Spin and win with surprise rewards

"I'll be going on an amazing holiday with my fiancé" - Kimberly, winner of two British Airways tickets to London

It came as a total shock to Kimberly when she won two international tickets. "I couldn't believe it was real, so I went onto the Discovery Vitality website to check if it was legitimate or not," she says. "I had heard that you could win overseas holidays or flights, but I wasn't aware of the details of the actual prizes." She thinks the flights are an amazing prize and wouldn't mind winning them again.

Kimberly has always loved exercising and generally exercises four or five times a week. "Vitality Active Rewards has motivated me on those days where I feel super lazy and would normally skip exercising," she explains. She feels motivated by her Vitality Active Rewards goals that keep increasing as she progresses. Her goal was 900 points in the week she spun and won.

"Vitality Active Rewards has motivated me on those days where I feel super lazy and would normally skip exercising."

A combination of activities contribute to her fitness points and she says, "I reach my goals through a combination of visiting the gym, playing hockey, going for a run or cycle and occasionally entering a race."

It was just an awesome feeling to know that we had won such a wonderful prize – Jaco, winner of a World Leisure holiday

Initially, Jaco thought it was a joke. He says, "It was unreal and it didn't sink in until I kept getting emails and phone calls. I never expected it. I was in a Mugg & Bean when I got the spin and remember thinking that I would probably just get another coffee." When the holiday options popped up on screen, Jaco selected the Sugar Beach option in Mauritius and now they'll be going there on holiday in mid-September!

Having spent two weeks in hospital with their youngest daughter in February, Jaco and his wife recently returned to their routine. They feel that Vitality Active Rewards have made it easy for them to get back into the swing of things. "Having a goal that is not too difficult to achieve and knowing that there are rewards challenged us to hit the weekly increasing goals" he says.

"I selected the Sugar Beach option in Mauritius and now we'll be going there on holiday in mid-September."

Jaco's Vitality Active Rewards goal was 600 in the week he spun and won. He credits his goal succession to his Samsung fitness device, which monitors his steps and physical activities. "I recently upgraded my phone and got a device with it. It really motivates you to reach your weekly goal and tracks all the physical activities you do, like playing a game of cricket or a round of golf" he explains. When asked which fitness activities he participates in to meet his goals, he responds, "A round of golf maybe twice a month, then daily step monitoring to reach 10 000 steps or more, and in addition to this I do spinning two or three times a week at home."

Jaco's goal for 2018 is to reach Gold status. He says he feels so blessed to have won a holiday that "I wouldn't mind spinning for coffees until the end of the year".

"To be honest I couldn't believe I had won something" - Stuart, winner of two Kulula flights and car rental from Europcar

It was a big surprise to Stuart when his Discovery app told him he had won two domestic return flights and three days' car hire. He says, "I was vaguely aware of the top prizes, I rarely enter competitions, therefore I don't win things and never really took notice of the big prizes. I was always quite happy with a smoothie or a breakfast."

29 March was his 10-year wedding anniversary, so winning this reward was perfect timing, "My wife, children and I used the flight rewards and car hire for an amazing holiday in the Eastern Cape," he says.

"My wife, children and I used the flight rewards and car hire for an amazing holiday in the Eastern Cape."

"I joined Vitality Active Rewards around April 2016. Initially I was using my phone for steps and was getting the odd smoothie. At the time, there were four of us in a 'Vitality Friends group' and we used to push each other so we could get the additional smoothie" Stuart remarks. "I eventually had to get an Apple Watch to achieve my goals."

When asked which other rewards he would like to win, he says "some more flights would be nice."

"I am excited and over the moon to get an opportunity to travel South Africa" - Mandla, winner of two British Airways local flights and a stay at any Protea Hotel of his choice

"After winning a few smoothie vouchers, I was shocked to see that I had won two British Airways flights and accommodation at a Protea Hotel," exclaims Mandla.

Mandla contacted his partner to choose a location she would like to go to. He's really happy this reward came around when it's her birthday and he gets to spoil her in this way.

"Currently, my goal is 900 points, which pushes me to be even more active."

Having activated Vitality Active Rewards in 2017, he has reached all his goals from 16 September 2017 to date. This has improved his motivation to be active to a point that it has become a lifestyle. Mandla's goal was 700 when he spun and won, but he had managed 1 500 points that week after running a marathon. Currently, his goal is 900 points, which he says pushes him to be even more active. He tracks his weekly progress with a fitness device.

He reaches his goal through five gym visits and two outdoor runs each week. If he can't run outside when the weather is bad, he hits the treadmill at the gym. The higher his goal, the harder he works. Mandla says he wants to do better than his goal, not just reach it.

Mandla is planning to run the 42 km Soweto Marathon below 4 hours and 20 minutes. "I'd love to win a R10 000 Discovery Invest Core Flexible Investment Plan," says Mandla.

