Hot Blonde Challenge

Here's my completely amateur take on this latest challenge. Someone became melancholy just before the holidays and though that posting here could be cathartic. I hope it was. She then realized that she posted too much personal information and got "poster's remorse." Other than piquing the interest of some and sending the Wizard on a wild goose chase there was no harm no foul. The best to you, Jane.

Quote: Wizard

This challenge has gone cold. I lost contact with pkrplr around the new year. That is the last time I drive to the Boulder Station to get a challenge going.

I don't think you should look negatively on the experience. "It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet." Your decision to meet her and possibly get another challenge going was +EV.

Up front money from the next person undertaking a challenge could be a great motivator.

I wish I had taken bets against me passing the bar exam. I struggled with motivation issues. Results come in two months. Pass rates usually hover between 80%-90%, so fair odds should be around 8-1 assuming nothing else about the test-taker.

Quote: teddys

I wish I had taken bets against me passing the bar exam. I struggled with motivation issues. Results come in two months. Pass rates usually hover between 80%-90%, so fair odds should be around 8-1 assuming nothing else about the test-taker.

I make money every year betting my graduating residents on whether they pass their Anesthesiology Board exam or not. It is a two part exam, and around 83% pass the written paart on their first try. Most can tell if they passed, because it is similar to exams they take throughout their residency, and those that fared above the bottom 20% on those tests rarely fail this written one. Those who did below the 10th percentile on the tests during residency rarely pass the official one.
But when it comes to the oral exam, which you can only take after passing the written one, probably 90% of those leaving think they failed! They all have heard that they don't have to be perfect, that errors are expected, but how you present yourself, and how you react under pressure is a large part of the grade. I win sushi dinners all the time betting on them passing. And they are super happy to pay me!

Hey, someone send them the "Wizard of Vegas Hot Blonde Challenge (TM)" results.

Quote:

Researchers are reporting success with using cash incentives to help people lose weight.

In a yearlong study, people were offered a chance to win or lose $20 a month if they met certain diet goals. They lost an average of 9 pounds compared to just over 2 pounds for other study participants who were not offered the chance to win money if they shed pounds.

The diet study involved 100 obese employees at the Mayo Clinic.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/07/cash-bribe-dieters/1970555/

6 month anniversary. HB posted a picture of herself in the WoV con thread, and still looks great. Congratulations!

I didn't participate at all in this thread as I didn't really have much interest in gambling relating to losing weight. But I do want to congratulate the person who lost the weight and kept it off!

That's an accomplishment. I think it's harder to keep weight off than to lose it in the first place.

I lost 45 lbs and gained it all back. I wish I was still at least 35 lbs lighter than I am.

Anyway, congratulations, HB!!!

Quote: Ahigh

I didn't participate at all in this thread as I didn't really have much interest in gambling relating to losing weight. But I do want to congratulate the person who lost the weight and kept it off!

That's an accomplishment. I think it's harder to keep weight off than to lose it in the first place.

I lost 45 lbs and gained it all back. I wish I was still at least 35 lbs lighter than I am.

Anyway, congratulations, HB!!!

Thank you, Ahigh. I didn't keep the weight off, but at the same time I haven't gotten even close to how much I weighed before. If I go to Vegas at the end of next month I'll likely weigh about 25 pounds heavier than when I left there 6 months ago.

Next time I embark on a weight loss goal I should have money down. After checking out the weight loss wagering site I felt cheated...

1st time at MEPS: 12 pounds overweight
2nd time at MEPS: 3 pounds under max weight (doctor told me you just barely made it fatboy! actually he didn't say fatboy.)
1 day at basic: lost 20lb since MEPS
last day at basic: lost 15 more pounds

Went from 190lb to 140lb in a span of 1 year. Probably put on 5 or so lb though because I don't do nearly enough exercises at home then when I was at basic, and I eat better food now :)

Congrats on the incredible weight loss, and winning the bet! Best of both worlds.

Quote: djatc

Next time I embark on a weight loss goal I should have money down. After checking out the weight loss wagering site I felt cheated...

1st time at MEPS: 12 pounds overweight
2nd time at MEPS: 3 pounds under max weight (doctor told me you just barely made it fatboy! actually he didn't say fatboy.)
1 day at basic: lost 20lb since MEPS
last day at basic: lost 15 more pounds

Went from 190lb to 140lb in a span of 1 year. Probably put on 5 or so lb though because I don't do nearly enough exercises at home then when I was at basic, and I eat better food now :)

COngrats on the weight loss- you don't need money incentives - just a healthier you!

Quote: djatc

Congrats on the incredible weight loss, and winning the bet! Best of both worlds.

Thank you. I've gained some of it back but I'm planning on getting back down again.

