NEWBURGH | MIDDLETOWN
GOLD'S GYM CHALLENGE 2024
FACTS & FAQs
To be considered a FINISHER of the Gold's Gym Challenge, you must:
1. Do your BEFORE and AFTER photos and GOLD’S 3D scans at the gym on your designated start/finish dates. CLICK HERE for what to wear.
2. Submit your Challenge essay within 2 days of your AFTER photos/scan.
What is the Challenge essay?
The Challenge essay is a short essay (one page or less) that participants submit at the end of the Gold’s Gym Challenge, sharing their thoughts and feelings and what they’ve experienced in terms of change as a result of the Challenge. Participant essays are important to the Challenge judging process when it’s hard to pick the final winners based on before/after photos and measurements only. Essays help break any apparent ties in the judging process.
How are the Challenge WINNERS chosen?
An independent panel of judges will view all before/after photos (faces are covered) to choose the winners in every male/female age category based on positive overall physical transformation. It is NOT an weight loss contest. While weight loss often accompanies transformation, it is not always the case. In fact, some people can lose little to no weight, yet significantly "tranform" through changes in body composition (e.g. lose body fat, gain lean muscle). Thus, winners are chosen based on the most inspiring positive overall physical transformation as seen in the before/after photos. Once the field of participants is narrowed down in every category through viewing of he before/after photos, the judges may choose to look at the changes in weight, body measurements, and/or body fat as shown in the GOLD’S 3D scans to determine the order of the top finishers. When that's not enough information to decide, it often becomes necessary to read the essays. In other words, it's often too challenging for judges to make final decisions based on photos and measurements alone. As such, all participants are strongly encouraged to provide their heartfelt thoughts and feelings about how the Challenge impacts their life, as it can make a big difference in who is chosen to be among the winners.
If I was a Gold's Gym Challenge money winner in the past, can I win again?
It depends. If your starting weight in this year's Challenge is more than 10% greater than your FINISH weight in the year you were chosen as a money winner, you cannot win again. However, you are still encouraged to compete in the Challenge with the understanding you are not eligible to win money. This rule is in place to discourage people from going ALL IN during the Challenge, winning, and then gaining weight during the time leading up to a future Challenge.
Do I have to follow a specific strategy when doing the Challenge?
No. What you choose to do during your 12 week Challenge journey is up to you. The goal is for you to achieve your best possible physical transformation over the course of 12 weeks. You can do the Challenge on your own or embrace any/all of the resources that are included with your Challenge sign-up. There is also the option of choosing training and nutrition packages that are offered to Challenge participants. We don’t monitor your activities in any way, but do provide support and motivation.
How much money can I win as a Challenge winner?
It depends on the number of participants who sign up for the Challenge from the Gold's Gym Newburgh and Middletown locations. In the member contest, $30 from every sign-up fee goes to the Newburgh/Middletown prize pot. This "cash pot" will be divided among the winners, with greater amounts of money paid to those who finish near or at the top of their age category. In addition, there will be one overall male and one overall female winner who receive the largest payouts of all winners.
Will I get copies of my before/after photos and Gold's 3D scan?
The pictures we take using the "Gold's Gym" camera will be retained in house and used for judging purposes only. They will not be distributed to you or anyone else. If you want your before/after photos for personal use, you must bring your own camera (iPhone is fine). As a courtesy, we can also take your photos using your personal camera (for personal purposes only, not used for judging).
You will receive a copy of your starting and finishing Gold's 3D scan as well.