Total pledges for my dismal weight loss challenge were $3.38 per 100g, so my loss of 1.8Kg means we raised just $60.75. Delightfully, however, donor number seven pledged an additional flat $20, bringing us to $80.75. I'm going to top this all up to $100. The leading donor was my Dad, and I'll discuss which Afghan charity he'd like us to support. I'll e-mail each donor to discuss details.

Weigh-out

Well, my 2008 Weight-loss campaign was not as successful as I'd hoped. I just weighed in at 81.6Kg, having lost only 1.8Kg [The value 2.7Kg I reported the other day was wrong] since August 23.

I would like to thank my sponsors, including the generous sponsor number 7 who sent a kind pledge yesterday.

I would specifically like to thank the sponsor who tempted me with chocolates and cookies throughout this campaign. We joked about him doing it to reduce his payout, but in fact I resisted quite a lot of his evil offerings.

I'd also like to thank Megan for being the official weighing witness.

I will post all the calculations tonight and open up the dialogue with the leading sponsor, who has the right (and responsibility) to choose the Afghan charity that will benefit from this little struggle.

Peace to all.

Thank you donor number 6!

I'm on the final push of my 2008 weight loss campaign. I'm afraid I'm not going to make any donors poor but we do look set to raise about $60.

Pledge Number 5.

Donor number 5 has kindly pledged $0.25 per 100 g towards my 2008 weight loss challenge. Thank you very much, Donor Number 5! You've brought the pledge total to $2.88 per 100 g lost.

Er... While on holiday I 'somehow' gained back some of my earlier lost weight and now I'm only 0.9 Kg below the starting weight. If I lose no more (but I will) we'll have raised $23.63 for the top donor's favorite Afghan charity but I'm sure I can lose the targeted 8.4 Kg before January 1 and with the current pledges that will mean we'll be donating $241.50.

Everybody is welcome to jump on this bandwagon! Here's more information. Please pledge by e-mail - operators are standing by.

Sponsor Number 4 pledges in Afs!

Sponsor Number 4 introduces the Afghan currency with a kind pledge of AFG 10 per 100 g. Thanks very much, Sponsor Number 4!!!

Thank you Donor Number 3!

Donor Number 3 has added a $0.125 per 100 g pledge. Thank you Donor Number 3! This brings us up to $2.425 per 100 g for a wonderful $203.70 if I can lose the 9.6 kg target weight. And as I've already lost 800 g in three days I feel on-track... though I suppose it's ridiculously early to extrapolate yet.

By the way, people have stopped me in the street to ask how they could pay their pledges on January 1. It may depend on the Afghan charity choices - which will be made by the highest pledging Afghan and non-Afghan donors (for 50% of the total pledges each) but I imagine PayPal could play a role.

Donor number 2 pledges $0.30 per 100 g

Thank you Donor number 2!

Total pledges = $2.30 per 100 g.

This is starting off very well... I hope I can deliver on the weight-loss.

Kick-off!! 84.3 kg on 2008 08 23!

As officially witnessed by Megan Holleran (friend, colleague and encourager at work) my weight just now was 83.4 kg. That means I am 8.4 kg over my December 31 target of 75 kg.

That means I need to lose about half a kilogram per week. Gulp. No wait, gulping has been my problem...

First donation pledge

Donor number 1 has kindly pledged $2 per 100 g! Thank you, Donor number 1! I'll try to make this cost you a lot!

2008 weight-loss campaign - introduction

I need to lose weight (I'm about 85 kg and only 168 cm) and I've set a target of getting down to 75 kg before January 1, 2009.

Will you help to motivate me?

I'm inviting all my friends to pledge to donate so much per 100 g I lose to an Afghan charity. For instance, if somebody pledges US $0.25 per 100 g and I manage to lose 11 kg they would donate $27.50. If somebody in Afghanistan pledges AFG 10 per 100 g and I lose that 11 kg they would donate AFG 1,100.

I propose that half of all money raised should go to an Afghan charity nominated by the Afghan individual who pledges the most per 100 g and the other half of all the money raised should go to an Afghan charity nominated by the non-Afghan individual who pledges the most.

I will have an official witnessed kick-off weighing on Saturday 23rd. That will give me about 18 weeks to lose the approximately 10 kg I'm targetting.

Please e-mail me (tom@haythornthwait.net) me if you'd like to pledge. I need to know the amount you will donate (in USD or AFG) per 100 g and optionally, the Afghan charity you hope the donations will beneift. (Remember, the actual choice will belong to the Afghan and the non-Afghan who pledge the most.) I'll keep your name private.

I will post progress reports, tales of agonizing starvation - or triumph, as well as tables of donations potentially raised here. (Please post encouraging comments!)

Please wish me luck - and please pledge!