Quote: djatc

Went from 190lb to 140lb in a span of 1 year. Probably put on 5 or so lb though because I don't do nearly enough exercises at home then when I was at basic, and I eat better food now :)

The military didn't kick you out for 140lb? How tall are you? The military would probably be pissed if I was still 140 lbs being 6'1"...lol But I haven't been that weight since graduating high school...lol I'm now about what I roughly should be for civilians (190-200lbs)...thanks booze/bad diet/slower metabolism! :P

Quote: tringlomane

The military didn't kick you out for 140lb? How tall are you? The military would probably be pissed if I was still 140 lbs being 6'1"...lol But I haven't been that weight since graduating high school...lol I'm now about what I roughly should be for civilians (190-200lbs)...thanks booze/bad diet/slower metabolism! :P

I'm 5'6" so at my worst I looked really fat. Its weird losing significant weight because I don't feel any different. I can run faster and further but physically I don't see a change.

This is so kewl. What is her phone number?

Quote: Jarhed214

What is her phone number?

867-5309. Ask for Jenny.

Quote: Jarhed214

This is so kewl. What is her phone number?

Aren't you the one with the when to quit strategy? Well....... :)

Quote: 1BB

Aren't you the one with the when to quit strategy? Well....... :)

Love, money, money, love. I can never keep those straight.

George

Quote: Wizard

867-5309. Ask for Jenny.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Quote: Wizard

867-5309. Ask for Jenny.

Well thanks! it will probably take a good week to get that outta my head.

Tommy Tutone 867-5309. Fess up guys. Who hasn't prank dialed that number? I don't know what's worse, resurrecting this thread or having that song in our heads.

Quote: HotBlonde

SPOILER FOR THOSE NEWCOMERS WHO DON'T WANT TO READ THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PAGES:



NOW BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POST DATED Jan 9th, 2012:











Wow! This is for real now! I was mostly excited but now I'm kinda nervous. I'm planning on kicking some ass! Haha.

Before...



After...


(even though technically these last 2 pics are my waaaay before pics, I consider these my "after" pics cuz that's when I was right around 160-ish, so this should be similar to what I plan on looking like again)

Good gal. Nice work. My Wife and I have to do the same thing. How many kcal/day were you eating if you don't mind my asking? You doing aerobics and wts?
Thx.

Quote: APEppink

Quote: HotBlonde

SPOILER FOR THOSE NEWCOMERS WHO DON'T WANT TO READ THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PAGES:



NOW BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POST DATED Jan 9th, 2012:











Wow! This is for real now! I was mostly excited but now I'm kinda nervous. I'm planning on kicking some ass! Haha.

Before...



After...


(even though technically these last 2 pics are my waaaay before pics, I consider these my "after" pics cuz that's when I was right around 160-ish, so this should be similar to what I plan on looking like again)

Good gal. Nice work. My Wife and I have to do the same thing. How many kcal/day were you eating if you don't mind my asking? You doing aerobics and wts?
Thx.

At the beginning I was eating around 1300 calories per day. Toward the end I was eating about 1000 calories per day. It took me 256 days to lose 90.2 pounds (the amount I lost in the side-by-side picture above) and 269 days to lose a total of 99.6 pounds which was how much I lost total by the official weigh-in date. So I lost an extra 9.4 lbs after that above picture was taken. I was doing a lot of cardio and at times I was doing up to three days a week of full-body strength training.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this thread resurrected - is there a new challenge in the works?

Quote: aceofspades

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this thread resurrected - is there a new challenge in the works?

Haha, there could be! I need to get back into shape.

Quote: HotBlonde

Haha, there could be! I need to get back into shape.

I wouldn't bet against you.

There may be another challenge.... I've been saving up...... Life is full of coincidences..... I texted HB for the first time in many months today as I was reminiscing after booking my next trip to Vegas which will be a year from the original challenge completion. We talked a lot and she seems to be doing great! Amazingly, her weight never came up! Anyway, I'll be in Vegas from October 8 through the 11th, and if HB can make it perhaps we can start another challenge then. HB won't get as good odds as she got last time though! I am down over 30 pounds from the challenge weigh in but didn't make any wagers......

Quote: SOOPOO

Anyway, I'll be in Vegas from October 8 through the 11th, and if HB can make it perhaps we can start another challenge then...

Just make it between you and her. I the participants
learned the hard way not to do this baloney again.

Quote: SOOPOO

I texted HB for the first time in many months today .....

And yet another cycle in the sine wave of the SOOPOO-HB relationship is completed.

Quote: EvenBob

Just make it between you and her. I the participants
learned the hard way not to do this baloney again.

I don't care to read the entire thread can you explain the BALONEY part?

Quote: AxelWolf

I don't care to read the entire thread can you explain the BALONEY part?

