Man Wins $1,600 Diet Bet
A UK man has won £1,000 (around $1,600) by successfully losing weight.
Ian Armstrong, a 44 year old warehouse worker, placed a £50 ($80) bet in January 2009, saying he would lose 70lbs before Christmas 2009...
And, he did it - going from 243 lbs to 173 lbs, in eleven months.
Mr Armstrong swapped big portions of pie and chips for rice, pasta and chicken dishes, and drank a pint of water before meals.
The bookmaker who took the £50 bet (at odds of 20:1) said they take hundreds of bets on predicted weight loss every year, but they rarely have to pay out.
Mr Armstrong gained weight after suffering a knee injury while running, and decided to place the bet in order to raise money for the boys' soccer team which he runs. He's had the support of his whole family.
This story highlights the importance of motivation in successfully losing weight.
- Would you be more likely to stick to your diet if you placed a bet on losing weight?
- Could you go on a sponsored diet to raise money for a good cause, like a local sports team or a charity?
- Do you have the support of your family?
Sources:
Belfast Telegraph: Man wins £1,000 in weight loss bet
The Press Association: Festive diet wins father £1,000
Good for him! When I decided to lose weight, I wasn't really trying to compete with anyone about things...I was trying to lose weight for myself. I think it would have been pretty cool to win a bet, though. I was pretty motivated as it was, but having a bunch of money at the end of the rainbow would have probably made me work harder to do it.
ReplyI say more power to him! Like Spectra, when I lost my weight, it was when I was young & more about not getting teased & dating & young girl stuff like that. As I got older & refined it, I still did it on my own with no formal group help.
I have seen sites that you actually join & put up money to motivate you to lose weight & not lose your money. One has the money going to a organization that you dislike.. I guess whatever floats your boat & motivates you.
I could have used some $$ for losing weight ! :-)
ReplyInteresting article. Good for him, it is a good motivation for loosing weight, now he has to maintain.
ReplyHappy New Year!
Americans can get paid to lose weight and "bet" on their ability to lose weight at healthywage, www.healthywage.com.
Everyone who achieves a healthy weight (body mass index below 25) gets paid $100. You have the opportunity to "bet" on your ability to lose weight by paying $300 to get paid $1000 for losing weight.
ReplyThe $100 comes from corporate sponsors interested in empowering you to lose weight.