Monday, February 9, 2009

Fat Bets


I read this article in the Times the other day: Put Your Money Where Your Fat Is. The more I thought about it the more brilliant it seemed.

So a friend of mine is also interested in the idea, and we're currently thinking about ways to make the bet fair. She's a lot smaller than I am, but I think we have sort of the same body situation. Not obese, but carrying an annoying amount of extra.

Has anybody else done anything like this? Any suggestions on how to calculate fair goals?

Fatbet.net and www.makemoneylosingweight.com (referenced in the Times article) seem to be good resources--I checked them out.

I'll let you know how it goes!

11 comments:

Levi said...

I have not used money to back up my fat loss because I am always afraid that I'll fail. My inner-critic, Harriet is a bitch and she fights me tooth and nail before I even start. I'm going to ask Chris if he wants to go on a diet even though he's a rail.

I loved your 25 list in FB.

Melissa said...

Thanks POD!! It was harder to do that 25 thing than I thought it would be. But I love reading other people's. You should do one!

That darn Harriet. You need to pen her up somewhere.

Levi said...

I'd like to smack her upside the head. Ha!
I have considered that 25 thing but I may not have enough content. I'd have to write about other people.
I may try it.
*snore*
haha

Levi said...

Wanted to add that the Poisonwood Bible is one of my favorites of all time.

Tom Rooney said...

I've heard about some work places where they bet a certain dollar amount on the percent of weight lost over a specified time. That way you're you're all competing on common ground.

Anonymous said...

LOVED YOUR EXCITEMENT YESTERDAY.

shoot me a mailing address...

new*me said...

sounds like a cool idea :) I know we save tons of money by not doing fast food anymore ;)

Melissa said...

Hey POD, I agree,The Poisonwood Bible is absolutely awesome and brilliant. I can't believe what I'm reading!

P/F said...

I'm definitely a closet competitive, so this would work for me - but only with someone who I knew would take it seriously.

You've got me thinking about this...I'm thinking about a variation where I give my husband the money for something I really want (he has to hold it as the administrator of the bet). If I get to the goal, I get my selfish desire (big for me because I am CHEAP!). If I lose, the money goes to something ridiculous for the kids. Those kids are going down!

Melissa said...

P/F that sounds like a good scheme to me!!! Go for it!

Sbanfnyc said...

I'm horribly selfish. If I gave up chips and would lose 10 lbs do I get anything?