We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Wife and I have a weight loss bet, need help

dbdmora
Posts: 13 Member
Hello, wondering if someone can give us ideas on a weight loss bet. My wife and I want to do a weight loss bet starting in January till June. My wife weighs more than me and I do not just want to % weight loss since, I want to gain more muscle. I am trying to combine a set of goals that we each must meet in order to find the clear winner of the bet and to make it fair as possible since I know that both men and women lose weight differently. This is my idea
- 1st goal - set a target weight you want to be at or below.
- 2nd goal - Amount of % body fat we want to lose
- 3rd goal - any ideas from community?
1
Replies
-
Set up behavioral goals- Logging
- Workouts
- Cooking new dishes
- Things like that
11 -
Make the 3rd goal a fitness challenge.
Cycle or hike up your local mountain ... one you haven't climbed yet.
Cycle a randonneuring/audax event or run a marathon.
Canoe/kayak the length of a long river.
Participate in a bodybuilding championship.
You could each pick a goal that interests you, or pick one you can do together. A fitness goal, like one of these, or another one you might be able to think of, gives you a focus other than just simply losing weight. It provides a "why" ... you're losing weight so that you can take on this challenge and do this thing.5 -
Have you considered doing a challenge together as a team? Lose a combined 50 pounds or whatever and the reward is a weekend getaway. That way you're working together and encouraging each other rather than trying to beat each other.20
-
Something fitness related...
5k race (placing highest within your age/gender catagory)
Or something similar.2 -
since you mention behavioral goals, I just thought about a running goal. Since there is 22 weeks from Jan to Jun, maybe a running goal of 110 miles, which is 5 miles a week or 1.4 mile/day. Thanks for the idea on behavioral goals.0
-
You have different genders and different objectives so you are trying to compare apples and oranges.
I'll second the idea of setting process goals rather than result goals. It would be hard to decide on a winner but wouldn't it be nice for both of you to win?8 -
Also body fat percentage is hard to compute and different for guys and gals ... Maybe who hits there calorie goal more often over the next 22weeks
Good luck and enjoy3 -
Thanks everyone for the fitness goal idea. I will discuss it with her and see if there is one she wants to do. Yes it would be nice if we both win but $1000 is on the line lol. The is the amount we set in order to motivate us.1
-
Thanks everyone for the fitness goal idea. I will discuss it with her and see if there is one she wants to do. Yes it would be nice if we both win but $1000 is on the line lol. The is the amount we set in order to motivate us.
Why don't you compete against another couple? or do a dietbet? (online bet)3 -
I second the suggestion of behavioral goals.
Weight loss bets have the potential to promote unhealthy and unsustainable eating patterns that are difficult to maintain over the long term, and thus are ultimately less successful. Behavioral goals promote healthy lifestyle changes and mindfulness about food and exercise that are easier to maintain long-term.
While it might be fun to set it up as first-one-across-the-finish-line-wins, it seems to me you both win if you both meet your goals, in more ways than one. I encourage you to set up your bet to account for that.
5 -
I second the suggestion of behavioral goals.
Weight loss bets have the potential to promote unhealthy and unsustainable eating patterns that are difficult to maintain over the long term, and thus are ultimately less successful. Behavioral goals promote healthy lifestyle changes and mindfulness about food and exercise that are easier to maintain long-term.
While it might be fun to set it up as first-one-across-the-finish-line-wins, it seems to me you both win if you both meet your goals, in more ways than one. I encourage you to set up your bet to account for that.
This. And then spend the $1000 on something you would *both* enjoy.0 -
I don't know if this is actually true, but I have read many times that males lose weight more easily than females, so you may want to factor that in.1
-
Last year I lost 35 pounds (and got to my goal) and my husband lost about 60 pounds (and got to his goal). We encouraged each other. We walked (miles and miles and miles!) together. We both logged our meals daily. We hiked together. We both learned to eat healthier and eat less. It was a lot of fun. I can't imagine competing with one another; it was very rewarding to be on the SAME team, not on opposing teams.
Good luck to you both.6 -
Hi everyone, well it is not like we will not encourage each other. We both will be eating healthier and exercising together but a little competition doesn't hurt since we are both competitive. We are definitely setting up fitness goals. One of my goals is to run a mile in under 9 mins, I am at 12 mins right now. I will be encouraging her as much as she will be encouraging me. Thanks for all the suggestions.1
-
Good luck!
Glad you're setting a fitness goal.
Can I also recommend that you keep in mind some future goals of maintaining your goal weight for a year (or more)?
Just thinking that a lot of weight loss goals tend to inspire crash dieting, and forget about moderating your eating in a sustainable way that will work for life.2 -
Lots of great ideas..!
I just wanted to add that I think this is awesome1
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.4K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 440 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions