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Overweight and out of shape? Get a referee

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

Need help sticking to your diet and fitness goals? Shame might be just the thing that keeps you on track.

Give Stickk.com a click and your dreams might become reality. Here's how it works: You'll sign a contract to meet a goal -- losing weight, running a marathon, quitting smoking even. Then you choose a referee, maybe your spouse, a best friend, or a colleague who agrees to track your progress. It's possible to pick yourself as the ref but site statistics indicate this is only 30% effective. Next: Enter in the e-mail addresses of all your supporters (heck, include everyone in your e-mail address book) who will send encouraging messages your way. If your progress falters, the site automatically notifies everyone on your support list.

If public embarrassment is key for keeping you line, this is your site, which happens to have a few other motivating moves you can make. You can commit a sum of money that is either returned to you or donated to charity should you make good on your plans. Slip up and your money goes to an "anti-charity" -- the NRA perhaps, if guns are a no-no for you. Just the thought of that might keep you focused, right?

Sound crazy? Maybe not. About 78% of users who designate a referee and earmark money are successful. Give it a try and see what you think -- it's free. Well, unless you mess up and lose your own money.

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Tryo these plyos

Fitness

Plyos? What are plyos? You may not have heard of plyometric exercise before, but it's something you should add to your workout routine.

Plyometrics are quick, intense actions that trigger strong muscle contractions -- jumping, hopping, and bounding movements are considered plyometric. Many athletes use these exercises to boost their performance in a certain skill. For example, plyometric exercises can help basketball players jump higher. But the average Joe can benefit from plyometrics, too. In fact, Bethany recently told us how adding plyometrics can really pump up your walking workout.

Shape Magazine has a plyometric training routine you can add to your workout. Warm up your muscles with some cardio, then give plyos a try!

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Prenuptial agreements -- I'll marry you if you promise to lose 10 pounds

Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

Prenuptial agreements are traditionally drawn up to protect parties in the case the marriage fails and they need to divide their assets. But according to Michelle Andrews, over at U.S. News & World Report, lawyers are increasingly seeing prenups that include clauses related to health.

Some potential spouses want to be assured their betrothed won't gain weight or pick up smoking. Others want a guarantee on how many times a week they'll have sex or, in one case, put a weight restriction on physical intimacy. Of course, these clauses aren't legally enforceable, but I suppose if your fiance asks you to agree to them, then you know up front exactly what you're getting into.

We all want our spouses and partners to take good care of themselves. But putting healthy habits on a legal contract? That feels controlling and manipulative to me, not emotions you want to feel when you're saying "I do, till death to us part." I'd have run, far and fast, if my husband had approached me with one of these.

What about you? Are you willing to put your health requirements on paper? Or does this give you the same icky feeling it does me?

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