Here's the drawback to DietBet, and one that has me in its clutches: money.
I won my first dietbet a good long while ago, tripling my $10 ante and losing 15 lb. with a small group of women who, regrettably, were all strangers. It was definitely an experience to remember, winning that money for doing what I wanted to do. I also wanted to win money, so there was no losing!
Or was there?
I tried again, and didn't succeed. I have chronic depression compunded by PTSD AND BPD, and my impulse control is zilch. zero, zip, nada. I blame the full moon.
So I fell off the wagon big time and am right back where i started, if not heavier. (I think I'm heavier. I am afraid of the scale.) It wasn't enough for me, and I wasn't really ready to make a change. To be honest, I am not sure if I am now, either!
There's a time to profit from your effort, and a time to effort for the profit, and balance doesn't come easy. It's worth the work, but so many of us yo-yo types don't know how to maintain the balance for the long haul. DietBet is great - I'm going to try again - but there has to be something more than just the money.
I came here because of the money. I thought "I could get rich! I've got a lot of weight to lose. It's a double win, because you get cash AND you get sexy!"
Here's my tips: DO NOT COME HERE FOR MONEY. The bet is a fun thing, a motivator, but you're not going to make a living here. You can't get out of debt here. You're not going to fund your pizza weekends here. Be serious about your HEALTH not just the money.
EAT MORE, NOT LESS. Instead of starving yourself, depriving yourself of those treats that you've become accustomed to, eat MORE veggies, fresh fruits, and grains. Don't give yourself an aneurism trying to reject the second slice or the birthday party cake. Make an effort, instead, to get more NUTRITION in your meals.
BRING A FRIEND. This is a toughie. Money can make a big stink between longtime friends and the most caring family members. But an even bigger stink is trying to go it alone. Sure, you're going to be joining a group of betters on here, but if you're strangers, you won't be as likely to interact. trying to make new friends is always an effort, and you're already going to be making an effort to win these people's money!
MAKE IT YOUR GOAL NOT TO MAKE MORE MONEY, BUT GET YOUR MONEY BACK. That one I think is self explanatory. Many people abandon DietBet and never come back because they feel like everyone is out to get their cash, and so are sabotaging them. At the very least, people are witholding support from one another because inside, that greedy part of you wants to win their money.
There's no shame in wanting to win, but this is not a bluffing game. Instead, its a game of strategy, a simulation, you're building a life for yourself, and you're a part of a community. Remember that, bad if you can't be kind to your neighbor, then at least don't stand in his way.
That said, I am going to start my DietBet in the second week of September, because I'm not expecting to make a big pile of cash, but instead I want to lose weight, and not money. Cya there.