Announcing 33″ by 25

While most of you may know me as a rather good looking fellow with boyish charm, I have in fact become a bit of a slob over the years. When I started at TokBox in June 2008, I was probably approaching a 40″ waist line. Nothing like the 30″ waistline that I came into college with. Clearly those “Freshman 15″ hit me a bit harder than I would have liked.

When I first measured in February of 2009, I had a 38″ waist. I did so because I gave up fast food for Lent, and I wanted to see what the difference would be. It was huge. I lost 2″ over the 40 days of Lent with no fast food. I’ve since gotten it down to somewhere between 34.5″ to 35.5″ depending on the day. Now my goal is to reach a 33″ waist by my 25th birthday which is on November 20th. I have just over 2 weeks to do it, and I want you to help.

You probably weren’t going to get me anything for my birthday anyway, and that’s okay! I didn’t get you anything for your birthday either. But, I am going to be a bit selfish, and ask that you help motivate me by “sponsoring” my drive to 33″. For each inch lost (today I measured, and I was 35″), I ask that you pledge an amount to donate to charity. I don’t have a favorite charity, and so I’ll be taking suggestions for that as well. I say make it a bit fun too. As an example, pledge $10 for a 34″ waist, but $25 for a 33″ waist. Give me that extra bit of push!

All said, I need 2 things from you, my friends.

  • A charity to which I should donate my proceeds (most popular two or three will get the proceeds)
  • A birthday gift of pledging some amount to donate for each inch lost

Worse comes to worse, we’ll have fun and laugh over that time when I thought I could be good looking again! Please do post to my blog your ideas and pledges because these links tend to get lost on Facebook/Twitter/etc. after a few days.

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  • Kacey

    This is a great idea Melih, and of course I am on board! My charity of choice is the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. I will donate $20 regardless of your outcome for your good effort, $50 for 34″ waist, and $100 for 33″ waist.

    I was going to go get a huge burrito for lunch, but now you have me feeling bad!

    Good luck!

    Kacey

  • Kacey

    This is a great idea Melih, and of course I am on board! My charity of choice is the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. I will donate $20 regardless of your outcome for your good effort, $50 for 34″ waist, and $100 for 33″ waist.

    I was going to go get a huge burrito for lunch, but now you have me feeling bad!

    Good luck!

    Kacey

  • Jon Wade

    Dear Melih,
    I do not want to be singled out as Mr Fat Bloke on campus and since I am a bit of a salad dodger I will pay $100 for you to get back up to 38″ and then a further $100 for every belt bulging toe hiding 2″ beyond that.
    Junior Achivement is my charity
    Cheers
    Jon “Chubber” Wade

  • Waqaar Khawar

    I hear there’s a fund for poor 3rd world medical students. Those guys are great people. Good luck!

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  • linkibol

    Count me in Melih,

    Let us make things more interesting:

    I will donate to losev (http://www.losev.org.tr/v2/tr/ ) (that's one of the few less “shady” charities here in Turkey — I am sure you've heard the rumors about deniz feneri and so) — besides leukemia is a “very” expensive ailment and I'm sure every penny (kuruş) I've spent there will be used for a good reason.

    And here are the rules:
    - I'll donate $100 (equivalent in Turkish Liras) to losev if you reach 33' waist line or below by 25.
    - I won't donate a dime (at least on your behalf wrt this specific cause) if are are still above 33' waist line by 25.
    - I'm an engineer, so every second and every millimeter counts. It's either a win, or a lose ;)

    Good luck in your endeavor.

  • saket

    Love the idea, and here's my pledge:

    pledge $ = 0.014155*(waist in inches)^3 – 0.245480*(waist in inches)^2 + 2.105710*(waist in inches) – 2.117429

    charity to come later

    Game on!

  • Matt

    I'm in — but only on condition that you do it smartly!!!! Those are tough goals, don't do a starvation diet!

    $25 for 34, $50 for 33. You pick the charity, I suck at selecting.

  • Matt

    I'm in — but only on condition that you do it smartly!!!! Those are tough goals, don't do a starvation diet!

    $25 for 34, $50 for 33. You pick the charity, I suck at selecting.