Hi there!

I've read on an article about the site that adding actual money into the bets definitely increases winning outcomes, especially if you choose to donate it to an "anti-charity", an organization whose views you strongly disagree with.

With the anti-charity, the average compliance is 80%!

For myself, I would want to put my money against myself in the "worst" way possible and I would choose an anti-charity from their lists.

And I would make it a BIG potential loss. Since they have my credit card number -- and I would use a debit card to make it even more threatening -- there would be no weaseling out.

I think I would set it up so that every week (or every month), I'd have to lose X pounds. Maybe 1.5 pounds/week, or maybe 2 pounds/week. And then, if I missed a week or a month, I'd have to pay in $50/week, or $200/month. Then I'd have a final contract too, that if I didn't lose all the weight by X date, I'd fork over, hmm, $2,000? To me, that's a really large sum, and one I would definitely not want handed over to my anti-charity.

In fact, right now, I am waiting on a replacement debit card in the mail, after having my original one used for fraud (grrr!) early this week. But my bank has been great at replacing the money... once I have my new card, I'm planning on joining Stickk.com. I should have it by September 4th.

I am an expert weasel-outer and I find it all too easy to justify slip-ups and continue saying "I'll start over tomorrow." This way, I'll have a real financial and moral incentive to stay the course.

I think it's a great idea.

I have never heard of it until I read this post

Well i'm on Stickk and it's worked well for me in the past, but I haven't had much accountability given i didnt have a referee or supporter.

My screen name is crowbar

add me as a friend and we can support each other!

I've been trying it, but my scale died and now my weight has changed dramatically (for the worse) because of it. I think if I was actually betting money, it would work for me, but there's not much incentive to me for the free version. Seriously, if making commitments and betting that I would lose X amt of pounds by a certain date had ever worked for me, I wouldn't be where i am right now, lol.... but the money option is definitely intriguing, as I'm very tight with money, and can't imagine having to fork money over to a cause I hate because I ate too much or exercised too little... I might try it next payday.

I had never heard of it either, but I just signed up. (My name is Kyo_Odori. Add me!)

Luckily I don't have to risk much for it to scare me as I'm almost broke. I just put down $5 a week. I like the anti-charity idea.

... It just dawned on me that this might not work so well during TOM, when I normally don't even weigh myself because it's so bad. I might just have to lie. Maybe if I'm not caught up by the next week I'll fork over the $5.

I am bumping this because I (cough) got my butt on-board and joined today!

I am on Stickk.com as BerkshireGrl also, and anyone on there who wants to buddy up, feel free to add me as a friend!

I have pledged to lose at least 1 pound a week, or I will be forced to donate $100 to an anti-charity every time I fail to lose that pound. This is a legally-binding contract and once signed, is for real. Termination can only be made after a medical excuse form faxed by a doctor's office is verified.

I am praying for no long plateaus, heh! But in my past weight loss attempts, I have never hit one, so *fingers crossed* this will continue.

I will be Refereed by my sister, who will verify my weekly loss via digital photos of my scale readout as I stand on it

No wussing out this time!

ETA: Contract is for 99 weeks, at 1.18 pound a week mandatory loss. I am planning on getting it done sooner than 99 weeks though! But I thought I'd give myself a bit of coverage just in case I do hit a dreaded stall.

crowbar and Frigg, I have "friended" you on Stickk

EEEEEEEP! Hahaha! This is thrilling, yet kind of terrifying at the same time. But I want to be accountable. I have been trying to lose weight for a long time - heck, I joined here in 2003 - and I have so far failed to reach the finish line. This time, there is no retreat. Here goes!

BerkshireGrl, that's a big commitment.

Needs guts to make that decision.

Good luck on your journey.

Thank you, Silver!

I have been lacking courage for a long time, but this time, I decided to make the leap. I've had it with the fatness

Okay - I just joined & added all of you!

I did the free version.. no money here to give if I didn't lose! :/ BUT hopefully we can all keep each other accountable!

my username on stickk is kuhrisuh

I also joined and added you guys! Add me at StarryEyes86

I love the idea. And it has a weekly weight for me to aim for...that's cool.

I didn't bet any money, only because I'm so broke and don't even have disposable income at the moment.

StarryEyes, glad to see you too!

I'd be thrilled to see all of us lose all our weight! :

I just signed up, too. My user name is Gayatri, LOL. I have to lose only 1 lb per week and will donate $10 per week to my anti-charity if I fail to meet that goal.

I need referees / support. Please add me as a friend, too, so we can all support each other through this journey.

Thanks,

Gayatri

Gayatri,

Cool beans!

It looks like you are contracted for $101/week though - is that a goof?

I friended you back!

Berkshiregrl, I just noticed that you and I almost have identical starting points and goals =)