Anyone try the weight loss "betting" sites like healthy wage or others?
iam4scuba
Posts: 39 Member
I was curious if anyone has tried, and what their experience has been with, the sites that let you bet on a weight loss goal. From what I've been able to gather, you win the bet if you lose 4% of your weight in a month. They also let you set a long term goal and if you meet that, you can make a lot more depending on goal and timeline. (Sorry if I'm not allowed to post the name of the company - mods can remove from the title - just didn't know for sure how to explain the offering without providing an example company.
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Search weight loss bets here within the boards and you’ll find some hair raising stories of folks losing money via bets that were ridiculously unachievable.
You might be able to lose 4% if you start at a very high weight, but it’s like a casino. They’re betting (and banking on out) that you won’t.
If you start at 200 lbs , that’s 8 pounds in 28 days. That’s really humping it.2 -
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Ultimately, the house always wins.5
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cwolfman13 wrote: »Ultimately, the house always wins.
^^This. I worked in a casino for years.
Plus it seems a lot like "Biggest Loser" without the medical crisis support. Losing weight in a rapid way is likely going to be dangerous.
I don't do well when I under-eat for more than a few days so I know that would not work for me plus I want to hold on to my wallet. I wouldn't even try it.1 -
I did one once for the accountability and as an "incentive" to get back into my workout/eating healthy routine after a vacation. But in order to "win" I really had to cut back on my calories and work out like crazy, which set me off on a binge-restrict cycle... so not healthy. Never again.9
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I'm using Healthywage right now. My bet is minimal: $25 per month. And my profit will be very slight, as I do not have a lot to lose. For me it is motivational to NOT lose the $ I pay in, and helps me look to a longer term goal as my plan has me going thru April. I wanted something beyond the 'holidays'. But motivation is different for everyone.4
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I've done Dietbet several times and won except once. The last big one I did was 6 months long during pandemic and I lost 40lbs.
Am now doing one to lose the last 15-20. On the second round where I have to get to 182.6lbs. I'm currently at 185.2. Got 2 and half weeks left.
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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My scenario may be atypical.
Healthy Wager requires (and this may not be exact) a minimum of 10% weight loss, minimum of 6 months. I think the max is 18 months but not certain. I think its a profit of about $20 beyond my $25 x 9 payments. (My app needs an update so I can't confirm real #s.)
So for me - starting around upper 140's and going to lower 130's, my 15-16 pound loss target is not worth a whole heck of a lot. If I had more to lose it would be worth more. Mainly I need extra reason to stick with it long term. For this reason when I signed up - I did a 9 month 'wager' to take me thru April. Why? Because one of my pitfalls is getting to maintenance (or close) and then falling off from logging, gaining back some pounds. So I needed something on the calendar to take me well beyond the holidays. Because with a 9 month target: I must weigh in within 2 weeks of my end date. And the world is still not ready for 10k/half marathons on the calendar. Those sorts of things carried me thru much of 2015-2018!springlering62 wrote: »
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I have never used a website like Healthy Wage before. However, I did sign up for a weight loss challenge through my local park district back in 2012 to take the baby weight off. That's when I was first introduced to MFP. The challenge also included a weekly class about healthy weight loss, although the woman teaching it was an Herbalife rep. However, you didn't have to buy the products and I never did. There was a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place price for largest percentages of weight lost. Unsurprisingly, a man one first place, but 2 females got 2nd and 3rd--including me in 3rd place! Not only did I get some money, I kept the weight off and have lost more since then (about 15-20 pounds). I don't think I lost weight at a crazy rate, and had the advantage of burning extra calories through breastfeeding at the time.3
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I used Healthy Wage in 2020. It's not at all a scam - I think I paid in $25 a month for 6 months. I lost 30 pounds, met my goal and won $422.
that being said - they don't offer a weight loss program. They offer something of a community, financial incentive and motivation. They don't tell you how or what to do. I continued to use MFP and used Healthy Wage as well. If you want a true program - it's not for you. If want a little but of "risk" (lose your money) and "reward" kind of thing to put the pressure on a bit, it's not bad and does a great job.1 -
cmriverside wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Ultimately, the house always wins.
^^This. I worked in a casino for years.
Plus it seems a lot like "Biggest Loser" without the medical crisis support. Losing weight in a rapid way is likely going to be dangerous.
I don't do well when I under-eat for more than a few days so I know that would not work for me plus I want to hold on to my wallet. I wouldn't even try it.
I HATE the entire concept of Biggest Loser - and this isnt anything like that. You can not weigh in early, so there is no benefit to losing weight as quickly as possible. they do have a minimum amount of weight to lose, a minimum bet and a minimum amount of time - I want to say it's 10% of your body weight, no less than 6 months and no less than $25 a month. All it is is external motivation for those who might benefit from it. You dont have to undereat or anything - I used MFP the whole time, did everything all of us here are already doing.2 -
I really like StepBet! Instead of a weight loss goal, you have a step goal. They will calculate depending on your activity/device and you can see what your step goal will be before agreeing to the game. I have 3 games going at all times. Definitely not getting rich quick, but not losing money helps me to remember to get my steps in.0
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I used this for a while, but got to a point where I had to quit doing new bets. Because each new cycle saw higher goals and I could not continually increase my activity.Go_Deskercise wrote: »I really like StepBet! Instead of a weight loss goal, you have a step goal. They will calculate depending on your activity/device and you can see what your step goal will be before agreeing to the game. I have 3 games going at all times. Definitely not getting rich quick, but not losing money helps me to remember to get my steps in.
