Anyone done a sponsored slim?

ElliieMental

Hi

I am thinking about doing a sponsored slim as I figured that if I cant lose weight for myself maybe I can do it for a cause close to my heart.

Has anyone ever done this before? How did you go about it? When I look on the net they all seem pretty short term but I guess those who sponsor you might not be around in 6 months / a year.....

Would love any advice or stories!

Sidesteal

Hi

I am thinking about doing a sponsored slim as I figured that if I cant lose weight for myself maybe I can do it for a cause close to my heart.

Has anyone ever done this before? How did you go about it? When I look on the net they all seem pretty short term but I guess those who sponsor you might not be around in 6 months / a year.....

Would love any advice or stories!

What is a sponsored slim please?

ElliieMental

Where people sponsor you to lose weight and the money goes to charity

ilovedeadlifts

never heard of that before.

Going4Lean

how does it work ?

xxnellie146xx

I have never heard of it either. Is it just random people that you know sponsoring you?

jesshall281

Why dont you run/walk for charity?

Training for it will help you lose weight and you can still raise money?

MB_Positif

I had never heard of it before, but like any goal like losing for a wedding or special event, the results don't always stick. If you can't figure out why you want to do it for yourself, then you're just not ready.

LH2011

I will probably have people go mad at me for this but my two cent is I hate sponsored walks, parachute jumps etc I am all for raising money for charity but please do something worth while and not something self serving maybe a sponsored clean up or sponsored day helping in the community etc. Sorry just what I think

Jacwhite22

Hi

I am thinking about doing a sponsored slim as I figured that if I cant lose weight for myself maybe I can do it for a cause close to my heart.

Has anyone ever done this before? How did you go about it? When I look on the net they all seem pretty short term but I guess those who sponsor you might not be around in 6 months / a year.....

Would love any advice or stories!

I'll give you $.10 for each lb you lose.

ElliieMental

Wow didn't realise it was so unknown!

Its like you would get sponsors for a sponsored walk, sponsored silence , wearing your clothes backwards for a day only people would sponsor you to lose so much weight in say (for example) the space of 3 months. Maybe sponsor an amount for reaching goal or so much per LB lost. You would ask friends, family, coworkers.

Sidesteal

Thanks for the explanations above.

I would question whether or not this would keep you slim in the long run. So you drop 20lbs on a sponsored system. What happens when the money is already donated and you're 20lbs lighter and looking in the fridge?

Just being blunt here -- you need to figure out why you want to get in shape and really come to terms with it.

And if the answer is "I really don't care" then that's fine (really, it is).

ElliieMental

I will probably have people go mad at me for this but my two cent is I hate sponsored walks, parachute jumps etc I am all for raising money for charity but please do something worth while and not something self serving maybe a sponsored clean up or sponsored day helping in the community etc. Sorry just what I think

No its a fair comment but you would be giving lots up for the cause else people just wouldnt sponsor you lol.

I just did a big physical event for charity and it was a whole day of fun and games and no one thought less of us doing that. The event raised thousands for various charities so can't really see the harm?

ElliieMental

Thanks for the explanations above.

I would question whether or not this would keep you slim in the long run. So you drop 20lbs on a sponsored system. What happens when the money is already donated and you're 20lbs lighter and looking in the fridge?

Just being blunt here -- you need to figure out why you want to get in shape and really come to terms with it.

And if the answer is "I really don't care" then that's fine (really, it is).

Well maintenance is another bridge to cross but I'm thinking maybe deep down I self sabotage for whatever reasons, doing it for a selfless reason might be the answer

Perhaps not though from the responses I got :laugh:

AnarchoGen

I entered a 12 week transformation challenge & that was my plan if I won any cash that I would donate it to a charity ran by a friend of mine. It's a great way to stay committed to your goal. You can do that as well as helping in your community - whatever gets you to move around more.

dhakiyya

I haven't. I can see pros and cons to it.

Pro - accountability. You'll stick to the programme because you'll be letting down the charity if you don't.

Con #1 - these things are nearly always done by lose x pounds in weight = x pounds/dollars in money - this inevitably leads to you focusing on trying to lose as much scale weight as you can, which is neither healthy nor sustainable. For healthy, sustainable fat loss you need to take it slow and steady. However when it comes to people sponsoring you, slow and steady = boring and unimpressive. Unfortunately what sells and what gets people to take notice, is big losses in a short time, and big losses in a short time are very unhealthy (as it's not fat you'll be losing but lean body mass). So if you set it up to lose the fat slowly and sustainably you'd possibly lose sponsorship because people will (incorrectly) think that you're not trying hard enough or whatever (unfortunately the general population has a lot of messed up ideas about fat loss). If you set it up where pounds lost = money, then you'll be putting pressure on yourself to lose weight too fast rather than focus on health.

Con #2 - if you mess up for whatever reason you'll have far more guilt to deal with, not just guilt at messing up, but guilt at failing to raise money for charity.

My advice would be to find other ways to raise money for charity - a sponsored walk or run would be a lot better, it would still be contributing to your fat loss goals because it's exercise (plus all the exercise while training for it) and it's healthy and it won't put pressure on you to be unhealthy (provided you follow the right kind of advice for doing and training for long distance runs/walks safely). And then for fat loss, find other ways to stay accountable - this site can help you with that, get some supportive friends, fill out your food diary and keep it so your friends can see it, and post your weekly results on the site.

Sidesteal

Thanks for the explanations above.

I would question whether or not this would keep you slim in the long run. So you drop 20lbs on a sponsored system. What happens when the money is already donated and you're 20lbs lighter and looking in the fridge?

Just being blunt here -- you need to figure out why you want to get in shape and really come to terms with it.

And if the answer is "I really don't care" then that's fine (really, it is).

Well maintenance is another bridge to cross but I'm thinking maybe deep down I self sabotage for whatever reasons, doing it for a selfless reason might be the answer

Perhaps not though from the responses I got :laugh:

You would probably know yourself better than I would, so if you think this is what you need to get you to stick to your plan then it's obviously better than not sticking to your plan.

ElliieMental

I haven't. I can see pros and cons to it.

Pro - accountability. You'll stick to the programme because you'll be letting down the charity if you don't.

Con #1 - these things are nearly always done by lose x pounds in weight = x pounds/dollars in money - this inevitably leads to you focusing on trying to lose as much scale weight as you can, which is neither healthy nor sustainable. For healthy, sustainable fat loss you need to take it slow and steady. However when it comes to people sponsoring you, slow and steady = boring and unimpressive. Unfortunately what sells and what gets people to take notice, is big losses in a short time, and big losses in a short time are very unhealthy (as it's not fat you'll be losing but lean body mass). So if you set it up to lose the fat slowly and sustainably you'd possibly lose sponsorship because people will (incorrectly) think that you're not trying hard enough or whatever (unfortunately the general population has a lot of messed up ideas about fat loss). If you set it up where pounds lost = money, then you'll be putting pressure on yourself to lose weight too fast rather than focus on health.

Con #2 - if you mess up for whatever reason you'll have far more guilt to deal with, not just guilt at messing up, but guilt at failing to raise money for charity.

My advice would be to find other ways to raise money for charity - a sponsored walk or run would be a lot better, it would still be contributing to your fat loss goals because it's exercise (plus all the exercise while training for it) and it's healthy and it won't put pressure on you to be unhealthy (provided you follow the right kind of advice for doing and training for long distance runs/walks safely). And then for fat loss, find other ways to stay accountable - this site can help you with that, get some supportive friends, fill out your food diary and keep it so your friends can see it, and post your weekly results on the site.

Thanks for that I'm still aching from my charity ventures at the weekend which is what made me think of it.
You have raised some very valid cons though!

ElliieMental

Thanks for the explanations above.

I would question whether or not this would keep you slim in the long run. So you drop 20lbs on a sponsored system. What happens when the money is already donated and you're 20lbs lighter and looking in the fridge?

Just being blunt here -- you need to figure out why you want to get in shape and really come to terms with it.

And if the answer is "I really don't care" then that's fine (really, it is).

Well maintenance is another bridge to cross but I'm thinking maybe deep down I self sabotage for whatever reasons, doing it for a selfless reason might be the answer

Perhaps not though from the responses I got :laugh:

You would probably know yourself better than I would, so if you think this is what you need to get you to stick to your plan then it's obviously better than not sticking to your plan.

Also very true!

