How do the events work? What do I have to do? How much time is involved?
Each event has its own host and “curriculum,” so no two are identical. That said, the structure is always the same: every morning at around 8 a.m., the host texts everyone in your group. Normally, the morning text has a voice message so you can hear the host in their own words. These morning prompts vary from day to day: a question, a task, or something the host wants everyone in the group to think about today. Later in the day, WayBetter uses the same text channel to send you reminders to get in your protein, fiber, and movement.
In terms of time involved, it depends. Think of it like a university class … if you want to dive in, you can invest a ton of time, or you can do less and still pass. Some hosts may have more intense requirements. Some may focus more on fitness while others lean more towards mindset exercises. That’s up to the host, and you can get a sense of what they have in mind by previewing their event materials, including their 28-day calendar.
Passing the class (to continue the metaphor) is simple: just show up. That means doing the one thing your host has asked you to do today and replying with a text back to “prove” you’ve done it. Sometimes this may entail attaching a photo or two (for example, the task of the day might be to clean out your refrigerator and post before-and-after photos, or take a 20-minute walk and take a photo of something interesting you notice). And everyone who passes the class is a “finisher” and gets their earnback, normally 50% of the entry fee.
Everyone in your cohort is doing the same things every day, and everyone’s replies get posted into a private social feed in the app where you can see what everyone else is up to. You can exchange high fives, recipes, tips, jokes, etc. What starts out as strangers over 28 days becomes your “circle of goalfriends”.
This format is surprisingly effective with GLP-1s because this journey is so lonely and stigmatized. When you’re surrounded by people who get you, who know what it’s like to go through it, it stops feeling solitary. Hard things become less hard … sometimes even fun. Try it, and you’ll see!
How do I “show up” (and get paid for it)?
Do something today. More specifically: text back a reply to your host’s morning message, reply to one of the daily check-in texts, or do the daily submission in the app. Any of these will count for showing up for today. There is no right or wrong answer, and nothing is ever rejected for being the wrong kind of reply. You do have to show up today though … you can’t catch up tomorrow by responding to yesterday’s prompt. Carpe diem.
How many days do I need to show up to earn back half my entry?
24 of the 28. That leaves you four flex days for when life has other plans.
What if I miss a day?
Nothing happens so long as you still have flex days. You get four. Once those are gone, the next missed day will cost you your earnback, so it is worth keeping an eye on your progress in the app. While you won't qualify for the earnback if you miss more than the provided flex days, you still get the daily support and guidance so you aren't missing out. Note that each day is from midnight to 11:59 PM in your time zone.
What does it cost?
It depends on the host and the event. The price is on the event page.
What is your refund policy?
You can get a refund with no questions asked through day 3 of the event. After that, entries are final. If something out of the ordinary has happened, write to support@waybetter.app. Our Referees are reasonable people and will do their best to help while also keeping it fair for the other participants.
Can I join two events at once?
Two events with different hosts is not something we have designed for, but nothing is stopping you from trying it - just do not be shocked if you find some rough edges. If something breaks, tell us and we’ll try to sort it out. What we definitely don’t support now is joining two events with the same host at the same time. That would seriously confuse our system, so please don’t attempt it.
Am I competing against anyone?
No. There’s no pot, no leaderboard, no ranking, no extra credit for doing the most work. Everyone who shows up finishes, and what you earn back has nothing to do with what anybody else does.