I Won by Losing!

I lost 4% of my body weight in 28 days through DietBet and won $43.

I started another one on April 3.

Now that I have played I can share what I have learned:

1. A blogger named Beth started the March DietBet game. She set the bet at $25 - meaning if you wanted to join, you had to pay $25 into the pot. Everyone put in the same amount. It was open access, meaning anyone could join.

2. Everyone had the opportunity to win. If you lost 4% of your body weight in the 28 days, you received an equal share of the pot, minus DietBet's fee (5-15% depending on size of bet). For this DietBet, 199 people met their goal, that is almost 50% success rate. Over 2500 pounds were shed between 405 people over 28 days.

3. Dietbet has a simple way to keep participants honest. Send in 2 photos in the beginning of the contest and 2 photos at the end. Both photos are on the scale, one a closeup of the actual reading on the scale, the other a full body of you on the scale. You wear clothes, but no coat, shoes, jewelry, etc.

4. Everything is private - photos are never seen. Your weight can remain private unless you want it seen. Most people's weights are listed as XXX.

5. For March, our pot grew to over $10,000 with just over 400 players.

6. People shared recipes and asked for advice on the DietBet page. For this group, the talk back and forth was encouraging and helpful. It seemed like everyone wanted others to succeed. There was only one guy who tried to "call some people out" but no one responded to his jabs.

7. You can be anywhere to join - it is international!

8. I think it works for me because I am competitive with myself and others. It kept me motivated and I didn't want to lose my $25. It was fun - not a drag. There is no prescribed method to lose the weight - it is up to the individual.

9. Anyone can start their own DietBet and limit access to only friends and family or co-workers, or you can make it an open access game. The bet can be $25 - $500.

One night I researched the social dieting industry and read about the founder of DietBet just because that is the kind of geek I am. If you want to read more about DietBet from a business standpoint, here are some links:

Diet Bet Media Kit
Jamie Rosen
SeedInvest

Comments

How I Make Being a Mom and Volunteer Work at this Group Home

In September, Ben celebrated three years living in a group home in Charlotte, North Carolina, with five other men. Ben lives 20 minutes from our house, and we see him several times a week for doctor's appointments, to drop off supplies, for group home events and sometimes because I just miss him. Ben occassionally sleeps over, and he often spends a weekend day hanging out on his favorite couch, watching videos at our house. This Easterseals PORT Health home is Ben's second placement. The first placement through another agency didn't work out, and he left after six months . We were wary of trying a new place, but it's worked out well. My husband, Ryan, and I have developed a partnership with ESPH. Over time, we've built mutual respect and trust with the residents and staff. Here's what's worked for us: 1. Get involved with the group home. Ben lives with five other men in a six-bedroom house in Charlotte. On move-in day, Steven, one of the residents, made ...

Gadgets & Gizmos - Part 6: Landeez Chair

We spent last week at the beach near Atlantic Beach in North Carolina. At Fort Macon Park , they have a special chair for people like Ben who may need extra help moving in the sand and water. The chair is made by Landeez . We were amazed by this chair. It did travel over the sand and in small amounts of water with ease. We bought an inexpensive strap to go around Ben's waist so he would not fall out. I thought that Ben could go farther in the water sitting in the chair, but it does eventually float...away if in too deep of water. Ben got tired of sitting in it and wiggled his way under the strap. For the most part, it is a great invention and it made it easier for us to keep Ben safe on the beach. If he had been interested in a long walk on the beach, this would have worked great for him.

Parenting an Adult Child with Disabilities: From Group Home Placement to Discharge

Last August, we moved Ben into an alternative family living (AFL) placement, about 90 minutes from our home in Charlotte. It was a three-bedroom house and Ben was given the largest bedroom with its own bathroom. A typical AFL in North Carolina operates like this: a person with disabilities, the client, moves in with another family, couple or an individual. The client lives in the family’s home and the family receives payment in return for housing, feeding and caring for the client. Ben’s AFL was unusual: A couple with extensive caregiving experience wanted to run a three-bed group home but needed to apply for the license through the state. They were willing to take Ben as the first resident in a house, separate from the one they lived in. The plan, according to the couple, was to get approval for the group home within a couple of months. We ordered Ben a double bed, headboard, 54-inch television, new sheets, towels and blankets. Friends helped us move him in....

eSpecially Ben

Search This Blog