Want to lose weight?

Ian Ayers suggests that you "make it interesting " as they say in certain circles.

Ian wanted to lose 20 pounds and keep the weight off so he entered into a promise contract with a colleague at Yale.  Ian put up $500 each week and pledged to lose a pound a week until he reached his goal.  If he failed to reach the goal for the week, then his colleague could send the money out to a charity of his choice.

 

Whereas most dieters tend to yo yo back and forth, Ian's contract has kept him in check as show by the graph below.  If he goes above the target, the check will again go to charity.

weight loss commitment device
As another example of how creative incentives can work in your daily life, thinkgeek will donate money to the charity of your choice via a WIFI connection everytime you press the snooze alarm.  As a way to increase the incentive (and make it somewhat perverse), they suggest that you send the money to a charity you hate.

Common Usage Suggestions.


Are you a butcher? Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to PETA
Are you a republican? Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to the ACLU!
Are you a land developer? Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to the Wilderness Society!
Enjoy your freedom? (Blue state version) Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to the GOP. or
Enjoy your freedom? (Red state version) Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to MoveOn.Org
Are you a hippie? Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to the American Coal Foundation.
Are you a Ninja? Set your SnūzNLūz to donate to, hrrrm, we can't find a Pirate Charity at the moment. But there must be one...somewhere...anyways, the point is it's easy to setup once you identify your enemy!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/snuznluz.shtml  
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Submitted by All-Time QB on Thu, 2008-02-28 21:19
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I like the approach

 For $500 bucks a week, I think that a lot of people would find a way to get around their "big bones", "slow metabolism", "bad genes", etc.

It's a good idea...  I think most human beings can do amazing things with the proper motivation... I actually may use this idea.  I've put on 5 lbs. this winter and have a bit of a spare tire, which I would like to deflate.  If I really wanted to get lean and mean, I could probably lose a good 20-30 lbs. and nobody would be wondering if I was anorexic :-)  

skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...

by: skymutt - 2008-02-28 23:07 …………

it's a great idea

and I've been struggling with about 20lbs that I really need to lose... But it is a bit extreme for my "taste" :) The incentive of better health is hopefully enough for now.

"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR

by: Ender - 2008-02-29 10:05 …………