Let’s not beat around the bush: trying to lose weight can be a huge drag. No matter how badly you might want to, sometimes all the inspiration boards on Pinterest aren’t enough to get your butt to the gym. So what comes next when you need a little motivation?
Well, how about a little cash incentive? The chance to earn some money – on top of earning a hot new bod – is a great way to fuel your weight loss goals. Does making money to lose weight sound like music to your ears? Then check out our favorite ways and get started today!
1. DietBet
DietBet was HC’s choice moneymaking scheme for the 2013 Lose the Freshman 15 crew! The concept is simple: buy into a bet, lose four percent of your body weight in four weeks, then split the pot with the other winners. Your initial bet can range anywhere from $10 to $999 for invite-only private games and $10 to $100 for games open to anyone, so there’s a game for everyone’s wallet. Don’t worry – you’ll get that money back as long as you reach your goal and have it verified by the site via before and after pictures of your scale.
Kelsey Howard, a senior at the University of South Florida, has been using DietBet for a year and has lost 15 pounds since starting.
“[It] has kept me motivated each time I have used it,” she says. “As a college student, even $20 makes a difference, so I lose the weight to get my money back and hopefully make some extra.”
2. Charity Miles
If gambling your own money isn’t your thing, you might consider making money for others while getting in shape! Sure, the money doesn’t go to your pocket, but philanthropic collegiettes out there will definitely find incentive in making money for a cause. Charity Miles is an app that allows you to earn money for a charity of your choice for every mile you run, walk or bike. Simply turn on the app, choose a charity (some of your choices include Habitat for Humanity, Autism Speaks, Feeding America and The Nature Conservatory) and get moving! For every mile you run or walk, you’ll earn 25 cents from one of the app’s many sponsors, and for every mile you bike, you’ll earn 10 cents. Donate without ever opening your wallet – and get in shape in the process.
3. GymPact
If you’ve ever found yourself blowing off a date with the gym for some extra Netflix time, GymPact might be just what you need. With this app, you make a pact to go to the gym a certain number of times a week and check in for at least a half hour using the app’s GPS system. Then, put a money value on each missed gym date. Translation? Miss a day and get charged. Meet your pact, however, and get rewarded with the money of those who broke theirs from the app’s pool of users.
“Putting money on the line absolutely motivates me to get moving,” says Jennifer Cope, a senior at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, who has made about $10 a month since starting – just for going to the gym. “While I’m only putting five dollars on the line, that’s five dollars I’d rather have in my wallet!”
It’s a win-win, even when you lose – because we don’t know about you, but the idea of losing money is just as much of an incentive to get us to the gym as earning it.
4. HealthyWage.com
For those collegiettes with larger weight loss goals, HealthyWage.com offers long-term bets and large cash incentives. For example, in the Ten Percent Challenge, participants pay $150 to participate and have six months to lose 10 percent of their body weight – and get up to $300 back when they do! Another option is the BMI Challenge, where the site will pay participants up to $1000 for moving from an obese body mass index (greater than 30) to a normal BMI (18.5 to 24.9) in a year’s time. For more information on your BMI, check out this helpful calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute.
5. DIY!
Looking for a bit of positive reinforcement without plugging into an app? There are plenty of DIY ways to reward and treat yourself. Take a hint from DietBet and start a betting pool with your friends, whether it’s to lose a certain amount of weight or to make it to a certain number of Zumba classes this semester. Another option might be to hit up your family and friends for pledges per pound you lose or mile you run. Or, if you feel like going solo, make a promise to put a dollar in your workout jar every time you hit the gym. When you reach your weight loss goal, treat yourself to something you’ve been coveting, like new clothes or a pedicure. Be creative!
No one should use these sites and apps just to make some spare cash – after all, there are other ways to do that. But for collegiettes who want to improve their exercise habits or shed a few pounds (after checking with their doctors to discuss the best methods for them, of course!), these moneymakers are totally viable supplements to a healthy routine. Enjoy! Your body and your wallet will thank you for it.