Frequently Asked Questions

If you ARE NOT logged into your Howdy Health account and cannot remember your username or password…

Click the FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD -or- FORGOT YOUR USERNAME link located under the login form.  Be sure to monitor your email inbox, as well as your spam or junk email folders for the automated activation emails. 

Login:  https://howdyhealth.org/programs/login-adult

Not Receiving our Emails?  Please read this:  https://howdyhealth.org/programs/helpdesk/emails-not-arriving

If you ARE logged into your account and you want to edit your profile including your password…

While logged in, click the Member link in the menu at the top of the page and choose:  Profile

You can edit information you entered when registering for your Howdy Health account including your name, password, username, and email address.

Automated system emails from Howdy Health can be unknowingly sent to the spam or junk mail folders in your email account.  Even worse, they can be completely blocked or sent to Trash by your email service provider.

Please review the information in the Emails Not Arriving  page for more information:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/helpdesk/emails-not-arriving

While there isn't a standalone phone app available for download in the app stores, you can easily add a Howdy Health icon to your phone's home screen in seconds.  This will allow you to quickly access the dashboard, enter miles, etc.

Please follow these instructions based on the type of device you own:

For iPhones…

1) On your iPhone's web browser, login to your Howdy Health account by going to:  https://howdyhealth.org/programs/login-adult

If you are already logged in, open the dashboard: https://howdyhealth.org/programs/wat

2) Click the 'Share' icon at the bottom which is the box with an arrow pointing up

3) Scroll through the share options and tap on 'Add to Home Screen'

4) Click the 'Add' button in the top right corner

5) Tap the WAT! icon on the home screen to access the dashboard and enter miles

For Android Phones…

1) On your iPhone's web browser, login to your Howdy Health account by going to:  https://howdyhealth.org/programs/login-adult

If you are already logged in, open the dashboard: https://howdyhealth.org/programs/wat

2) Click the 3 dot icon in the top right corner

3) Select the option 'Add to Home Screen'

4) Tap the WAT! icon on the home screen to access the dashboard and enter miles

For Samsung Phones…

1) On your iPhone's web browser, login to your Howdy Health account by going to:  https://howdyhealth.org/programs/login-adult

If you are already logged in, open the dashboard: https://howdyhealth.org/programs/wat

2) Click the 3 line "hamburger menu" at the bottom right corner

3) Select the option '+ Add page to'

4) Select 'Home screen'

5) Tap the WAT! icon on the home screen to access the dashboard and enter miles

No, the Walk Across Texas! web application does not have the capability to allow for syncing of mileage from 3rd party devices and apps.

The main goal of our physical activity programs is to promote lasting behavior change. They are developed with a theoretical framework that focuses on goal-directed physical activity. We keep the mileage entry process to promote continued engagement with the website and consistent interaction with the individual, team, and other program goals.

Thank you for your participation!

The Walk Across Texas program is an online, eight-week program designed to help Texans be more active using a team-based approach. Up to eight team members are encouraged to work together towards the goal of virtually traveling across Texas. Each team member’s favorite physical activities are logged as ‘miles walked’ and contribute toward the team’s mileage total.

Since this program is offered online, there is no official start date for the Walk Across Texas program.  A team can start their virtual journey across Texas at any time. You can select any start date during the registration process. 

Local groups can coordinate the program for teams to start at a certain time. For example, Brazos County usually kicks off their Walk Across Texas program on the first weekend of February.

This Help Desk is operated at the state level and we may not be aware of a local program. 

Please find your county extension office using this link to find out more about programs offered in your local area: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/counties/

The individual mileage goal is a personal target you set for the miles walked you aim to achieve during the course of the program. It's a way to challenge and motivate yourself to stay active. The mileage goal can be customized to suit your individual fitness level and aspirations, making it a valuable tool to track your progress and stay accountable throughout the program.

Your mileage goal should align with your current activity level and how active you would like to be during the program. Consider your current fitness level, available time, and personal activity aspirations.

To provide a reference, the Walk Across Texas team mileage goal is to log 832 miles in 8 weeks. Members on teams of 8 would aim to log approximately 104 miles per person to meet this goal.

However, it's essential to set a goal that challenges you while being achievable and in line with your individual fitness journey!

You have a 10-day window from the start date of your program to edit your mileage goal.

During this period, the mileage goal number that you set will be linked in blue on the dashboard.

Click the linked mileage goal number to edit your mileage goal.

If you miss the 10-day window, the link to edit your mileage goal will disappear from your dashboard, and your mileage goal will be considered "locked in" for the remainder of the program.

It's important to make any necessary adjustments to your goal within the first 10 days of your current program.

