In-Your-Face Diet Incentives

by J. Foster

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A company called "BellyAcres" has a selection of digital diet incentives - things that you stare at each day - that challenge you to stay on the wagon.

The company offers a service that allows you to upload an image that will be printed on a plate (a dinner plate that is). You get to stare at this image or message every time you eat.

There are some pre-printed plates offering varying messages (some inspiring, some not so much). Motivating yourself by using negative putdowns ("maintain speed past drive-thrus fat ass") is not a good way to visualize or inspire.

However I know of a number of people who have positive images they stare at each day (such as My Virtual Model) - to help provide inspiration.

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Something to hang on the pantry door?

More like this in Media Watch · Sep 12, 2007

14 Comments

Quito on 09/12/07

Where do you find these companies?

My favorite slogan was "Eating chocolate by the pound makes your butt big, huge and round".

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Israel on 09/12/07

haha, this reminds me of a few years back when a company started selling pieces of simulated fat that you could leave laying around your house.

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Never teh Bride on 09/12/07

Er...I think motivation needs to come from within rather than from without.

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Laura on 09/12/07

Maybe I just have a sick sense of humor, but these are cracking me up. But I have to second Quito's question... WHERE do you find this stuff???

"Put your hands on your head and back away from the pantry." Hilarious.

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Mike OD on 09/12/07

Another gimmick....another step away from personal responsibility, control and awareness of how to truly be healthy and happy. Blaming fast food too shows the lack for true understanding that control and responsible choices are more important than avoiding something all together.

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oceans11 on 09/12/07

I fail to see how I sign that says: No fast food fat ass!" is motivating...

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Paul Young on 09/12/07
oceans11 said:
I fail to see how I sign that says: No fast food fat ass!" is motivating...[...]

Especially when I see a lot of thin people eating at fast food places. The big people are always at the buffets.

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Jim on 09/12/07
Quito said:
Where do you find these companies?[...]
I honestly come across these just from surfing around the web. I'm always amazed (and somewhat incredulous) at the schemes and gadgets people will come up with - if they perceive there is a market for it...

Yeah I had a bit of a chuckle - but I couldn't seriously use putdowns as motivation.

Maybe it works for some people?

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Spectra on 09/12/07

LOL, I don't know that I'd buy these, only because I don't need any negative reinforcement NOT to eat. I feel guilty enough when I do eat, even if it's healthy stuff. I'm not really sure WHY that is, but it's true. So I think I'll stick to my normal dishes.

I am reminded though of a cookie jar that I saw at the store once. It was a pig cookie jar and when you opened the lid, it oinked and snorted. I thought that was pretty funny (and a good motivator to not eat the cookies!)

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Dr.J on 09/12/07

Here's one for your fridge, Spectra!

http://www.slashfood.com/2007/01/08/a-little-motivation-for-your-diet/

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Kym on 09/13/07

Who needs that stuff around, there are way better places to find motivation. Having said all that, some of these are making me laugh.

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Laura on 09/13/07

These signs, to me, are a signal that in all things, humor must be present. Even in the serious world of healthy eating, exercising, avoiding fast food and additives, and whatnot, isn't there just a little room for a plate that says, "No seconds, STUD!" ... especially if it's a WOMAN eating off that plate???

Hmmm... maybe if I avoid those seconds, that stud will notice me.... pass the carrots, please!

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Spectra on 09/13/07

Ha, Dr. J that pig cracks me up!! I think if I bought that to put in my fridge, I'd just laugh every time I ate! I like the advice on that site though...keep trigger foods out of the house. It's a lot harder to go and binge on say, Bear Claw ice cream if you don't keep a 1/2 gallon of it in the freezer.

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Jeff on 10/30/07

I'm the Jeff that founded BellyAcres LLC. By calling myself a FATASS and actually seeing my big fat gut hanging over my pants on a dinner plate is awesome motivation for me. It makes me not want seconds because I really don't want to look like that anymore. On the website I made it so you can do whatever motivates you!

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