Get In A Group For Big Weight Loss

I was reading a story in our local newspaper about a group of elementary school teachers that are running their own biggest weight loss competition.  The show that is its namesake has popularized the notion of going for big weight loss goals.  I’ve tried watching the show a few times, but to be honest, I think the show is more about humiliating the contestants than trying to help them.  But from what I read, it sounds as if the event going on here is only similar to the show in name only.

How to hit big weight loss goals

There are two things that “The Biggest Loser” gets right, in terms of motivating people to lose weight.  Ideas that have been proven to help people achieve big weight loss goals.  This is important, because making drastic changes to one’s lifestyle over the short term is a real challenge.  Stretch that timeframe out over a period of twelve months, and what has been proven is that as few as 5% of people that lose substantial amounts of weight are able to maintain that loss over a period of years.

Group Effort

An overriding theme for achieving weight loss goals (or any goal, for that matter) is to get in a group.  The show is, of course, a group effort.  Albiet with negative reinforcement.  The group at the local elementary school has a coordinator that sends out tips and encouragement.  Each “official” particpant has a number assigned to them for recordkeeping.  This allows participants to post their weight loss progress without being singled out, which is a nice touch.

The power of groups is, quite frankly, awesome.  There is a huge psychological component to working toward a common goal with people.  They will offer encouragement, advice, and when needed, a swift kick in the pants.  The added bonus is that, often times, observers will be motivated by the camaraderie of the group to join in the effort.  When they pick up steam, groups have the ability to change lives.  (I say this as my wife watches Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition – another example.)

Cold, Hard Cash

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania proved that the simple offer of cash for weight loss is a powerful incentive for people to pursue weight loss goals.  Although I probably shouldn’t be surprised by this, I was.  Even more interesting was the fact that participants in the study were more motivated by small, regular rewards, rather than an opportunity for a larger cash payout.  We can see this being played out on “The Biggest Loser” shows.

The dark side to offering cash for weight loss is that the results tend to be fleeting.  Participants in the study were screened three months after its completion, and most had started to regain their weight.

What have you found that works for helping lose weight?  Both over the short term, but more importantly, over longer periods of time?  For me, the initial success came partially as the result of having a partner.  Once I lost my partner, it became more a matter of self-motivating.  Now, my wife acts as a support group in staying true to my goals.  That works well since she’s also the primary cook.