If you’ve been trying to lose weight and looking for some motivation, then you’ve probably heard of DietBet. If not, and you need motivation, read on.
DietBet is a website that allows you to bet money on your own weight loss. Bets typical range from $25 to $50, but the more players there are the larger the pot gets. Once you place you choose the pot to join and place your bet, you have one month to lose 4% of your total body weight. If you win, you split the pot with the other winners. But if you don’t reach your goal, you lose your bet.
One thing to keep in mind though is that you have to be willing to bet enough to keep you motivated. For instance, if you only bet $25, you’re probably not going to be very motivated to see the bet through. What motivates most people though is not the idea of losing the money, but the thought of having to go back and tell everyone that you failed. Since everyone is accountable to the goal in order to win or lose, you have to report your progress to everyone in your pot.
The Pros
It’s fun. While the money you lose may not be enough to keep you motivated, the idea of winning a portion of the big pot might help to keep you on track. Some of the pots are as much as $40,000 to $50,000. As a winner, your portion could be enough to have you daydreaming about the possibilities.
It’s easy. It’s simple to check-in with your progress by taking a full-length photo of yourself in lightweight clothing (you can leave your shoes off and empty your pockets) while on the scale. Then take a photo of the number on your scale. You can take your photos, submit them, and have them approved in under 5 minutes.
It’s short-term. You only have 30 days from start to finish so you don’t have to stay motivated for months on end.
It’s interactive. During the process you receive daily emails with tips and reminders to help you stay on track. You can interact with other members in your pot through a group wall which is a great place to get and give encouragement, share photos, and update your progress.
You can expect to lose weight. If you stay motivated, most players lose anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds.
The Cons
It’s too easy to cheat. While people do have to provide photos of themselves at each level of their goal, some people take photos before starting then post them as current photos so it appears they’re losing several pounds almost overnight.
The emails are constant. Once you reach your goal and/or your game is over, you can expect to continue to receive an overload of emails from DietBet with continued reminders and tips.
In short, if you’re ready to lose weight and you’re already motivated to get it done, then DietBet can provide social interaction and accountability to help keep you going. But chances are, you’re going to lose whatever money you bet so if you’re just getting started keep your bets low.