Diet Bets : Avoid!!!

I’m seeing a handful of threads lately by MFP users who are participating in, or considering participating in, so-called diet bets, body transformation, or whatever the latest incarnation is.

I’ve seen many posts about these things over the years and they don’t end well. (This is not the same thing as an office-type pool. These are “professional” businesses seeking to sign up participants.)

Basically, a gym, website, trainer offers you a plan to lose X amount of weight in X period. You give them a sum of money (usually several hundred USD or GBP), and if you are successful, you recoup your money plus a substantial bonus. If you fail, they keep your money.

STOP!!!! Think!!!! Use your noggin!!!

Do you really want to participate in weight loss or training with an outfit who is financially vested in you not succeeding?

Or, one that has set the weight loss bar so ridiculously high that, even if you do succeed, it’s at the risk of creating health issues? What kind of business puts its users or members at risk like this?!

Please, please, if you’re considering “investing” in a diet bet or contest, don’t do it. If you’re still within some kind of contractual “bail out” period, cancel via certified mail, get your money back and run!

Replies

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,721 Member
    @ninerbuff but then there’s the ones promising you you get back many hundreds (or more) for your initial investment of a couple of hundred, and requiring ridiculously unattainable weight loss goals from people who have no idea what’s safe or doable. Those are the ones that people need to be warned about.

    Like anything diet related, it’s caveat emptor out there, my friend.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,040 Member
    @ninerbuff but then there’s the ones promising you you get back many hundreds (or more) for your initial investment of a couple of hundred, and requiring ridiculously unattainable weight loss goals from people who have no idea what’s safe or doable. Those are the ones that people need to be warned about.

    Like anything diet related, it’s caveat emptor out there, my friend.

    Oh no doubt. I wouldn't be surprise if in those bets, the trainers, etc. give BAD ADVICE to ensure they don't lose weight so they can keep the money.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,672 Member
    Good post.

    It's really sad how many people sign up for one of the scam-style ones, *then* *afterward* show up here to ask "Is it possible to lose X pounds (a large number) in Y weeks (a small number)?" or a similar thing about increasing muscle mass or decreasing body fat percent. (The body composition ones are usually relying on measurements from a machine controlled by the organization offering the betting, if ya wanna talk about scammy scammer stuff, jeesh!).

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,672 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Good post.

    It's really sad how many people sign up for one of the scam-style ones, *then* *afterward* show up here to ask "Is it possible to lose X pounds (a large number) in Y weeks (a small number)?" or a similar thing about increasing muscle mass or decreasing body fat percent. (The body composition ones are usually relying on measurements from a machine controlled by the organization offering the betting, if ya wanna talk about scammy scammer stuff, jeesh!).

    As far as I know, we never hear back from them at the end of the challenge either. Please correct me if I'm wrong :)

    I don't remember one where I've seen a final results post, from a person who posted "is this possible".
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    I actually lost and kept off about 35 lbs doing a "weight loss challenge" almost 9 years ago through my local park district. There was a small fee for the class,which was held weekly for I wanna say maybe 3-4 months? I actually won 3rd place! It was taught by a woman who was an Herbalife distributor and she had a separate day for tasting some of her products. However, there was no obligation to buy ( I didn't). It was when I was first introduced to MFP and I do feel I learned some things.

    However, I've seen those weight loss challenges or bets that you're talking about, usually held by a local fitness center. The way they are advertised just rub me the wrong way...plus it sounds extreme AND expensive!
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,721 Member
    edited November 2021
    Whoops. Mis-post while searching something for another user.