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nanastaci2020 wrote: »I used this for a while, but got to a point where I had to quit doing new bets. Because each new cycle saw higher goals and I could not continually increase my activity.Go_Deskercise wrote: »I really like StepBet! Instead of a weight loss goal, you have a step goal. They will calculate depending on your activity/device and you can see what your step goal will be before agreeing to the game. I have 3 games going at all times. Definitely not getting rich quick, but not losing money helps me to remember to get my steps in.
I have the membership so I can do "maintainer" games and "recovery" games which lower your goals0 -
One thing to keep in mind
If they say you can win, say, $800 if you accomplish your inputs and your wager is $100/month over 6 months....you're really only winning $200 (spending $600 to get $800 if successful).
They are successful using statistical analysis as most people will fail in these endeavors.
Me? I'd rather spend my wager amount on a coach, meal planning, gym etc...3 -
I've Dietbet a few times and have won over $1000 total.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 35+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition 0 -
I've never used any of these apps. I'm curious: Do users just self-report their weight, or is there a real-world component for weigh-ins? What keeps the users honest?0
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »I've never used any of these apps. I'm curious: Do users just self-report their weight, or is there a real-world component for weigh-ins? What keeps the users honest?
Generally I've heard it's self reported until the end, when you have to provide photraphic evidence of your scale weight. That being said, they all seem to reserve the right to require video check ins of any participant they have suspicions about.0 -
sollyn23l2 wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »I've never used any of these apps. I'm curious: Do users just self-report their weight, or is there a real-world component for weigh-ins? What keeps the users honest?
Generally I've heard it's self reported until the end, when you have to provide photraphic evidence of your scale weight. That being said, they all seem to reserve the right to require video check ins of any participant they have suspicions about.
Thanks.0 -
You might also try Way Better. They have a lot of different "games" like eating fruits and vegetables, exercise, etc. Not just weight. It is more of a test of your consistency, and having the self discipline to do the photos/data recordings, etc multiple times per day. But could motivate you to stick with it. Note that you tend to win a lot with on step one (when you first start) because a lot of people decide it is not for them and never finish their first game.0
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Way Better owns DietbetYou might also try Way Better. They have a lot of different "games" like eating fruits and vegetables, exercise, etc. Not just weight. It is more of a test of your consistency, and having the self discipline to do the photos/data recordings, etc multiple times per day. But could motivate you to stick with it. Note that you tend to win a lot with on step one (when you first start) because a lot of people decide it is not for them and never finish their first game.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 35+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Just like Vegas, the house always wins.0
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »Just like Vegas, the house always wins.
Lots of people cheat dietbet and win pretty easily. Gorge for a day, drink a ton of water, weigh yourself right after your last meal. Then put in a goal of 5 pounds loss. Before you have your final weigh in, fast for a day and limit your water and salt intake. Weigh yourself 1st thing in the morning after using the bathroom. Boom. You'll lose 5 pounds in that day.0 -
sollyn23l2 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Just like Vegas, the house always wins.
Lots of people cheat dietbet and win pretty easily. Gorge for a day, drink a ton of water, weigh yourself right after your last meal. Then put in a goal of 5 pounds loss. Before you have your final weigh in, fast for a day and limit your water and salt intake. Weigh yourself 1st thing in the morning after using the bathroom. Boom. You'll lose 5 pounds in that day.
Oh, I've know muscular, lean HS kids that lost 10 pounds in day for wrestling. No food, minimal water, exercising in a sauna to sweat, sure it's possible. I'm surprised the site isn't set up to figure that out.
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I've veered away from Dietbet and similar because I feel like even when I'm watching my calories closely, I can't control whether I lose a certain % of weight. However, I really like Waybetter (it's owned by the same company as Dietbet and Stepbet). Waybetter has a lot of different challenges you can sign up for and most of them are only two weeks at a time. Examples are: take a photo of yourself drinking water 6 days/week; take a post-workout selfie 4 days/week; etc. Some are linked to a fitness tracker, such as 30-min workout with an average heart rate of 110.0
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no1racefan2 wrote: »I've veered away from Dietbet and similar because I feel like even when I'm watching my calories closely, I can't control whether I lose a certain % of weight. However, I really like Waybetter (it's owned by the same company as Dietbet and Stepbet). Waybetter has a lot of different challenges you can sign up for and most of them are only two weeks at a time. Examples are: take a photo of yourself drinking water 6 days/week; take a post-workout selfie 4 days/week; etc. Some are linked to a fitness tracker, such as 30-min workout with an average heart rate of 110.
Having done Apple Challenges and gotten caught up in the “have to be first place at the risk of no rest days and running around frantically trying to burn the last 30 calories or 20 minutes exercise I need “ , that can be a dangerous mindset to get absorbed in.
It irks me to no end that Apple doesn’t build rest days in to their 30-day challenges, and that their stupid “medals” egg you on to ridiculous goals. “You averaged 20,000 steps a day last month. Try to get 23,000”. “You averaged 350 minutes of exercise a day last month. Try to increase to 375”. At some point it’s just unsustainable and reckless.
Hard “no” to betting sites. Plus I’d always assume others have figured out a way to game the system as described above.1
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