"After a three-week goal streak, I was up for a surprise reward. The wheel spin gave me a choice between a flight, accommodation and a R10 000 Core Flexible Investment Plan - all totally unexpected" - Asanda, winner of a R10 000 Discovery Invest Core Flexible Investment Plan

"I had achieved my weekly Vitality Active Rewards training goals and received my weekly Vitality Active Rewards, which were lovely rewards to get," says Asanda. "But after a three-week goal streak, I was up for a surprise reward. The wheel spin gave me a choice between a flight, accommodation and a R10 000 Core Flexible Investment Plan - all totally unexpected. I thought that Vitality Active Rewards surprise rewards might offer me a yummy Kauai breakfast voucher or something similar - I love their walnut butter on toast! I was shocked at the bigger win, so much so that I took a screen shot of the results. I'm very happy. I have lost count of how many people I have told about my win. Wow!"

"As a result of Vitality Active Rewards, I not only feel good but look good as well."

In September 2018, Asanda will be attending a wedding, graduating and turning 30 years old. "I'm planning to celebrate. There will be many photographs taken at all of the events and I would like to look good in whatever I wear. I'm currently working on my abs in case I also end up getting engaged or go to Mauritius or Mozambique. Most of all, I would like to be healthy and fit every day. Healthy eating is a way of life for me now."

"I wasn't really aware of the different prizes as I normally used to get smoothies and breakfasts" - Srinath, winner of a R5 000 Incredible Connection shopping reward

Srinath says "I was elated to find out I had won a R5 000 Incredible Connection shopping reward." Srinath is building a new house - and his shopping reward will go towards a new TV, which he says is the perfect gift from Discovery.

"My wife and I, together with our friends, motivate each other to hit the gym for a minimum of 30 minutes. We encourage fitness, and we support and motivate each other. Vitality Active Rewards also motivates us to reach our goals to unlock a core reward, and of course a smoothie is always dangling in front of you. My wife and I then redeem our vouchers on the weekend after a gym workout."

"My wife and I, together with our friends, motivate each other to hit the gym for a minimum of 30 minutes."

About his Vitality Active Rewards goal in the week he spun and won, Srinath explains that his goal was 650 points. He admits this was a challenge, but with the gym two minutes away from his home, it was easy for him to make sure he trained regularly. "My current goal is 800, which will be a challenge to reach. I go to the gym first thing in the morning or at 6 o'clock in the evening. We live a very active life - on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays we attend church, and on weekends we do community service, which could involve painting schools in disadvantaged areas or cooking meals for the less fortunate."

"Travel voucher, two domestic tickets, a Protea hotel stay and more shopping rewards" is Srinath's reply when asked what other surprise rewards he would like to win.

"I will be going to the Katy Perry concert and hopefully my sister will be joining me" - Annie, winner of two Katy Perry concert tickets

Annie had been reaching her Vitality Active Rewards goals for a few months but only ever won core rewards when spinning. She knew about all the potential rewards she could spin for and was thrilled to be able to pick two tickets to the Katy Perry concert.

"I signed up for Vitality Active Rewards on 9 September 2017 and it certainly does motivate me to live a more active lifestyle. I have purchased a Fitbit and keep track of my steps and heart rate daily. I generally exercise six out of seven days and even on the 7th day, I try to reach the 10 000 step goal to make sure I keep moving," says Annie. She adds that she trains privately with a personal trainer three times a week. She does generally hit the 10 000 steps target though, and goes to Virgin Active once a week where she redeems a Kauai smoothie as a reward after training.

"I love to travel and winning a trip would be my ultimate reward."

Annie feels that the Vitality Active Rewards goal that keeps increasing pushes her to achieve more and plan her training accordingly. "For me, my 900-point target is more than achievable."

"Exercise is a lifestyle for me, but my goals for the year ahead include running a half marathon (which I did last year as well) and to strive for a healthy body, which is obviously an ongoing target. Having my Vitality Active Rewards in place is a great way of keeping track of whether I am on top of my goals."

"I was pleasantly surprised as I never thought I would win such a big award!" - Pieter, winner of a R500 Cape Union Mart voucher

By reaching his Vitality Active Rewards goal for three weeks in a row, Pieter got a goal streak and unlocked a surprise reward.

Pieter is an avid mountain biker and gets in up to 100 km on his bike every weekend. He also does spinning classes at Virgin Active during the week and takes part in mountain bike races. "I am currently training for the 2018 Sani2C Mountain Bike stage race in May and would like to maintain and better my fitness levels during winter."

"Vitality Active Rewards motivates me to exercise regularly to reach my goal streaks."

Pieter's Vitality Active Rewards goal target is 900 points on average, but he had earned a total of 1 200 points in the week he spun and won. "Vitality Active Rewards motivates me to exercise regularly to reach my goal streaks. At this stage, I have 29 consecutive goals," he says. "I would most definitely like to win a Mauritius holiday for my family and me!"