Don't make a bet that has tremendous +EV for
the other person. Not to mention the number
of people who got suspensions as a result of
the thread. It all adds up to a baloneyfest deluxe.

Wow !! those feet look familiar. Perhaps they are just the generic look I dont know but they seem familiar. :)

It's been a while since I checked this thread. I can't believe that almost 1 year has passed since the weigh-in date. Congragulations on HB on keeping most of the weight off. Hopefully this trend will continue. Please post more pics and let us know where you stand. I loved the last pic that I saw from April 2013. It was an impressive difference from where you once were.

The most important thing for you (and people in a similar situation such as me) should be to keep the weight off and maintain consistency. There is nothing like the regret of getting fat again and being faced with another even more difficult weight loss battle.

I hear talks of another challenge that may not materialize (similar to HB challenge II never going thru). Here are my thoughts on that:
I think that the next HB challenge should have 2 phases. One being the weight loss phase where HB can get a certain amout to lose weight (ex. to 135 lbs) by a certain date- which HB has already proven she can do and may not be a good bet- and then a maintenance phase which is double or nothing where she has to keep off that weight for a certain amount of time (ex. up to 1 yr)- which she has had trouble doing and it will be even harder at a lower weight. Perhaps it should be mandatory for her to go on to the double or nothing phase if she succeeds in the first phase.

I know this challenge seems a bit more complex, but I think this is something that HB cannot acheive based on her history that I have read. And I would be willing to bet against that. Plus, the whole point in betting for many people is to provide motivation more than anything else. So rather than provide motivation for a given weight point which HB can work her butt off to acheive, motivation should be provided for maintenance which almost all people who lose a good amout of weight can attest is the hardest thing to do.

And for those of you who think that the kind of weight loss HB has successfully attempted and would like to do again is unhealthy, I would disagree. I think that it is very healthy to focus and lose a large amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time as long as you are not doing an unhealthy diet. From what I read, HB seems very methodical in her weight loss plans and doesn't appear to be using unhealthy techniques such as starvation or such, which would be impossible to maintain anyway.

And congragulations on SOPOO on his weight loss as well. It looks like the HB challenge has provided some measure of motivation for others as well (including me!). If she can do that then so can I (or atleast half of it:)

PS. Down 28 pounds in 14 weeks and hopefully counting. Maintenance is key!

How much did the money motivate you to lose the weight? I always enjoy a nice prop bet so I figure it weighed quite a bit for you. Would you have done the diet without any money involved?

Quote: djatc

How much did the money motivate you to lose the weight?

Are you trying to be funny? Its working.

Quote: QuadCore

And congragulations on SOPOO on his weight loss as well. It looks like the HB challenge has provided some measure of motivation for others as well (including me!). If she can do that then so can I (or atleast half of it:)

PS. Down 28 pounds in 14 weeks and hopefully counting. Maintenance is key!

I hadn't looked at this thread in quite a while, so, belatedly thanks! I'm steady at around 170, and am not trying to lose any more weight. I'm hoping HB gives us a one year anniversary update! If she doesn't 'weigh in' (pun intended) on this thread, I'll text her and see if I can cajole her into doing so!

Quote: SOOPOO

I hadn't looked at this thread in quite a while, so, belatedly thanks! I'm steady at around 170, and am not trying to lose any more weight. I'm hoping HB gives us a one year anniversary update! If she doesn't 'weigh in' (pun intended) on this thread, I'll text her and see if I can cajole her into doing so!

Are we setting the stage for a new challenge pray tell???

Kudos SOOPOO for walking the walk and setting a good example as a physician. When I was a kid I had a doctor who was a 300 pound raging alcoholic and everyone loved him. He didn't retire until he was in his late 70s and lived a good 10 years after that. Thankfully times have changed.

I'm kind of conflicted on this. On one hand I think it would be fun to make an earnest effort and see how far I could get. On the other hand, reading some of this thread makes it totally look like pandering. Like someone has to be paid because they made bad choices in their life and this is the only motivation they have. I don't think anyone should to pay me to do something I should be doing anyways. However, being an unknown variable, maybe people could make friendly wagers between themselves and make the process fun.

I was thinking of doing an "official" weigh in at the Heart Attack Grille(mainly because I want a free chili dog) but could be the start of it. Then again with all those buffets, idk lol. Think it's better to have someone with nothing to gain because it's easier for them to fall off the wagon. Not that I'm setting myself up to fail but someone who stands to gain 5k+ certainly has more motivations to cut back.

I don't know seems like enough people trying to lose weight, eat copious amounts of food and other things to bet on without this but guess was just thinking out loud.

