“We went to a music festival and I weighed 340 or 350 pounds at the time,” recalls Jonathan B. before his recent weight loss transformation. “By the end, I was hurting from having to stand up all day.”
“Now, I have a lot more energy and feel a lot better than I did before.”
Less than a year ago, Jonathan weighed over 300 pounds and could barely walk ¼ a mile — this was the wake-up call he needed.
“Realizing how out of shape I was made me want a change. I now feel immensely better. Before I did the challenge, I was tired all the time because I was super heavy and felt bad.”
With his wife committed to joining Jonathan on a lifestyle change, they both knew how to improve their eating habits but needed some extra motivation.
Then one day, Jonathan’s wife heard about HealthyWage on NPR.
She had been searching for weight loss challenges and found HealthyWage. “The big thing was money, we’re motivated by money!”
Nine months later on October 19, 2016, Jonathan completed his final weigh-in, losing a total of 82 pounds and meeting his weight loss goal!
Through HealthyWage, both Jonathan and his wife placed a weight loss bet and won big.
He bet $50 per month for 9 months that he would 82 pounds. When that final weigh-in confirmed his success, Jonathan won $1,509.77 – which included bonuses he earned for referring friends and family.
Check out these HealthyWage winners who each achieved their own personal weight loss goals and won big:
Anastasia W. bet $167 per month for 18 months that she could lose 41 pounds in that time. At the deadline, she weighed in and nailed it! She lost the 41 pounds and won $10,000!
Karen J., who discovered HealthyWage after seeing it featured on an ABC News segment, lost 50 pounds in six months and won $1,764!
For Dorlinda C., she was just ready. After putting on weight due to her Lupus medication, Dorlinda felt it was time to get rid of the weight once and for all.
Introduced to HealthyWage through her employer, Dorlinda saw there was a personal challenge she could participate in where she could customize it to her weight loss and bet preferences. She bet $500 for six months – she wanted to lose 49 pounds by October 1, 2016.
Dorlinda reached her goal and won $4,400!
“Losing weight isn’t easy,” exclaims Dorlinda. “The hardest part is finding a healthy way to do it. When you do it in a unhealthy way, it comes back just as easily as it came off. Doing it in a healthy way is more effective and sustainable.”
Find the Right Challenge for You
Before, Dorlinda liked participating in HealthyWage team challenges, but this time around, she decided the HealthyWager personal challenge was the best fit.
“I knew I was ready to take [the challenge] seriously and wanted to do what I could to maximize my efforts and motivate me the most.
“I began working with a personal trainer and continued throughout the challenge. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I rejoined with the personal trainer.”
“I’m very proud of myself,” she boasts. “A lot of people said I inspired them and it was amazing to know that I was inspiring my friends; I never expected that.”
Money was the incentive Dorlinda needed to lose weight and with the holidays approaching, having extra Christmas shopping cash was a huge bonus. Not to mention that it would “be painful to lose [her] money” had she lost the bet.
Jonathan agrees. “Not only was the [financial] payoff a motivation, but if if you don’t make it, you lose the money.” He could be out $450 or win over $1,000. Determined not to lose, he made sure he met his goal and he did!
Since the challenge, both Jonathan and his wife have continued to abstain from processed and fried foods most the time and instead focus on lean meats, fruits and veggies.
After seeing Jonathan’s incredible transformation, friends and family of his were inspired to start their own challenges and make healthy changes to their lives.
It’s important to know that HealthyWage isn’t a diet program or weight-loss regimen. While you’ll benefit from joining the community, reading tips and exchanging recipes, HealthyWage’s main purpose is facilitating your bet…and motivating you to a healthier lifestyle!
You put up the collateral. You conduct your weigh-ins. You choose your weight-loss goal and time frame.
Really, HealthyWage doesn’t make you lose weight — it just handsomely rewards you when you do.
By eliminating certain foods from his diet and making exercise a priority, Jonathan says he now can’t relax after work unless he’s worked out.
“The amount of stuff I’m able to do right now, I’m still surprised about it. I did a lot yardwork over the summer and at the end was able to get it all complete in one day whereas before, I was barely able to do 20 minutes of work at a time.”
How Does HealthyWage Work?
If you want to get paid to lose weight, here’s how to get started:
- Start at the HealthyWage Prize Calculator, where you’ll enter how much weight you want to lose (10-150 pounds, minimum 10% of your starting weight), how long you’ll take (six to 18 months) and how much you want to bet ($20-$150/month).
Based on that information, the calculator will determine your prize amount, up to $10,000.
You can play with the calculator until you get the prize and goal just right, and you’ll know your prize amount before officially placing your bet.
- Sign up and lay down your bet. You agree to pay the monthly amount for the duration of the challenge.
- Achieve your weight-loss goal, and win your prize!
You’ll start and end your challenge with a video-recorded weigh-in to demonstrate your weight loss.
Throughout the challenge, you’ll also log weekly weigh-ins, but not on video. These help ensure you’re losing the weight in a healthy way, not through extreme measures.
- If you don’t hit your goal, your money goes to support HealthyWage, including prizes for others who achieve their goals.
Ready to get started? Enter your information in the HealthyWage Prize Calculator to find out how much you can win!
Your Turn: What has helped you achieve your weight-loss goals?
