1 Ultra Simple Tip to Help You Lose Weight
I love hearing how you guys stay fit and healthy, because I know many of you have been trying different diets for years, so who better to give tested tips on weight loss!
Last week I put together a collection of ideas from Diet Blog readers, "Your 15 Top Tips for Avoiding Weight Gain in 2010".
There were some fab ideas, and as Jim commented, "These are a great set of tips. So remind me why we need another slew of diet books on the shelves?"
This is so true. Most people know how to lose weight, but there's something about buying a new weight loss book, isn't there? Perhaps we think that maybe, just maybe, this book will have the "secret" we've been looking for all these years!
Anyway, one of the comments following last week's article was so helpful I wanted to share it with you.
Rosemary's tip is relating to Christmas weight gain, but I think it could be used all year round. She says this:
Give a trusted friend $50 before the holidays, and tell them that if you gain more than 2 pounds in the Christmas week they can keep it (or donate it to charity). If you don't gain you get your money back for buying clothes in the January sales. Pick an amount that is not so exorbitant you will back out, but high enough that it is a bit of a pinch, and an incentive to succeed.
If you change the rules a little this tip could help you get into those skinny jeans again, or even to improve your physical fitness--whatever, I'm sure you get the idea.
Here's what you need to do:
- Pick your time frame, perhaps 2 weeks, 6 weeks, or 3 months down the line.
- Decide how much weight you're allowed to gain, or alternatively how much you want to lose.
- Decide what your penalty will be if you don't succeed. As Rosemary says, pick something that is not so exorbitant you will back out, but high enough that it's a bit of a pinch. If you don't like the idea of using money, how about doing some chores for your friend?
- And, set out a few simple steps to help you reach your goal weight--menu planning, snacks, exercise, etc.
What do you think--is this something you'd find helpful? Or, perhaps you have a better idea you'd like to share with us...
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Created / Updated: January 16, 2010
Ugh...please don't say "you guys"...
In answer to your question, that would be difficult for women because our water weight varies so much: we could be eating very carefully, then have too much salt one nigh--or be sooo PMSing-- and "gain" 3 lbs overnight.
ReplySam - quit being a girly narly girl....
ReplyI think if you were to do this sensibly over a couple of months, your water weight gain wouldn't be a problem.
Replyi once took $750 pot at work! we put in 10 per pay day, and were to get it back at end of 4 months if we lost 10 pounds. anyone who did not lose 10 forfeited their money. if no one lost 10 everyone would get their money back. can you believe, I was the only one who lost 10? i was determined NOT to lose my $150. i did not feel sure that no one would take my money.
this reminds me that maybe i should try to get a pool going again.
ReplyWow, that would certainly get your competitive spirit going! Although, with so much money at stake, I'd be worried that people were trying to lose weight in unhealthy ways. However, well done to you.
If you were doing it again, it would be a good idea to set out a few ground rules to help encourage healthy weight loss methods.
ReplyAwesome, good for you!
ReplyThis is such a "guy" thing to do. My husband and his friends will turn just about anything into a bet. I could see it working if you are a super-competitive person, but for me this wouldn't work too well--my weight fluctuates by about 5 lbs daily based on how much I drink and eat, so depending on the time of day I weighed in, I could either win or lose.
ReplySpectra,
Yes, I suspect this would appeal to men a little more, lol.
I think in theory it may work for certain types of people, but it's certainly not for everyone. Personally, I don't like the idea of putting a "bet" on, but I thought it was an interesting idea.
ReplyThis is an interesting idea. One of my friends only stories of weight loss was the time he had a bet with his coworkers.
The downside to a bet like this is that it's a sure fire method for temporary weight loss. Temporary weight loss is unhealthy and gaining the weight back actually puts you worse off than you started.
ReplyGreg,
I completely agree, it's not for everyone. Some people will do anything to win and would therefore perhaps resort to unhealthy methods.
Did your friend manage to keep his weight off afterwards?
Reply*extremely flattered*
Thank you!
I think the key to this is to keep it realistic. Base the figures on a 1.5lb per week loss, and projected over a specific time frame, or to prevent holiday gain. Perhaps penalties for unhealthy weight loss, or a bonus 6 months after the bet if your weight is the same. No outrageous hair cuts like in that episode of Frasier :)
I'm not buying the 5lb "gain" in a day. Weigh yourself at the same time of day. Hopping on the scales before and after a meal, or if you've had the flu, or if you accidentally skipped a few meals, is unrealistic. Totally unrealistic. I don't weight myself more than twice a week.
ReplyHey Rosemary,
ReplyYes, I agree with you, weighing too much isn't a good thing. I'd say once a week max.