Quote: Perdition

I'm kind of conflicted on this. On one hand I think it would be fun to make an earnest effort and see how far I could get. On the other hand, reading some of this thread makes it totally look like pandering. Like someone has to be paid because they made bad choices in their life and this is the only motivation they have. I don't think anyone should to pay me to do something I should be doing anyways. However, being an unknown variable, maybe people could make friendly wagers between themselves and make the process fun.

I was thinking of doing an "official" weigh in at the Heart Attack Grille(mainly because I want a free chili dog) but could be the start of it. Then again with all those buffets, idk lol. Think it's better to have someone with nothing to gain because it's easier for them to fall off the wagon. Not that I'm setting myself up to fail but someone who stands to gain 5k+ certainly has more motivations to cut back.

I don't know seems like enough people trying to lose weight, eat copious amounts of food and other things to bet on without this but guess was just thinking out loud.

Perdition,

Go enjoy all those buffets. They're loaded with wonderful, healthy things to eat. Lean beef. Crab legs. Grilled fish. Lean pork roast. Roasted chicken. Lobster tail. Leafy vegetables. Pickles of all sorts; olives, beets, carrots, beans, onions. Roe with chopped egg. Baked salmon. Stewed Tomatoes. Stir-fry vegetables. Fresh fruits of all sorts except those in heavy syrup. Baked or boiled potatoes, even. Just lay off the sugars and starches like breads, desserts, processed foods, anything deep-fried, enjoy limited fats for flavor, don't add any salt to what's already there. Coffee or tea black, 1% milk, water to drink; skip sodas, juices, shakes. The pounds will peel off with even a little exercise. It's working for me, it can work for you. All it takes is for you to remember to love yourself a little more than you love the taste of sugar and grease.

Sugar and grease sure do love to drive a hard bargain though.

Thursday will mark the one year anniversary of the successful conclusion of the HB challenge. I once again went to the second post here, in which HB had her before and after photos, and every time I look at them I am amazed. I will celebrate on Thursday by having a yummy meal! I will try and cajole HB into posting an update on how she is doing.

The second best thing to come out of this thread (besides HB's weight loss, of course), is the "yummy dinner" meme.

People, do not be fooled. SOOPOO re-opened this thread only because another thread has passed it in the number of suspensions.

BE WARNED !

Today is the anniversary of a very special day for me. 1 year ago today I won a weight loss challenge after I lost 99.6 pounds. It took me over 9 months and people were literally betting money against me that I couldn't do it. Although the original bets were set at 9:1 for me to lose 90 pounds within that time, I quickly proved to them that they made a bad bet and I dropped 40 of those pounds in the first 10 weeks. I hit a few big bumps in the road along the way, gaining some weight back a few times and even being derailed a couple times by severe back pain and then ultimately a dropped foot which I still have issues with. But 1 year ago today I woke up a winner and flew to Las Vegas to claim my prizes and celebrate one of the most important accomplishments in my life I've ever worked to earn.

Congrats again HotBlonde!

Sorry you're dealing with the dropped foot though. I actually had to google that. I'm not a "real doctor"...lol

Quote: HotBlonde

Today is the anniversary of a very special day for me. 1 year ago today I won a weight loss challenge after I lost 99.6 pounds. It took me over 9 months and people were literally betting money against me that I couldn't do it. Although the original bets were set at 9:1 for me to lose 90 pounds within that time, I quickly proved to them that they made a bad bet and I dropped 40 of those pounds in the first 10 weeks. I hit a few big bumps in the road along the way, gaining some weight back a few times and even being derailed a couple times by severe back pain and then ultimately a dropped foot which I still have issues with. But 1 year ago today I woke up a winner and flew to Las Vegas to claim my prizes and celebrate one of the most important accomplishments in my life I've ever worked to earn.

Yup, we know all of that, we were right there too. But
that's not an update. What's going on now?

Quote: HotBlonde

Today is the anniversary of a very special day for me...

Hi HB, nice to see you back. I think we'd all be interested in what has happened since Oct 17, 2012. Not just your weight, but the whole enchilada of your life.

Quote: Wizard

Hi HB,but the whole enchilada of your life.

LOL. ...seriously? Pun?

Quote: Buzzard

People, do not be fooled. SOOPOO re-opened this thread only because another thread has passed it in the number of suspensions.LOL I love how you think. As wel l as Beethoven and BOb

BE WARNED !

I like how you think lol

Quote: Wizard

Hi HB, nice to see you back. I think we'd all be interested in what has happened since Oct 17, 2012. Not just your weight, but the whole enchilada of your life.

Hi Mike. Well I've gained weight since then as has been evidenced in the photos from this year's WoV Con event. But other than that I still live in Los Angeles, I'm still single, and trying to live a healthy life. My plans are to get back down to my weigh-in weight and possibly even lower than that as time permits.

P.S. I miss my skinny arms!