Dilemma - Weight Loss Bet

[edgascoigne]

As per the title, I'm facing a dilemma in a weight-loss bet with a friend/colleague...

Around 6-7 weeks ago we made a bet on the following terms: "Each of us must weigh in. Weights are recorded, and we each must lose a stone Vs this figure in a weigh-in on the morning of Friday 16th December. If one loses a stone and the other doesn't, he who hasn't lost the weight must pay the other £500. If both (or neither) lose a stone then the bet is void".

Now then...we had been weighing in each Monday, and it became the 'done thing'. Two and a half weeks ago my mate refused to weigh in, and had done so until this morning.

I have lost 1st 2lbs and been 'underweight' for c10 days. He came in this morning, 'jumped' on the scales, and weighed in 1st 1/2lb 'underweight'. He stated he had not been getting on the scales as he had a couple of messy evenings and put a bit of weight back on. He also says he has been killing the running til 2am for the last few days to make the weight.

He wants to call the bet quits now, as we have each made the weight, as he is entertaining a (mutual) client this evening and wants to be on top form.

Do I.....

a) Call the bet quits
b) Insist on the original terms and weigh in tomorrow?

He can easily afford the £500, and regularly bets larger sums than this. If I hold him to the terms he will play a huge guilt trip about how I'm preventing him from doing us mutual benefit by acquiring client etc. etc.....though tbh I feel it's just him trying to get out whilst he happens to be underweight.

Our move?

[millidonk]

If it was made 100% clear that the terms of the bet involved a weekly weigh in at a set time/date and someone didn't adhere to these then the person should have to pay up imo.

Although in the past when stuff similiar to this has happened to me we usually end up just calling it quits as its not worth the hastle or the falling out really over a small amount of money. Just look to the positives that you are both a bit healthier and can smash the Xmas mince pies and bucks fizz!

[DaveShoelace]

Probably not worth falling out with a mate over, I'd tease him a bit, make him feel guilty, and get him to give you favourable odds for a January 1st weigh-in follow up bet.

[Josedinho]

I'd call it quits I reckon. Either make him pay as soon as he missed the first weigh in or forget it as you both made the weight.

[Marky147]

Probably not worth falling out with a mate over, I'd tease him a bit, make him feel guilty, and get him to give you favourable odds for a January 1st weigh-in follow up bet.

This looks pretty good, I might tease him a lot though

[edgascoigne]

If it was made 100% clear that the terms of the bet involved a weekly weigh in at a set time/date and someone didn't adhere to these then the person should have to pay up imo.

Although in the past when stuff similiar to this has happened to me we usually end up just calling it quits as its not worth the hastle or the falling out really over a small amount of money. Just look to the positives that you are both a bit healthier and can smash the Xmas mince pies and bucks fizz!

Weekly weigh-ins were never part of the terms. Only things that matter for the bet are the weigh-in and the weigh-out. The weekly weigh-ins became standard through pressure from him when he was losing weight consistently and looking to press the psychological advantage/keep momentum. The minute he 'cracked' he point-blank refused to weigh-in.

I agreed to let him off if he answered the following question...

"If I had refused to weigh-in for two and a half weeks, informed you I'd been starving myself and running til 2am the last three days, then weighed in half a pound under and wanted to get sh1tfaced this evening, would you let me off the bet?"

When he just started shouting over me/being objectionable, and didn't answer the question, I decided to make him squirm for a bit longer.

[millidonk]

If it was made 100% clear that the terms of the bet involved a weekly weigh in at a set time/date and someone didn't adhere to these then the person should have to pay up imo.

Although in the past when stuff similiar to this has happened to me we usually end up just calling it quits as its not worth the hastle or the falling out really over a small amount of money. Just look to the positives that you are both a bit healthier and can smash the Xmas mince pies and bucks fizz!

Weekly weigh-ins were never part of the terms. Only things that matter for the bet are the weigh-in and the weigh-out. The weekly weigh-ins became standard through pressure from him when he was losing weight consistently and looking to press the psychological advantage/keep momentum. The minute he 'cracked' he point-blank refused to weigh-in.

I agreed to let him off if he answered the following question...

"If I had refused to weigh-in for two and a half weeks, informed you I'd been starving myself and running til 2am the last three days, then weighed in half a pound under and wanted to get sh1tfaced this evening, would you let me off the bet?"

When he just started shouting over me/being objectionable, and didn't answer the question, I decided to make him squirm for a bit longer.

Yea, defo call it quits then. Obv can needle him as much as you see fit.

[Josedinho]

Oh just the fact it's a day early? just make him sweat. Tell him he can buy out for £250, get him to buy you lunch etc etc

[edgascoigne]

Oh just the fact it's a day early? just make him sweat. Tell him he can buy out for £250, get him to buy you lunch etc etc

Yep, he's just hit the weight a day early. And only by half a pound. And only by crash-dieting (thoroughly against the spirit of the bet if not outside of the terms).

I have offered him the option of discussing a buy-out once a week for the last couple of weeks. He has always told me to fk off.

I'm going to make him squirm, try to find out a bit more about what he's doing this evening, and then make a decision. 1/8 I let him off 5/1 I make him pay.

[mulhuzz]

nut line for him is for him to flick £100 on your 5-1.

much cheaper than buying out for £250

[Josedinho]

Didn't mean to suggest 250 should be the buy out. That's just the wind up. I'd probably accept a pint.

[edgascoigne]

Didn't mean to suggest 250 should be the buy out. That's just the wind up. I'd probably accept a pint.

Struck a similarly ridiculous bet for a grand with my flatmate who had just played his first ever round of golf. Granted he's a natural sportsman, but he was willing to bet at even money that he'd break 85 round the same course a year to the day later. Mental. Natural sportsman? Yes. Sufficiently committed to improve that much at golf over a year? No.

I let him off 6mths in for a pint and an admission he had been rather overly self-confident when p1ssed.

[Free_Rollin]

I think people are being way soft and letting him off too easy! Surely mates don't fall out that easily?

I think the question is do you think it is necessary to go all out tonight to win the client over?

A bet is a bet, and unexpected nights out/other events always pop up and they are going to be a key reason why someone fails to win a bet.

If this client is worth more than £500 to you, then call the bet off, otherwise be ready to collect imo.

[Graham C]

If the weekly weigh in's weren't part of the terms, I don't see how there's an issue.  Weigh in on the 16th and see who wins.  Sounds like it's going to be void to me anyway, I bet he isn't eating today!

[EvilPie]

Seems pretty straight forward to me.

Weigh in clearly stated as Friday 16th December.

He's going to have to sacrifice a night out if he wants to save £500 but no doubt you've made sacrifices over the last 7 weeks as well.

Make him paaaiiiiiiii!!!!!!