The Blackmail Diet

Some people have trouble losing weight because they don't understand how it works, or they've been taken in by bad diet advice from the less principled members of the weight loss industry. For many others, the problem isn't lack of understanding, but trouble getting and staying motivated during the long periods it takes to lose a significant amount of weight. If you're on of the latter types, John Bear's "Blackmail Diet" may give you ideas to get over your motivation woes.

The Book

John Bear's book, "The Blackmail Diet," tells the story of his unusual approach to making himself lose weight. According to his autobiographical account, he set up an escrow account with his lawyer totaling $5,000. Bear then wrote up and signed documents ordering his lawyer to donate that money to the American Nazi Party if he failed to lose 70 pounds over the course of one year. The book tells the story of his efforts to keep that money out of the hands of a world-famous hate group.

The Concept

You don't have to follow the specific details of Bear's program to use the Blackmail Diet. The idea is to simply set up an unavoidable and unpleasant consequence for failing to meet your weight loss goals. This could include giving some amount of money given to the group or person of your choice, giving away a treasured possession, or even committing a socially embarrassing public act. So long as it's something you're willing to work to avoid, and you set it up so that you can't renege on the commitment, it fulfills the concept of the Blackmail Diet.

Pros

Motivation comes either from moving toward something you desire, or moving away from something you find unpleasant. According to motivation guru Tony Robbins in "Awaken the Giant Within," most people work in only one of those modalities. If moving toward better health and having a more attractive body doesn't work to motivate you, it's likely that moving away from a concrete and unpleasant consequence might be more effective.

Cons

Besides the potential for real and expensive personal property loss, a serious drawback of the Blackmail Diet is that it assumes negative consequences are enough of a motivator. Diet reviewer Michael Ruthorford of CrossFit's "Bootcamp Fitness" relates a story of a client who spent $30,000 on a weight loss program he didn't follow. Another drawback is that the diet is all about motivation, and offers no medically supported advice on how to make good on the motivation.

Common Sense Caution

Diet and weight loss carry potentially serious consequences for your health. You should always check with your doctor before taking on a weight loss program, especially one that's recommended by somebody who does not have a medical background.