Weight loss incentives
#1
Large Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Canterbury, UK
Posts: 212
Bikes: 2008 Cannondale Bad Boy 700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Weight loss incentives
I know several of you have new bikes as an incentive for losing a given amount of weight. One of the NHS (National Health Service) trusts over here has started offering actual money for sustained weight loss for a trial period: https://www.nhsweightlosstrial.com
Conveniently, it's the one that covers the area in which I live...
The amounts offered are dependent on the actual amount lost and how long you can keep it off, but seem pretty generous - if I can lose the 50lbs I've been aiming to lose this year anyway and keep it off for 6 months, I get paid £425 (about $600).
There's been a fair bit of negative press over this trial, but I figure if the cash is being given away anyway for something I'm planning on doing anyway, it'd be silly not to take them up on the offer..
If I succeed, I'm planning on spending the cash on a new bike, naturally.
Would cold hard cash encourage any of you lot to lose weight and keep it off?
Conveniently, it's the one that covers the area in which I live...
The amounts offered are dependent on the actual amount lost and how long you can keep it off, but seem pretty generous - if I can lose the 50lbs I've been aiming to lose this year anyway and keep it off for 6 months, I get paid £425 (about $600).
There's been a fair bit of negative press over this trial, but I figure if the cash is being given away anyway for something I'm planning on doing anyway, it'd be silly not to take them up on the offer..
If I succeed, I'm planning on spending the cash on a new bike, naturally.
Would cold hard cash encourage any of you lot to lose weight and keep it off?
#2
S E Michigan
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not really Iam losing for me and my health and to see my new grandaughter grow up . But ya if someone was giving it away I would take it to
#3
Bikezilla
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Flori-Duh
Posts: 881
Bikes: Co-Motion Mazama
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
10,000 miles and I haven't lost a single pound. Come to find out diet plays a huge part in all of this...
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Near Sacramento
Posts: 4,886
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No. Cash would be nice, but I lost weight for me. Because I wanted to. Getting paid to do so seems to me to not be a good way to go about loosing weight. Unless the amounts are substantial (like 100 times more than what's posted above). Sure, a reward is nice, but if you lose weight for money, you won't keep it off after you get paid.
__________________
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
#5
Senior Member
Biggest incentive for me... keep the heart pumpin' just a little longer than it would without the exercise.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Spokane/Tri-Cities WA
Posts: 1,385
Bikes: mountain bike, road bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think it would be worth doing. The OP is targeting the weight loss already. The program provides additional incentive, support and accountability by having a monthly weigh in.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cobourg Ontario Canada
Posts: 2,206
Bikes: ParleeZ5/Parlee Chebacco/Trek Farley/Cannondale Slice/Burley Tandem
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
4 Posts
Nope not for me. I use to smoke and still did when they hit $10 a pack in Canada. Stopped when I finally wanted to just stopped. Wieght, same thing I just decided I didn't want to be big anymore. One thing that will encourage any man, for every inch you loose of belly you gain an inch in percieved ***** length
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Dacula,Ga
Posts: 402
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I myself came to a conclusion today. I have been riding again for the 4th time in my lifetime, for the past two years. While out on the trails, I find myself getting past up by everybody and getting short of breath real fast and having to keep resting. It seems that even though I ride a bit, I seem to keep getting bigger. I will admit I have not been watching what I eat at all. When I got home I weighed myself, just a tad under 260, heaviest I have ever been. Starting Sunday, I am going to initiate a whole new eating program. For 2 reasons, I love to ride my bikes and want to be able to REALLY ride them and maby even race someday. And I now know if I don't start to eat better its going to kill me. It took me years to stop smoking "7 years smoke free". But one day I made up my mind to quit,and I did. Today I made my mind to loose the weight. Wish me luck on my journey.
Last edited by jjbod1; 01-24-09 at 01:55 AM.
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
It wouldn't motivate me, and I'd probably turn down money if it were offered to me. Unless I were in a tight spot financially, in which case I would accept. Weight loss can be pricey. Eating better can mean more money being spent on food, and many forms of exercise, such as cycling, mean you have to open your wallet.
#12
Triathlon in my future???
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southwest Iowa
Posts: 2,193
Bikes: Junk, that is why I am here. :-)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I am doing the weight loss for myself, but I would definitely sign up for it for the extra cash. If someone is going to pay me to do something I want to do anyway. Why not. For those other people that are only doing it for the money. It won't last.
__________________
2007 Jamis Ventura Comp
2006 Jamis Explorer 2.0
2000 Specialized Hardrock (bought used)
Swim, Bike, Run and sounds like fun
2007 Jamis Ventura Comp
2006 Jamis Explorer 2.0
2000 Specialized Hardrock (bought used)
Swim, Bike, Run and sounds like fun
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,879
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 765 Post(s)
Liked 1,735 Times
in
1,011 Posts
For me, no, but if it would work for you, go for it. The Biggest Loser Program has proved to me that money is not always the best reason to lose weight. Several of the winners from prior seasons have gain every pound, plus a few back because they went back to their old habits.
Ultimately, it is up to you to want to lose weight and keep it off because that is whats best for your health. If they are going to pay you some money for doing it, then that is just a bonus.
Ultimately, it is up to you to want to lose weight and keep it off because that is whats best for your health. If they are going to pay you some money for doing it, then that is just a bonus.
#15
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 1,371
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't think about losing weight, I only think about riding my bike and improving speed and distance. I'm obsessed with my bike, not the scale.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,879
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 765 Post(s)
Liked 1,735 Times
in
1,011 Posts
Very true, ride your bike and your heart and scale will follow.
#19
Freewheelin' Fred
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 742
Bikes: Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I recently read (can't remember where, sorry) that negative incentives are far more effective than positive ones (sticks beat carrots ).
The suggestion they made was to make a bet with a friend like this: "If I don't lose X pounds by date Y, I'll give you $25." With no upside for you other than keeping the $25.
I have not tried this myself. YMMV!
The suggestion they made was to make a bet with a friend like this: "If I don't lose X pounds by date Y, I'll give you $25." With no upside for you other than keeping the $25.
I have not tried this myself. YMMV!
#20
Tilting with windmills
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North Texas 'Burbs
Posts: 4,828
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I wouldn't start a weight loss effort for the sole puropse of getting money. Most have posted that weight loss only happens when you want it to. Anything else is temprary at best. You have to want to do it for yourself.
I am with the OP though that if the program popped up and was just a side bit to the original effort, I'm in. New wheel sets ain't cheap, lol.
I am with the OP though that if the program popped up and was just a side bit to the original effort, I'm in. New wheel sets ain't cheap, lol.
#21
Large Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Canterbury, UK
Posts: 212
Bikes: 2008 Cannondale Bad Boy 700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Interesting that you mostly seem to agree (and I'm with you too), that the money in itself wouldn't be enough. It's a nice benefit of something I'm determined to do though. In buying more fruit and joining gym it'll cost more than the payout anyway...
Not sure that's what the trial has set out to achieve though
Not sure that's what the trial has set out to achieve though
#22
I'm Rad.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 366
Bikes: 2008 Allez (Sold), 2009 Surly LHT (Sold), 2014 Motobecane Fantom Cross Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have to agree that money wouldn't be enough of a motivator for me... it hasn't worked for me in the past. Still working on trying to find that thing that's going to seal the deal for me per se... although that picture of me from the MS150 last year really made me shudder...
V
V