Hey everyone!
So I started a Diet Bet at the start of the year, because well I am super cheap frugal with my money! I knew betting $30 was a large enough amount that I was not willing to lose. I joined a HUGE diet bet with Blogilates January 2nd.
Cassey gave away prizes along the way, and seeing as there was a potential to win some money- I joined in. I love social media so why not social dieting.
Diet Bet
Diet bet is a online (not gambling) social dieting game. In my case I bet $30 dollars that in 28 days I would lose 4% of my body weight. If you have been following me you know I have STRUGGLED with the scale and gave it up for the longest time. I was just tired of no progress.
The directions of weighing in and the rules are VERY clear and walk you through it. I just took a picture of me on the scale, and then a picture of me in a full length mirror standing on the scale with a special word they gave me. It gets approved, you fill out your profile, join in the party.
Let me just say- I did not enjoy that forum what so EVER. The people were . .. awkward. That is the only word I can think of to explain it. In the beginning everyone was super nice! You can cheer others on, link it up to your social media outlets, and engage in supporting one another.
I hooked mine up mostly to my Facebook, and parts to my Twitter. It was nice when I would do a weigh in ( not required ) and my mom, and a few friends would cheer me on Facebook in the post Diet Bet made. It was great!
I started using MyFitness pal again, and hit records every week logging my food. I have never been able to log my food consistently for longer than a week, and the incentive to lose weight really has me glued to logging all my food. I am not sure how it even started up again. I just did it! Paired with my Fitbit( which is lost this week…pretty sure Daisy got it..) I was super inspired to be creative with menu planning and eating well.
I tried a few different things, nutrisystem jump start kit that I got, smoothies, etc. I lost a few pounds but I was not really “getting it”. Also? Nutrisystem is DISGUSTING. I would rather eat cardboard.
Then there was this part, about midway through I just started losing interest in the forum. People were getting strange. It was passive non-support, and then the complaining started at the end.
I was really focusing on sticking to calorie goals, and well rounded nutrition. I was losing about 2 pounds a week, but I needed to be losing 3. I was starting to get a little freaked out, and when I turned to the support forum- It was just a bunch of people talking about how they made it already – or freaking out like me. Little to no advice or support like I had invisioned.
I was not expecting the amounts of crazy that came out when it came to weigh in time. People were demanding their money back with excuse after excuse for not making their goals.There was widespread panic, the irrational outburst of inappropriate things to say, just over all sad humans commiserating. I was cursed with the Norovirus, read more about it here, and lost a giant 4 pounds over night and beat my diet bet losing almost 13 pounds in 28 days. So I made it, thanks to being a bucket of “germ suck gross human”.Yay…#sarcasm.
OH! Worst part of it all?? I became obsessive with the scale. Again. I literally would jump on it all the time 3x a day, and it got freaky there how much I started to hate the little box on the floor.
The verdict?
I did gain 2 of those pounds back already but that is ok. I am on track, tracking on my fitness pal, and enjoying food again. Learning appropriate meal size is HARD, and it was definitely a fire under my butt to not lose $30 as I am going to Princess Half Marathon in Disney World this month, and $30 may not go far there, but it is a cocktail in Epcot. Which is all I can think about right now. Anyways.
Would I do it again? Maybe. Diet Bet was fun, I think if I set it up with friends, bloggers, or just was able to moderate who I did it with I would enjoy it. People were literally mad we only won $10.62 in the end. Seriously that meant most people met their goal!! The total pounds lost in the group was over 30K I think. I was not motivated to win extra money, so maybe that is why I am not angry like others. I just wanted to keep my initial bet, on myself that I would lose the weight. People wanting more money from it all…It just caused them to root against each other ( and it happened!) and there were no moderators of the group. I did not like that.
I had no intentions of sharing my photos, as my stomach has returned with my lack of exercise since boot camp/ pre injury. It was a big part of me wanting to focus on my eating and committing to a lifestyle change not a diet. It is working so far, I just do not see the dramatic change I would like. Actually all I and focus on is my weird high lights in a ponytail, and mild tan. I normally do not “see” weightloss till about 25-30 pounds so I am around half way there!
