I am your friend not your competitor.
I started out my first diet bet hoping to make some money. My first game was with five people in my local area and I was happy to see them all do so well. When the game ended and everyone lost weight and achieved their goal, I felt amazing. I realized then that I wanted to do another DietBet but this time I was more concerned with helping others and pushing them towards success.
To anyone who reads this, please take everything I say here as a positive. I'm not an expert but I've been exposed to many well-educated individuals across the disciplines of physical health. The following is to help convey the good and the bad I see on DietBet:
1 - Please don't starve yourself. Most people will burn 1,500 to 2,500 calories a day. Increasing your activity during a DietBet actually means you need more fuel for that activity. Pro athletes (Which we are not) sometimes consume over 4,000 calories! You have to eat so your body can function.
2 - Make a few significant life changes. This is the key to success. Stop drinking sodas or go on a nightly walk. Maybe do some cardio in the morning. The length of a DietBet is long enough for most people to form a habit (#3).
3 - Turn you changes in to habits. Whether you win or lose, you'll win if you continue with the healthy lifestyle you've developed over this month. Celebrate at the end but use the moderation you've learned here to celebrate properly. If you haven't met your DietBet goal use your previous weigh-in and start up a new one to hold yourself accountable. Get to your goal and then use everything you've learned to stay at your goal.
Wishing everyone the best! Keep working towards your goals every day.