Inspiration at the Special K Challenge Weigh In

On any given day, the blogosphere is roiling with scandal. We bloggers are an opinionated bunch and sometimes the best conceived brand campaigns spark off heated debate. This was the case last week with the new Kellogg's Special K Challenge.

The challenge consists of substituting two of your daily meals with Kellogg's Special K cereal and eating up to 2 Kellogg's Special K snacks each day. As you would expect, the decrease in calorie intake will result in a weight loss of up to 6 pounds. This concept alone didn't make too many ripples amongst the blogarati, but the accompanying events did, where people step on a scale and instead of seeing a readout of their weight, they receive an inspiring word that reflects what they'll gain when they lose.

I went to the Chicago Special K Challenge Scale event last week at Union Station. I was paid to interview participants, take pictures and generally report back on the experience. My participation was coordinated by Ketchum and The Motherhood. I was excited to go. Even though I personally wouldn't turn to cereal and snacks to kick start a diet, I know plenty of people who would welcome the structure of the Special K Challenge to see some quick results and get inspired to begin living healthier. I also couldn't wait to see the community support going on in the event. I love the idea of women coming together to support each other to make their dreams come true.

That is exactly the same look I wear when stepping on my scale at home.

Seeing the Special K Challenge in action was even more inspiring than I expected. I stepped on the giant scale as soon as I arrived. And it was much more daunting than I expected. I knew that I wouldn't be seeing the dreaded number on the screen reminding me of every chocolate I shouldn't have eaten over Christmas, but as the numbers spun on the screen, I still felt that pit in my stomach.

Irrational, I know, but I was relieved to see a word instead of a number.

When I finally got my word, "PIZZAZZ," full of energy and fun, I was filled with relief and excitement. I stepped off the scale energized and ready to take on the world.

I lingered, watching and talking to others who had just stepped off the scale. The passing emotions on their faces mirrored mine.

I didn't expect men to have a similar reaction, I somehow claimed weight issues as a female issue, but they too were visibly excited to kickstart their nutrition goals. Everyone shared their words, posed for pictures with them next to their face, written on the side of a Special K box.
SASS
MOXIE
FANTABULOUS
MOMENTUM
JOY

The mood around the scale was happy, supportive, and optimistic. In the middle of a drab train station, on a cold, snowy Chicago day, people were smiling, laughing, clapping each other on the back, wishing each other good luck with their diets.

The Special K Challenge empowers people, with nothing more than a word. It's nothing short of brilliant, and I watched it make a difference in a lot of Chicago lives last week. I bundled up and walked back out into the driving snow, feeling a little better, a little stronger, a little more supported by strangers.

Inspiration and excitement are always beautiful to behold.