I would prefer the 2lb loss from boot camp- and 25 inches lost. That was amazing. I will just wear all black and smile till my weight loss is more noticeable to me!
Update: I have completed 4 diet bets since this review, and had much better results and enjoyed them more! I joined another blogger for one she started, and ran two myself. I personally like the “real people” DietBets, verses the celebrity ones. This review was a “celebrity” based DietBet review.
Interested in more weight loss stories? Check out my post about taking a fitness class:
Here is my boot camp results if you missed them!
Hmm I was wondering how this was going. Not sure I’d do one either.
I a big pro-DietBet person! I’ve won nearly $300 from loading up on bets, and I’ve never experiences the awkward forum you did. That is a huge bummer! I’ve joined large and small groups and each is different. Some of the small ones have been really amazing and supportive (even some of the big ones). Usually, you get out if it what you put into it and can usually find someone to share support with. It’s kind of annoying that you had a bunch of people demanding refunds, and that people weren’t happy with a $10 won – that is usually what I end up with in larger games – EVERY ONE it seems! I’ve joined some smaller games and gotten more of a return. I’m completely determined to not loose the money, so it has been great for me. However, I do have that feeling of “I can do what I want” between games and tend to sabotage my overall efforts.
A couple bloggers and I have been talking about doing one together at the end of this month – that would be a super supportive group!
Wow! I am so happy to hear your positive feedback. I became scary obsessed with the scale, but I might be interested in a more supportive group! Please let me know when it starts? I will have to think about it, but I did like my motivation to not lose my moolah.
Hi, Ashley. Thanks for the article. I just created my first DietBet and invited about a dozen friends (no takers, yet). It starts Monday (of course), June 2. I went for it with the $100 bet, because I knew that I wouldn’t take it seriously, otherwise. Anyway, it’s called “CourtneyDawg’s Diet,” if you are interested in joining. Please do! Will let you know how it goes.
Courtney
Awesome results. I should do a diet bet. New follower. I followed you everywhere! LOL
You’re looking great!
Keep up the good work! Thank you for sharing your journey. It’s encouraging for others. Also, I love your cute comment on your pic about wearing black and smiling until you notice the differences. 🙂 Just with that attitude alone you’ll meet your goals!
Thanks for sharing your story, you worked hard and it shows. I’d love to tone my stomach up as had surgery there in past due to tumour but wouldn’t like to bet myself incase I get it wrong lol. Well done. Coping with the Big C – The Sits Comment Love Challenge
Great job! That’s interesting about the forum you were in. Doesn’t sound like a productive environment! I’m glad you were able to succeed though! 🙂
Losing weight is hard enough without all that drama. Yikes. Congrats on making your goal thought! Maybe hide the bathroom scale for a few days just to break the habit of getting on it so much? I try to weigh myself only once a day, when I wake up and am my lightest and it seems to work well for me.
I have never heard of this before. But, I should consider it when I invariably hit the “I am tired of this weight loss” stuff in another month or so. I am, uh, frugal as well and money would be a good motivator for me.
Good on you for all of your progress!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve never considered something like diet bet before but it definitely sounds motivating! The only time I have really been successful giving up sodas was when my husband bet me I couldn’t! Visiting from SITS.
I just finished my 4th diet bet. I have won $205 and lost 12 pounds in 2 months! I’m starting a new diet bet on May 1st. If you want to join me, the link is below.
http://diet.bt/dRX0gq
Never again!! I bet $100 and the pot was $36,900. After working hard for a month to meet my goal, I won a measly $13. It was pathetic. This app takes advantage of the players. They made out with $7,380?! Yeah, they rape you with their fees. My Game was Bet Big, Win Big…what a crock. More like Bet Big, Win Pennies!!!
Girl! I have done a few with just bloggers and friends- won a lot more but it still isn’t for me. I am glad you met your goal- sad that’s all you won!
That gal is horribly bitter, has posted these exact words on every review of DietBet I’ve looked at tonight (googled for more info myself). Every other review has been objective or positive. I’m off to the site to find a few groups to join!
Oh good to know!