Thanks for all the replies - it has given me plenty of things to consider :glasses: :happy:

momtokgo

Why don't you sign up for a 5K for a few months from now (if you can find one)? That way you will still be doing something for charity, but until then you will have to work your butt off to get ready, and in the process I'm sure lose weight.

beccarockslife

TBH I think that putting that kind of pressure on yourself to shift lbs rather than changing habits and letting the weight follow will mean it'll only last as long as you are being sponsored for.

ElliieMental

Why don't you sign up for a 5K for a few months from now (if you can find one)? That way you will still be doing something for charity, but until then you will have to work your butt off to get ready, and in the process I'm sure lose weight.

I am on week 4 of the couch to 5k but its my eating that lets me down. I am not against eating back my exercise calories but I find cardio makes my appetite rage! I am trying to plan more strength training into my routine rather than pounding the treadmill all the time now as I'm hoping that will help, but I dont want to abandon the running plan - just need something external to make me say no to myself!

suziecue66

Where people sponsor you to lose weight and the money goes to charity

How do you know that they actually give the money to charity and not keep it for themselves? Or do sponsors send the money direct to charity?

ElliieMental

TBH I think that putting that kind of pressure on yourself to shift lbs rather than changing habits and letting the weight follow will mean it'll only last as long as you are being sponsored for.

I guess it was the pressure that attracted me to it but as a previous poster pointed out, if I fail I will have added guilt and humiliation :frown:

ElliieMental

Where people sponsor you to lose weight and the money goes to charity

How do you know that they actually give the money to charity and not keep it for themselves?

They give the money to me and I give it to charity but like all events, you have to take it on trust really! A lot of actual charities don't always spend the money on what they should, sad fact of life!

MB_Positif

I am on week 4 of the couch to 5k but its my eating that lets me down. I am not against eating back my exercise calories but I find cardio makes my appetite rage! I am trying to plan more strength training into my routine rather than pounding the treadmill all the time now as I'm hoping that will help, but I dont want to abandon the running plan - just need something external to make me say no to myself!

Alright...it's actually 100% normal for exercise to increase your appetite, so that is OK! As far as the something external to make you say no to yourself...you have friends on MFP to hold you accountable!

ElliieMental

I am on week 4 of the couch to 5k but its my eating that lets me down. I am not against eating back my exercise calories but I find cardio makes my appetite rage! I am trying to plan more strength training into my routine rather than pounding the treadmill all the time now as I'm hoping that will help, but I dont want to abandon the running plan - just need something external to make me say no to myself!

Alright...it's actually 100% normal for exercise to increase your appetite, so that is OK! As far as the something external to make you say no to yourself...you have friends on MFP to hold you accountable!

Yeh it would be fine if I were eating the good stuff but because it makes me crave instant energy (high carb/high fat/high sugar) it triggers off binges in me more often than making me reach for something healthy. I'm lucky that I enjoy exercise just need to work on the cals in part of the equation.

I could always do with more accountability pals if anyone would like to add me and tell me off when I don't log my food!!

TauTheBull

I usually do a yearly diabetes walk with the hospital. Its not a big walk but the entry fee I pay goes towards charity then whatever distance I walk I donate to charity.

I often do this challenge http://advancedgenetics.ca/transformation.php and since it has been revamped to a monthly challenge its even better but you need to be on Facebook and thats why I have a Facebook account again because the challenge is awesome!

Anything that gets you motivated no matter how silly just do it!

twilight_princess

Hi

I am thinking about doing a sponsored slim as I figured that if I cant lose weight for myself maybe I can do it for a cause close to my heart.

Has anyone ever done this before? How did you go about it? When I look on the net they all seem pretty short term but I guess those who sponsor you might not be around in 6 months / a year.....

Would love any advice or stories!

I'm on a U.K. programme called Weight Wins (aka as lbs for £'s) were you can be rewarded for weight loss. Its not really for charity but I suppose you can donate what you earn. You have to of course pay membership into it but depending on the plan you take you can earn up to 60% more than what you put in.

I only joined well into my weight loss but its good motivation now as I'm apporaching my goal as I don't want to lose out of the money I put in.

hypotrochoid

Maybe try StickK? You make a bet with yourself and the website keeps you accountable? http://www.stickk.com/

ElliieMental

Wow these are really great ideas I will definitely look into them! Thanks guys