Yes, you can view or edit your miles in your account by logging in and going to the View / Edit Miles Walked page.  On this page there is a table with 4 columns:

• Date: This is the entry date for a specific entry during an active program. Click on the date to view or edit mileage that was recorded on that date.  Note:  If a date occurred more than 10 days ago from the current date, the linked date will not be active and you will not be able to edit that date's mileage.
• Mileage: This is the true mileage (or steps) recorded during a day.
• Bonus Mileage: This is the true bonus mileage earned by doing up to 3 bonus activities.
• My Contributed Mileage: This is the total mileage (Mileage+Bonus Mileage) that you contribute to your Team Mileage. Note:  Starting on December 1, 2023, Mileage and Bonus Mileage will be capped at a maximum of 10 contributed miles for each.

The mileage entry process requires three quick steps:

1. Select the entry date.
2. Record daily miles walked or steps walked.
3. Add up to 3 bonus activities from a selection of nearly 50 different moderate to vigorous physical activities for bonus mileage.

Note:  You can only add or edit mileage for up to 10 previous days from the current date (today's date).  For example, if the current date is September 12, you will only be able to add or edit mileage going back to September 2.  This is to prevent participants from entering all of their mileage at or near the end of their program.

To record your daily miles walked (distance) or steps, you have various options.

You can use an activity tracker, such as a fitness wearable device, or use your smartphone to determine the number of steps or miles walked.

Also, there are ways to count steps without a pedometer, watch, or phone.  See this Sync article for more information:

https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu/how-to-count-steps-without-a-pedometer-watch-or-phone/  

Once you have this information, simply input it into the system to track your progress.

The Bonus Activities section allows you to earn additional mileage by engaging in a variety of physical activities beyond walking or steps.

You can choose from a selection of nearly 50 different activities, ranging from moderate to vigorous intensity.

This adds an element of variety and motivation to your Walk Across Texas journey.

You can add up to 3 bonus activities daily in the Bonus Activities section.

Certainly! Some examples of bonus activities include jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing, yoga, strength training, and more. There's a wide range of options to suit different fitness levels and preferences. For some activities, you will be able to select between intensity (moderate or vigorous).

Yes, the Bonus Activities section will provide you with a way to select an activity and input the duration (minutes), ensuring that your additional miles earned accurately reflect your effort compared to walking.

You won't need any special equipment beyond what you'd typically use for that activity. For example, if you choose bicycling, you will input the duration in minutes, and the website will calculate the bonus miles based on the activity compared to walking.

You should have received an automated system email or verbal invitation from your team captain that included a Team Code. 

If you haven't received the Team Code by email, check your spam or junk email folders.  If you are still unable to locate the automated email, please contact your team captain.

Once you have the Team Code, please follow these instructions:

1. Login or register for a Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas Adults section.  Then, click Join a Team.
3. On the Join a Team form, please review the instructions and then copy and paste the Team Code provided to you by your team captain.
4. The team name should auto-populate in the Team Name field.  If the team name does not auto-populate, click into the Team Name field and select the name that appears after clicking.
5. Complete the Survey Questions, review the short disclaimer, and then check the I Agree to the Disclaimer box.
6. Click the Join a Team button to complete the form.

Watch the Join a Team tutorial video here for a brief overview of these steps:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/tutorials/album/2-wat-adult-tutorials

Login to your Howdy Health account and go to the Walk Across Texas! Adults dashboard:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/login-adult

To enter miles, click the ENTER MILES button at the top of the dashboard.  Enter the Date Walked by clicking the calendar icon next to the field and selecting the day that you walked.  Then, enter the total Miles Walked on that day.  Click the Save button.

To edit a mileage entry, click the VIEW / EDIT MILES button at the top of the dashboard.  Click a date in the list that you want to edit.  Edit the Date Walked by clicking the calendar icon next to the field and selecting the new day that you walked.  Then, edit the total Miles Walked on that day.  Click the Save button.

We honor any type of activity in support of your virtual journey across Texas!

Please see the conversion information for any physical activity on the Activity Equivalents resource:

https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/walk-across-texas-activity-equivalents-july-2022.pdf

No, you may only participate on one active team at a time. 

You will be able to join a new team after your 8-week program is over and you have completed the wrap-up form on the dashboard.

Please note that if your team is in a league, team captains and team members are only able to view members on their respective team, not the members on other teams.

This is for personal data and privacy protection. 

League commissioners are the only people capable of seeing all individual members of all teams in their league.

The 'My League' section allows you to view the total miles of each team in the league.

It's important to note that a participant must be a team member on an active Walk Across Texas! Adults team to have the option to enter miles. 

The ENTER MILES button will be activated if the current date is between or equal to the start and end dates.

A couple of other notes…

• Successfully registering for a Howdy Health account does not mean you are a Walk Across Texas! Adults team member (participant).  Once your Howdy Health account is created, the next step is to join a Walk Across Texas! Adults team to participate in the program.  To join a team, please follow the steps outlined in the 'How do I join a team?' FAQ above.
  
