JOOB is a name we came up with for this weight loss plan as it is short for Just Out Of Bed. The idea being that you need to check your weight at the same time of day, and just out of bed and straight onto the scales has proved OK for me in the past.

About 2 years ago I was very obese, and through a combination of re-defining my diet, walking and cycling, I managed to lose about 24 lbs over the period of about a year. Then I became sick, and had to stop all of these activities. 3 operations later over a year or so, I realised I had put excess weight back on.

After talking with my youngest daughter over the weekend, I learned that she and her husband had lost a lot of weight recently, but needed to lose a lot more to achieve their target weight.

They put a plan together which is now available to everyone who needs support, and all for free. Here are the details:

“Buddy” up with someone who also has some weight to lose, preferably a similar amount to you.

See note 1

Agree how many pounds you would like to lose during your challenge – this must be the same for both of you. See note 2

Work out the date your challenge will start and end – one week for every pound you would like to lose. See note 3

Start your weight loss - healthy eating, exercising, walking, cycling or whatever else to help your challenge – surgery not allowed!!! See note 4

On the starting day of your challenge, email or text your buddy with your “JOOB” weight - Just Out Of Bed.

On the same day every week, text your weight progress to your buddy. See note 5

If you both achieve your target weight-loss before the end date of your challenge, either set a new date and goal with your buddy or find a new buddy to continue with. See note 1

On the end date of your challenge reflect on how well you’ve done and decide if you want to set a new target. If so, see 7 above

If you need additional motivation, why not agree to add money as an incentive – perhaps $5 or $10 in a jar for every pound your buddy loses – the theory being that no money will change hands at the end of the challenge because you will have lost the same…. If you lose more pounds than your target you still get the target amount – no more. Likewise, if you lose less than the target loss, you will get less money.

(Obviously use your own currency for where you live).

If you are using the money incentive, put the agreed amount per lb in a jar for each full lb your buddy has lost that week. Then, at the end of the challenge work out how much you owe your buddy and your buddy owes you – hopefully no money will need to change hands. See note 6

As an example, this is how it will work

My buddy and I both want to lose 14lbs in 14 weeks - end date 1^st June. We’ve agreed $10 per lb of weight lost.

For every lb I lose each week, my buddy will put $10 in a jar for me and I’ll do the same for him. On 1^st June I intend for my buddy to have $140 in a jar to give me and I’ll have anything from $0 to $140 to give him, depending on how well he has done. I may even make some money if he hasn’t achieved his 14lb loss in that time….

Why not give it a try – you’ve got weight to lose and money to gain……….

Note 1 If you can’t find a buddy with similar goals to yourself, let us know and we’ll try to help.

Note 2 Don’t be too ambitious, if this is your first attempt at losing weight, try a target of say 7 lbs loss at first, you can always repeat this once your target is achieved.

Note 3We suggest a Saturday to start, if not a Sunday, just to make it easier to keep tabs on everyone.

Note 4 Over the duration of the plan, we will suggest tricks and tips to help you stay on plan with tips on healthy eating, exercising etc which we have found works for us in the past. These will be posted on the JOOB Weight Loss Plan web site.

Note 5 As well as texting your buddy every week, please also send an email with the results to JoobWeightLossPlan@yahoo.com just using the initials of both of you will be fine if you wish.

Note 6 While you both need to put in the same amount for each pound you’ve lost, don’t overstretch your weekly budget. Provided that you achieve your goals, you won’t have to part with any money, giving you spare cash on completion of the plan to treat yourself to a new outfit in a smaller size.

If you have something to contribute by way of recommended diets, exercisers or change of lifestyle, why not share them with everyone else? Either include your ideas in your weekly report or as a comment in the blog.

Likewise, you will notice that we’ve recommended helpful purchases with big discounts here. If you have seen anything like this, why not tell us about it too in your weekly report?

We hope to hear from lots of you this weekend with your goals.

Now get busy planning,

Art

PS Today is Ash Wednesday when we are encouraged to give something up over the next 40 days for Lent.

What more incentive do you need than this?

Remember, even though you yourself might not need to lose weight, YOU WILL know someone who does. If you can gently point them in the direction of this hub, you will be doing them a massive favor. Masses of people are becoming unemployed at this time of crisis, and it is an essential part of gaining employment again by staying healthy, fit, and looking good.

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