Had a strange thing happen the other day. We were trying on our summer clothes, but the low humidity in our house must have triggered some kind of reaction in the fabric that caused the fibers to bind more tightly together. So nothing fit. This ever happen to you?
Okay, joke’s over. Who are we kidding? It’s not the humidity but our own timidity in the face of fattening food that got us into this bind. But we have a plan. It’s loosely based on the TV show Biggest Loser, where overweight contestants compete publicly for better bodies, self-respect, and, of course, fabulous cash prizes. Besides being fun to watch, it’s a brilliant get-back-in-shape concept for anyone with the courage to try it. By combining peer pressure with team support (and, of course, fabulous cash prizes), everyone stays focused. Interested? Here are some tips for starting your own Biggest Loser competition.
Enlist family, friends, or coworkers. You’ll need two teams with at least three members apiece. It could be your side of the family against the in-laws, the women on your street versus those on the next one over, or, if you have an agreeable boss, accounts-receivable versus R&D.
Name a judge. This person should be an impartial observer (not a participant) whose job it is to conduct weigh-ins, chart results, oversee prize money, and confiscate contraband cupcakes.
Pick a time frame. Six, 8, 15 weeks…it doesn’t matter. But keep in mind the most effective diets are those that become lifestyles, so the longer, the better.
Set a registration fee. Everyone must pay to participate. The amount is arbitrary, but it should be enough to make it interesting. All of it goes into a kitty that will ultimately be divided between the winner, runners-up, or winning team (however you see fit). A portion could also be used to hire a nutritionist or personal trainer to speak to the group.
Try to recruit sponsors. Maybe there’s a local fitness center that is willing to contribute free (or discounted) gym time. Or, if it’s a workplace challenge, maybe HR would bestow some additional cash or even an extra week’s vacation (imagine that!).
Weigh everyone in. This should be done at the start of the competition (don’t forget “before” photos) and then weekly until the final weigh-in. Always use the same scale, and post the results publicly on a wall chart or Excel spreadsheet. To be fair to all body types, use weight-loss percent rather than pounds lost. (For a calculator that quickly figures this, visit www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/calculate-weight-loss-percentage.html.)
Let everyone pick her own weight-loss method. Whether it’s South Beach or Atkins, Weight Watchers or a half-marathon, it’s up to them. No one gets eliminated and, unlike on the show, there are no interim team challenges.
Throw a party. Celebrate the final weigh-in with “after” photos, a distribution of the prizes, and a healthful buffet. We suspect you’ll find that all the losers will be winners.
Dress Up a Plain Suit
