Do Weight Loss Challenges Work? (What to Do Instead)

We evaluate weight loss challenges and why they can make you "win" on the scale while losing muscle, bone, and momentum toward your true goal of improving how you look and feel. Learn what the research says about rebounds after incentives end and the 3 metrics to track instead for sustainable fat loss over 40, including: How challenges can reward extreme dieting and too much cardio while devaluing lifting  What studies show about lean mass and bone loss despite similar weight loss What financial incentive research finds once prizes and payments stop  Why workplace wellness challenges often fail to move long-term health outcomes What the Biggest Loser follow-up does and does not prove about metabolism How to set goals against your own baseline for better maintenance What to track instead and what improves outcomes the most If you want your next challenge to leave you leaner and stronger instead of just lighter, hit play. Join our 12-Week Dialed In Fall Challenge, 12 weeks of Dialed In coaching inside Eat More Lift Heavy for adults over 40, with 3 goals scored against your own starting point through the holidays. It starts Monday, October 12, and the winner gets 3 months of free coaching plus a private call with me and Carol: https://witsandweights.com/challenge Timestamps: 0:00 - Weight loss challenges and what they measure 4:23 - What the scale is actually measuring 6:07 - Cardio, lifting, and the TEMPO diet trial 8:56 - The better way to score your results 12:37 - What happens after the incentives end 16:28 - The Biggest Loser follow-up 19:00 - What to measure instead of weight loss 26:55 - Bonus: one thing before your next fat loss phase to increase your chances of maintaining results long-term Episode Resources: Join the 12-Week Dialed In Fall Challenge 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy, the 26-week coached program to build muscle and lose fat after 40 📱 Get Fitness Lab, the AI coaching app for strength training and nutrition over 4  📊 Track your nutrition with MacroFactor and use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for a 2-week free trial  👥 Join the free Facebook community ❓ Ask a question for the show Educational content only, not medical advice.