, great choices Jack. I think I'll throw a $100 to my TOPS folks and start up a contest anyway. I think it will be great fun for everyone. Really this is about paying it forward and you did such a great job so I will try also, thanks for making me think about it.

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  20. Love it! Congrats to all the winners and you are my hero Jack!

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  21. woo hoo! Congrats to the winners. That's awesome.

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  22. Wow, that's so great! I'm glad you were able to gift so many people with that extra boost they could use. Way to motivate!

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  23. I think you chose wise and well Jack! All of them sound like deserving souls!

    PS: Thanks for the concilation!!! I feel so grateful that you thought of me :)

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  24. great job Jack!

    congrats to the winners!

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  25. i'm sure it was truly next to impossible to choose winners, but the ones you picked sound so deserving and will use your generous gifts well.
    pssst... you're a good man!

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  26. Ok, I want a different prize. I lost 10% of my bodyweight as of today's weigh-in, so as my prize, I want Jack to follow my blog and cheer me on. Can you do it buddy? It would make my day.

    Cheers,
    Missa
    LosingEthel

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  27. Congratulations to all your winners. So generous of you and Anne!

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  28. YAY JACK! That was a lot of fun and a cool way to read abou more people making their lives better. YOU ARE AWESOME. :)

    Alison :)

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  29. Congratulations winners! I like the idea Stages of Change's idea about passing it on, as well as her entry. But yes, as has been said, the rest of us are the real winners. We have all won Jack Sh*t.
    :)

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  30. Thanks Jack - and congratulations to everyone else. Put it to good use and keep it rollin. . .

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  31. Congrats to the winners!
    I think it's cool you want to make a difference for someone on a journey similar to yours. I just recently came across your blog and can already see I'm going to get some motivation from you, so thanks in advance!

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  32. Seriously, this was the best contest yet - it made me feel all warm and fuzzy :-)

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  33. Congrats to the winners, and to everyone! Definitely best contest yet :)

    (Jack, I passed on a "creative writing" award to you on my blog -- eh, it was fun at least :) )

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  34. That was just beyond awesome. Can't wait to see the results.

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  35. Congratulations to all the winners! I'd like to wish everyone well in their weight loss journeys!!

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  36. Congratulations to the winners! I loved reading the entries and hope all the best for everyone!

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  37. Congrats to all the winners! Thanks for this contest, Jack... it was very inspiring to read everyone's story.

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  38. Losing enough weight to ride a bike outside was amazing, and it still feels so good each time I do it. :) Congrats to Z for doing something awesome for herself...and thanks to you for helping it happen!

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  39. Congrats to all the winners!!

    Congrats to Jack for being the shiznizzle!!!

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  40. Congrats to the winners! Thanks for being such an inspiration!

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  41. As sean would say...good choices.
    Thanks for thinking of me at all.
    Great job on picking the top three.

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  42. How awesome of you Jack! This was a heart-warmer, for sure. Congrats to all the winners, and the runners up.

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  43. congrats to all the winners; i know it was tough to pick em but you did a great job!!

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  44. Congrats to all the winners! They all sound very deserving. Although I was hoping that one chick whose iPod broke would win. I understand the major suckage that cardio is without music.

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  45. Well I must say I am completely surprised and so excited! I've been running around the house telling everyone and they are happy for me! My mailing info is headed to you Jack. And thank you so very very much. Hugs!!!

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  46. Hahahahahahaha...There are still adoption fees when you go to the pound, dumbass!!!! Sheesh! :-P

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  47. I was going to say good job choosing the winners, but then I got to the end... um, are you saying you didn't choose me because of my mom? LAME. You and my mom need to cut it out and be grownups.

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  48. YAY. I FINALLY actually did win something. You Jack are awesome!

    <3 this has cheered me immensely.

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  49. Congratulations to Z for doing something for herself. And for winning. Congrats to everyone else for being part of the journey. Congrats to Missa on your very own out-of-the-box-prize. And BIG thanks to Jack for the opportunity and continued inspiration (*_*)

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