  
• Creating a team and taking on the role as a Team Captain does not mean you are a Walk Across Texas! Adults team member (participant).  Team Captains are not required to participate on the team they created and have the option of only overseeing the team.  A Team Captain is required to join their team if they would like to participate. To join a team, please follow the steps outlined in the 'How do I join a team?' FAQ above.
  
  
• Creating a league and taking on the role as a League Commissioner does not mean you are a Walk Across Texas! Adults team member (participant).  League Commissioners are not required to participate on a team and have the option of only overseeing the league.  A League Commissioner is required to join a team within their league if they would like to participate in the program. To join a team, please follow the steps outlined in the 'How do I join a team?' FAQ above.

If your team is going to be a part of a league, you should have received an automated system email from Howdy Health or a verbal invitation from your league commissioner that included a League Code. 

If you haven't received the League Code by automated email, please check your spam or junk email folders.  If you are still unable to locate the automated email, please contact your league commissioner.  Once you have the League Code, please follow the instructions below.

If your team will not be a part of a league, then no League Code is required.

Here are the steps to create a team:

1. Login or register for a Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults section.  Then, click Create a Team.
3. On the Create a Team form, review the instructions and …

        Click YES in the Joining a League field if your team will be joining a league.

• Copy and paste the League Code into the LEAGUE CODE field.
• The League Name and League Start Date should auto-populate in the League Name field after you click into them.  If they do not auto-populate, click into the League Name field and select the name that appears after clicking.

        If your team will not be joining a league, please leave NO selected and proceed to the next step.

4. Add a Team Name and invite up to 8 team members.  If you, as the team captain, plan on participating on this team and entering miles, please enter your email address as one of the 8 team members.  Then, use the Team Code to link your account as a team member on the Join a Team form.

Watch the Create a Team tutorial video here for a brief overview of the steps:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/tutorials/album/2-wat-adult-tutorials

Only team captains that have created a team can invite team members from within their account.

Please follow these steps to invite team members to join your team:

1. Login to your Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults section.
3. Go to the My Team section on the Dashboard and click the Team Menu button.  Then, click the View / Edit link under Team Profile.
4. On the Team Profile page, go to the section that says Invite Team Members. 

Review the instructions and then add member emails to invite team members.

A minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 8 people can be on a team including the team captain.

Only team captains that have created a team can view their Team Code from within their account.

Please follow these steps to locate your Team Code:

1. Login to your Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults
3. Go to the My Team section on the Dashboard and click the Team Menu button. Then, click View / Edit link under Team Profile.
4. The Team Code will be displayed on the Team Profile page.

Team Codes are used by team members to join a team that was created by a team captain. They begin with: watT

League Codes are used by team captains to link their team to a league that they want to join. They begin with: watL

No, a team captain can only oversee one "active" team at a time.

You will be able to create another team once the active 8-week program ends and your team becomes inactive.

Only team captains can remove team members from a team. 

If you are a team member that would like to remove yourself from a team, please contact your team captain and request removal.

All mileage entries for that team member will be removed and will no longer be part of the team mileage total.

Team captains should follow these steps to remove team members from their team:

1. Login to your Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults
3. Go to the My Team section on the Dashboard and click the Team Menu button. Then, click View Team Members.
4. The list of team members will be displayed on the View Team Members page.
5. Click the 'X' to the far right of the team member's name you would like to remove.
6. Click the 'YES' button to confirm you would like to remove the member.
7. Click the 'Remove Member From Team' button to complete the removal process.

You can be a team captain and walk on a team as a team member.

Please copy or record the Team Code for the team you would like to join.

Once you have the Team Code, please follow these instructions:

1. Login or register for a Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults section.
3. On the dashboard, in the My Team section, click the Team Menu button.  Then, click the Join a Team link in the drop down menu.  This will redirect you to the Join a Team form.
4. On the Join a Team form, please review the instructions and then copy and paste the Team Code provided to you by your team captain.
5. The team name should auto-populate in the Team Name field.  If the team name does not auto-populate, click into the Team Name field and select the name that appears after clicking.
6. Complete the Survey Questions, review the short disclaimer, and then check the I Agree to the Disclaimer box.
7. Click the Join a Team button to complete the form.

You should now be a member of a team and participate by logging miles.

Only team captains can add a team to a league after the team has been created.

All mileage entered by the team prior to the league start date will be deleted.

Team captains should follow these steps to add their team to a league:

1. Login to your Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults
3. Go to the My Team section on the Dashboard and click the Team Menu button. Then, click View / Edit link under Team Profile.
4. On the Team Profile page, review the instructions and then click YES in the Joining a League field.
5. Copy and paste the League Code provided to you by the league commissioner into the LEAGUE CODE field.
6. The League Name and League Start Date should auto-populate in the League Name field. If it does not auto-populate, click into the League Name field and select the name that appears after clicking.
7. Click the Save Team button to complete the process.

