1. Find Teammates

Word to the wise: be very careful when you invite people to play that they don’t think you’re calling them fat.   Many of the people I’ve played this game with do not qualify as fat under anyone’s definition.  Az, for example, has no freaking body fat.  But he uses the game as added motivation as he trains for marathons.   This is not just a diet game, it’s a better life game, a goal-meeting game, a health-improving game – it’s whatever kind of game you need it to be.  So don’t be shy, ask your friends and family to play. (But when you do, show them Az’s picture and say, “this guy’s playing” just for good measure.)

2. Find Opponents

Being built like me, it’s easy to want to dismiss the body woes of my skinnier friends and assume that they don’t need and shouldn’t want to play this game.  But when I do that, I’m missing the point which is that almost all of us struggle with our bodies, no matter what our size. And it’s important to remember that the game is not only about getting fit, it’s also about getting healthy  So, now that we are agreed that almost everyone you know could benefit from playing,  the best place to start looking for players is at home because if you can get a household game going, you’re more likely to eliminate the unhealthy foods from your fridge.  So maybe start by challenging your husband or wife or girlfriend or boyfriend or sister or brother or parent to a game.  Once you’ve got one person on board, you can both ask other family members as well as your neighbors, your friends, your friends’ spouses, your co-workers, the moms and dads in your carpool, your gym buddy, your children’s friends’ parents or just about anyone else you can think of.

3. Pick a Start Date

Remember, you get a meal off and a day off every week, so impending holidays shouldn’t be a barrier to getting starting!

4. Set a Prize

The options are limitless, but here are a few of our favorites!

* An actual trophy. You can buy one at a party store.  Bragging rights galore.

* Tickets to a show (winner’s choice).

* Dinner where the losers pay and the winners get to dictate the conversation (ie: we must discuss “So You Think You Can Dance” for a full half hour.”)

* Massages (either the spa-kind or the at home in front of the TV with your stinky feet in your spouse’s lap kind.)

* Chores. Office or household or yard work. Any kind of chores.

* Carpool.  Winners get a month off!

* Office errands.

* Embarrassing singing telegrams. From the winners to the losers. Paid for by the losers.

* $$$ amount buy in – pot to be split by the winning team. (*Make everyone pay upfront or you’ll regret it!)

5. Play

Of course, you’ll need to buy the book to get all the rules – so what are you waiting for? Here’s the button. Press it. Go on. You know you want to.  (Your backfat will thank you.)