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TRAVELNISTA's Recent Blog Entries
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Saturday, July 23, 2011
I read about this in a thread on one of the teams I belong to. The subject was stickK.com. I was baffled as to why she was considering to use this. It all had to do with accountability. My thinking was that Spark People is all about accountability through your blogs, nutrition trackers made public, fitness trackers made public, and weight tickers. The more you Spark the better you do so why would you need another tool for accountability if you weren't taking advantage of all of the tools and motivation and support of your Spark Buddies and team mates.
I checked out the site. The concept is that you make a specified contract with yourself. Then you decide what the reward/punishment will be. I like their money based stake. You have to how much money you're willing to risk, you choose a source like perhaps a charity that the money goes to should you fail. If you commit to that, it is a genius plan. The accountability comes in because you have to choose a "referee" that you report to and holds you accountable. You report every thing to that person. They monitor your progress and validate your reports.
The first thing that came into my head was that if you can't hold yourself accountable here on Spark People then if you failed on stickK.com why would any one believe you would live up to the contract and actually send the money to who ever you designated in your contract. Well stickK.com has that base covered.
"Let's say your goal is to lose weight. (For health reasons, weight loss can be structured only as an ongoing commitment.) Once you enter your target weight and how many weeks you’re giving yourself to get there, the form will calculate your weekly weight loss requirement. At the end of every week, you must report whether you succeeded or failed to lose that amount.
This example shows a 20-lb weight loss in 20 weeks, at a required rate of at least 1 lb/week.
stickKing with the 20 lbs in 20 weeks example, let's say you put $10 at stake per week. We take your credit card information upfront (but do not charge). Each week that you fail to lose the required 1 lb, we charge your card $10. After your contract is over, we send what you lost to your designated recipient."
That in my opinion is genius. You have to put your money where your mouth is. If it is set up on a credit card withdrawal you can't cheat and not send the money. It is automatic, you might not live up to the bargain you made but they will. This might be a great option to consider for people that are constantly starting over. Perhaps a dollar amount big enough to hurt you to lose if you fail will keep you on track.
Who knows? Maybe this may help you on your journey to a healthier you. It does not need to be weight related but I think there is a lot of potential there, but how about gambling, drug addiction, smoking, anger management, workaholic issues?
If you really feel the need to do this I would definitely do it in conjunction with Spark People. Spark People will give you the, information through its articles found on Spark People, various tools Spark People makes available to us, the support and motivation of your Spark Buddies to get you to your goal and stickK.com will take your money if you don't live up to your contract. If you truly can't do it on your own with SparkPeople then add extra motivation of possibly losing all of that money into the equation.
To further investigate:
www.stickk.com/tour.php
Money talks but doesn't grow on trees, it may be your motivation and just what you need!
Friday, July 22, 2011
I am hot! I am cranky! I don't feel so great with all this heat. This humidity is killing my shoulder!
I want to see this for real in my yard, now
I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas, I am dreaming of a white tomorrow! Don't you think that would be nice?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
THE PORCH
A young blond girl in her late teens, wanting to earn some extra
money for the summer, decided to hire herself out as a "handy woman"
and started canvassing a nearby well-to-do neighborhood.
She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if
he had any odd jobs for her to do.
"Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint the porch" he said.
"How much will you charge me?"
Delighted, the girl quickly responded, "How about $50?"
The man agreed and told her that the paint and brushes and
everything she would need were in the garage.
The man's wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, "Does
she realize that our porch goes ALL the way around the house?"
"That's a bit cynical, isn't it?" he responded.
The wife replied, "You're right. I guess I'm starting to believe all
those dumb blonde jokes."
A few hours later the blonde came to the door to collect her money.
"You're finished already??" the startled husband asked.
"Yes," the blonde replied, "and I even had paint left over so I gave
it two coats."
Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $50 and handed it
to her along with a $10 tip.
"Thank you," the blonde said, "And, by the way, it's not a Porch,
it's a Lexus."
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The doctor said, 'Joe, the good news is I can cure your headaches.
The bad news is that it will require castration.
You have a very rare condition, which causes your testicles to press
on your spine and the pressure creates one hell of a headache. The
only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles.'
Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything
to live for. He had no choice but to go under the knife.
When he left the hospital, he was without a headache for the first
time in 20 years, but he felt like he was missing an important part
of himself. As he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like
a different person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.
He saw a men's clothing store and thought, 'That's what I need..... a
new suit.' He entered the shop and told the salesman, 'I'd like a new
suit.'
The elderly tailor eyed him briefly and said, 'Let's see.... size 44 long.'
Joe laughed, 'That's right, how did you know?'
'Been in the business 60 years!' the tailor said.
Joe tried on the suit it fit perfectly.
As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked, 'How about
a new shirt?'
Joe thought for a moment and then said, 'Sure.'
The salesman eyed Joe and said, 'Let's see, 34 sleeves and 16-1/2 neck.
Joe was surprised, 'That's right, how did you know?'
'Been in the business 60 years.'
Joe tried on the shirt and it fit perfectly.
Joe walked comfortably around the shop and the salesman asked,
'How about some new underwear?'
Joe thought for a moment and said, 'Sure.'
The salesman said, 'Let's see... size 36.
Joe laughed, 'Ah ha! I got you! I've worn a size 34 since I was 18 years
old.'
The salesman shook his head, 'You can't wear a size 34. A size 34
would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give
you one hell of a headache.'
New suit - $400
New shirt - $36
New underwear - $6
Second Opinion – PRICELESS
   
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Maybe this time it will sink in. 
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
Wouldn't want to be anywhere else! 
In summer we can have ac.
