This time around, it’s lose weight or lose money

I've struggled a lot over the past couple of years to lose some weight. I haven't always been this way. In fact, when my first child was born nearly 8 years ago, I weighed about 30 pounds less than I do now.

I know, I keep thinking the same thing. What happened?

I could write all kinds of excuses here but that's not what this blog post is about. This blog post is about finally putting my money where my mouth is.

Literally.

This time I'm "stickking" to it

Enter the web site, Stickk, which allows you to enter your goals, ranging anywhere from losing weight to saving money to learning a foreign language. It's really up to you to put whatever you want for your goal.

The beauty is in what happens next. I'm referring to the part where you enter your credit card number along with the amount of money you are willing to stake that you will meet your goal. And if you're thinking that Stickk keeps the money if you don't meet your goal, you're wrong. You decide who gets the money.

In my case, I've selected a goal of losing 13 pounds in 9 weeks (it's a start). I put $90 on the line and designated my sister as the recipient of my money if I don't meet my goal. Stick broke my goal down into 9 weekly check-ins worth $10 each. Today was my first check-in and I'm proud to say I'm ahead of my goal and my first $10 will remain safely in my own pocket.

Now some of you skeptics out there may say that this isn't very effective because I could just lie about my weight each week. That's why Stickk also lets you designate a referee. I chose my wife, but you can choose whomever you like. Your referee's job is to verify each week that you are telling the truth. So if on any given week I say I met my goal but my wife says otherwise, I lose the $10.

Give money to people you despise

Stickk also lets you get creative on where your money could go. They have both charity and anti-charity options. The charity is just what it sounds like. Each week you don't meet your goal, your money is donated to the charity of your choice. But for some people, that's not enough motivation because they feel good when their money goes to a good cause. That's where the anti-charity comes in. The idea behind the anti-charity is to pick a charity that would make your blood boil if you knew that money in your name was donated to them.

Finally, Stick offers several support options including letting me people leave messages for you offering their support and praise. They also let you publish your goals and weekly updates to your Facebook profile. I have opted to do this for the sole purpose that the more people that know about what I am trying to accomplish, the harder I will work to meet my goal.

Time will tell whether all of this will work. Talk to me again in late August when I will either be 13 pounds lighter or $80 poorer.

P.S. If you want to help support me in my goal, send me your email address or your Stickk screen name so I can add you to my list of supporters.