Let’s Try This Again

Faithful reader, you may recall my failed Motivation Project from around this time last year.  It ended up in me Abandoning the Project.  I did make some progress over the summer and did get down to just under 190 lbs. however another 9 lbs. has somehow snuck back on to my personage.  I have successfully lost this same weight in previous years (check out the Outsourcing My Body blog series from early 2012).  I had an idea over the weekend and I sent the following email to my children…

===BEGIN EMAIL===

Subject: New Project (and a way for you to make some money)
Body:
Children,
    I, your father, have gained some the weight back I have lost over the summer and now am needing your help (and I will pay you for it).
    Here is my plan: I currently weigh 199 pounds (I weighed myself this morning).  I have a goal of getting down to 180 pounds and a "stretch goal" of getting down to 175 pounds.  A stretch goal is an extra goal that you make in case you make your original goal and still want to continue.  It is a word we use at work here at HP.
    Anyway, I will make a few, smaller goals and I will reward YOU, my children, when I hit those goals.  The rewards will increase as I lose more weight and they will be as follows...

Weight Reached	Cash Reward
195	$ 6
190	$ 14
185	$ 20
180	$ 26
175	$ 34

    So, as I reach each goal (195 pounds, 190 pounds, etc.) you will received the Cash Reward to SPLIT between yourselves.  For example, if I reach 195 pounds then you will each receive $3 (so $6 total reward).  When I reach 190 pounds, you will each get $7 (so $14 total reward) and so on.  If you add up all the rewards, it equals $100 (so $50 each).  This money will sit, unused, until I reach each goal.  I have the money with me as I write this email.  I will not give up / quit and spend it on something else.  Whatever is left of this $100 after 6 months (so May 3rd of 2015) I will put in the offering plate at church.
    Now, your job is to help me lose weight.  You can be creative but here are a few ideas that I have...

1. Encourage me.  I need you to be POSITIVE since calling me things like Fat Old Man or Lazy No Good Cheap Father will not help.
2. Exercise with me.  Get up early and take a walk (or run) with me.  Maybe we do the 200 Sit Up or 100 Push Up challenge together.  Maybe you force me to walk a dog (while you walk another dog alongside me) in the evenings.
3. Don't tempt me.  Don't ask to eat out so often or make ice cream runs or ask for candy or other high calorie, no nutrition things around the house (I am tempted to eat what is in the house).  I am not saying we cannot do these things, but it will delay you getting your cash reward or cause you to lose it in the church offering bag.
4. Be creative.  What else can you think of?  Maybe you set goals for me for steps per day (Son, I will need my pedometer back).

    Let me know if you have any questions.  We start tomorrow (or tonight if you like)!
Dad

===END EMAIL===

    So there you have it.  In 6 months I will be $100 poorer, one way or another, and I may or may not have lost all of the weight and hit my goal.  I will keep you posted.
Jon