Yes, but it should be noted that only team captains can change their team name after it has been created.

1. Login to your Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults
3. Go to the My Team section on the Dashboard and click the Team Menu button. Then, click View / Edit link under Team Profile.
4. On the Team Profile page, edit and / or change the Team Name.
5. Click the Save Team button to complete the process.

No, each participant is responsible for creating their own individual Howdy Health account, joining your team, and entering their own daily mileage.

Team Captains do not have the ability to register participants or enter Team Member's mileage, outside of their own.

Each participant in the Walk Across Texas! Adults program must create a Howdy Health account online to participate.  This must be done using an Internet connected device like a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

This is to protect the information of the user, but it is also required as part of our evaluation for the Walk Across Texas! Adults program.  By creating a unique profile, each participant can track and monitor their physical activity inside the Howdy Health website, as well as complete short surveys that help us to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

However, there are some other ways that you can assist your team members:

1. You can assist with the registration process to help your team members set up an email and their account. Sometimes, walking them through the website and registration process can help.
2. Another option would be to participate in the Walk Across Texas! Youth program, which allows for teams of adults, but does not have a requirement for every team member to register. There are limitations to this though, especially if you are joining a locally sponsored Walk Across Texas! Adults program.

If these options will not work, you can still include others in the program and have them participate. They can join local program activities and events, as they are offered. They can also participate and be included in any team activities. Either way, you can still help to motivate and encourage others to be more active!

Here are the steps to create a league:

1. Login or register for a Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults section.  Then, click Create a League.
3. On the Create a League form, review the instructions and then enter a League Name.
4. Click or tap the calendar icon to choose a Start Date.
5. Under Invite Team Captains, enter the email addresses of anyone that will take on the role as a team captain within this new league…one team captain per team.  For example, if you have 3 teams, you will need to enter 3 team captain email addresses.
   
   A maximum of 25 team captain email invites can be sent out at one time.  If you need to send out more than 25, return to the League Profile page after submitting the Create a League form and add additional team captain email addresses.

6. Once the Create a League form has been completed, click the Save League button to create your new Walk Across Texas! Adults league.
7. After submitting the form, you should see a confirmation page that your league was created successfully.
   
   A league code will be provided to you on this page, as well as by email with instructions. Save this league code to give to other team captains so they can join the league if necessary.
   
   The team captain email addresses that you entered on the create a league form will also receive a welcome email containing instructions and the league code.  If they don't receive the welcome email, please ask them to check their junk mail or spam mail folders.  If they are still unable to locate the welcome email, please instruct them to create a Howdy Health account, login, and create a team using the League Code that you provide to them.
   
   If you as the league commissioner will also be participating as a team captain, you can use the league code to join as a team captain from the Team Profile form within your account.

Watch the Create a League tutorial video here for a brief overview of the steps:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/tutorials/album/2-wat-adult-tutorial

An automated email will be sent out to all the Team Captain email addresses you entered on the Create a League form providing them with instructions on how to create a team.  The league code is included in the email.  The league code allows them to link their team with your league.

If a team captain does not receive the automated email…

1.  Please ask them to check their spam or junk email folders.

2.  If they are still unable to locate the automated email, team captains can manually create a team and link it to the league using the league code shown above.

Please provide the league code with these instructions:

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Here are the steps to create a team and link it to the league:

1. Login or register for a Howdy Health account by going to: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu
2. After login, go to the Programs page of your account and click on the Dashboard button in the Walk Across Texas! Adults section.  Then, click Create a Team.
3. On the Create a Team form, review the instructions and then click YES in the Joining a League field.
4. Copy and paste the league code into the League Code field.
5. The League Name and League Start Date should auto-populate in the League Name field.  If it does not auto-populate, click into the League Name field and select the name that appears after clicking.
6. Add a Team Name and invite up to 8 team members.  If you, as the team captain, plan on participating on this team and entering mileage, enter your email address as one of the 8 team members.  Then, use the Team Code to link your account as a team member on the Join a Team form.

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Watch the Create a Team tutorial video here for a brief overview of the steps:

https://howdyhealth.org/programs/tutorials/album/2-wat-adult-tutorials

League Codes are used by team captains to link their team to a league that they want to join. They begin with: watL

Team Codes are used by team members to join a team that was created by a team captain. They begin with: watT

No, a league commissioner can only oversee one "active" league at a time. 

Once the 8-week program ends and your league becomes "inactive", you will then be able to create another league.

No, each participant is responsible for creating their own individual Howdy Health account, joining their team, and entering their own daily mileage.

League commissioners do not have the ability to register participants or enter Team Member's mileage, outside of their own.