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Gympact – Motivation That Pays Off – Makes Me Want an iPhone

by Dave on April 10, 2012

We’ve seen a lot of technology on this blog. I love things that motivate you and keep you focused. I don’t know about you but I enjoy the benefits of money, and I feel I work pretty hard for the money I get (especially when you owe 17,000 in student loans still). I read about a new service that started this year called Gympact. THeir website is Here is the bottom line on this.

Gympact Profile 1. You need an iphone. If your gym has wi-fi you can get by with an iPad, or iPod touch

2. You make a “pact” with yourself to go to the gym “X amount of times” in a week.

3. You set how much you’re willing to pay if you miss it.

4. If you make your pact you lose nothing.

5. If you miss your gym dates you pay.

6. those who made their commitments share the money that was paid by the people who didn’t. Gym-pact takes 3%.

7. When you check in, it used GPS technology (hence why you need an iPhone or a gym with wireless). When you check in, you have to wait 30 minutes to check out of the gym for it to “Count.” So in reality you will be at the gym for 30 minutes. No cheating.

According to a review in iTunes, the person has made $34 so far. If you’re using an inexpensive gym like Planet Fitness, it sounds like you might have some of your gym membership paid for. The typical payout is .50 – .70 per day for each day committed. So if you committed to one day of exercise, you might earn .50-.70 for meeting your pact (and save whatever you put up as collateral which starts at $5 a day).

According to their website 90% of the people who sign up make their gym appointments. Here is a promo video

Here is a another video showing the actual software on an iPhone.

The Gympact even works internationally. According to their site, “Yes, GymPact works internationally! GymPact’s iPhone app is launched worldwide so just sign up and download the app to get started. If we don’t have your gym listed, simply add it the first time you check in there.” According to their support site they are working on creating an HTML5 version that will work with the Android system, and also tools like Fitbit and Runkeeper.

You only get charged if you missed the gyms session you said you would attend. Each week you set a goal for the coming week (but once that week starts you can’t change). In terms of getting paid, they pay you via paypal. How cool is that?

The only thing I would be aware of it is only counts workouts at gyms. Gyms at universities count, but the one at your condo probably doesn’t. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this, as I love the idea of getting rewarded in cash.

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What Does Dave Look Like?

by Dave on April 9, 2012

Dave Jackson 2010 Logical Weight Loss Before Picture

I had a listener email me and ask me what I look like. I went and looked and the last time I took a picture of myself as a “before” picture it was a while ago.

This is a picture of me back at the end of 2010. The bad news is I’m not a whole lot different than what I was in this picture (and its two years ago). It’s amazing how much a picture can motivate you though, so if you haven’t busted out the camera (or phone) lately, today would be a good day to take your “before” picture and realize in a few months you’ll be able to see the difference between today’s picture and the picture you take in the future. Just believe, practice doing the right thing on a consistent basis, and track your calories. You can do this.

Set a date on the calendar. Mine will be 7-9-2012. I hope be have that gut under control, and hopefully I won’t need a training bra anymore.

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A portion of sales through this Amazon.com link goes to support the show. Thank you in advance!

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Is Carnie Wilson an Attention Whore?

by Dave on April 4, 2012

I just read where Carnie Wilson is going to have a SECOND weight loss surgery. Wilson, who lost 150 pounds via gastric bypass in August 1999, underwent lap-band surgery in January after gaining back two-thirds of the weight and learning last year that she was borderline diabetic.

Carnie Wilson Media Whore So let me get this straight, the first surgery reduced the size of your stomach. Now you’re going to “Choke” the entrance to your stomach so you can’t eat as much. Then I noticed something.

Her first bypass surgery was broadcast on the Internet.

She posed for playboy after losing the weight.

She appeared on Celebrity Fit club on VH1.

Now with a new album from Wilson Phillips out (featuring them singing old songs, many form their famous fathers), and a new reality show starting this month Carnie is choosing another surgery. Why? Because the media is convinced we care. Do I care about Carnie Wilson? No. Do I want to slap her in the face and tell her to put down the twinkie? Yes. She blames having children on her weight problems. While child bearing poses obvious challenges to the female body, I do find it ironic that in the clip below it shows her telling her band mates about her surgery as she’s eating.

The clip also states that the surgery has better success when followed by diet and exercise. HELLO? In fact she’s already lost 30 pound preparing for the surgery.

Wait.

You lost 30 lbs to prepare you for the surgery that you want because you can’t lose weight. Something doesn’t add up here. She says she’s not afraid to talk about this in public as she is doing this to help other people. She needs to help herself by stepping away from the twinkie and stepping toward the treadmill. The doctor in this clips mentions that she requires a lifestyle change. She is worried about being pre-diabetic. This can be helped by changing your diet.

She says we need to ask for help. Carnie you can help yourself by exercising more and eating less. Oh and while you’re on the Today show you’re going to sing with your band from your new album. Would Wilson Phillips be on TV without this story? I don’t know the New Edition (another harmony group from the 80s) is back touring and I don’t see them on the Today show. The only reason I know they exist is because Bobby Brown was on tour when Whitney Huston died.

The new show is on the TV Guide Network on Sundays. It will be interesting to see what happens when (not if) this flops.

Lastly, I know the word “Whore” is a bit harsh. A Whore is a prostitute, or someone who benefits via money from using/selling her body. Is Carnie Wilson using her body to get money?