I tried — and failed — to lose weight many times. My wife suggested that we do a couples challenge and we put $5,000 on the line for the winner.

• My wife and I have both struggled with weight loss over the years.
• We decided to put $5,000 on the line. The money going to the person who lost the most in 3 months.
• One of us dropped 21 pounds and was able to buy the car they always wanted.

Weight loss is one of those things that has put me on a constant rollercoaster throughout my life. I've gained weight, lost it, and regained it again. Keeping the weight off completely has been daunting.

I've listened to experts saying a high-protein breakfast is the most important meal of the day, others who advocate for intermittent fasting or calorie counting, and even purchased healthy curated ready-to-eat meals. Like anyone else, I've struggled to find what works for me and what doesn't. But no matter what I've done through the years, I've never been able to maintain a healthy weight.

A friendly bet with my wife changed everything though, and now I'm down 21 pounds.

A partner with the same struggles

When my wife and I met eight years ago, we were going through similar weight struggles. She spent a lot of time at the gym and complained that she saw little to no results. With her, I felt like I could always be myself, even show my body insecurities without fear of judgment. She understood my constant weight struggles, as I did hers.

Together, we followed the Keto diet to try to eat more healthfully. For the 6 months we committed to it, we didn't enjoy the food combinations that the diet offered and we ended up giving up.

Between trying to maintain a work-life balance and caring for our three kids, it felt like we had minimal time left for self-development. It got to a point where life was so busy that getting even an hour or two to spend at the gym felt luxurious. We knew the only way weight loss would work is if we incorporated it into our 9 to 5 routines.

A $5,000 bet changed everything

I noticed my wife frequently watching what has become known as "SkinnyTok" videos on TikTok. According to her, this content is how some creators give tips on losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They also share recipes that are allegedly "nutritious yet delicious." Another creator particularly emphasized the power of walking 10,000 steps a day. I was curious.

My wife, being the most competitive person I know, suggested that we take three months, cook some of the recipes she had been saving, walk 10,000 steps every day, and add in some cardio workouts. As an extra incentive, the person who lost the most weight would receive $5,000 from our joint account to use it however they pleased. I was in!

The shared challenge was fun

Going into this, I knew two things: my wife would do everything she could to beat me and I would enjoy kicking her booty every step of the way. The significant amount of money on the line provided a lot of incentive, and thoughts of how my body would change for the better was what I needed for any extra push.

To prep, we wrote down ten healthy recipes we wanted to try and synced our devices to track each other's health activities. We started the challenge at the beginning of November and set an end date for February 1. Then it was time to let the best man, or woman, win.

Meeting my daily step count meant that I spent most of my time walking to work and running errands, rather than driving. I kept my energy up by drinking a lot of electrolyte-infused water, eating high-protein food that made me full throughout the day, and doubled down on my walking. I set aside an hour in the evenings for workouts I found on YouTube and stayed focused. Before I knew it, I was ahead of the game. I lost 6 pounds the first month

As I expected, my wife was a bit of a sore loser throughout the process. While she mostly stayed on track, she didn't reach her step counts on some days, or had "cheat days" with her meals. She kept me on my toes but I managed to beat her in the challenge and win the cash, $2,500 of which I used to purchase a car I always wanted, the 1994 Ford Taurus SHO, while the rest of the amount remains in a fixed savings account.

Finding accountability

Money provided an added incentive for my wife and I, but I know there's no price tag on how alive you feel when getting your body in shape. A weight loss journey with my partner meant more accountability on both our parts, increased motivation, and better communication.

Although I won the challenge, my wife is equally enjoying numerous health benefits as she continues to track her steps and maintain a cleaner diet while shedding pounds. I've also noticed that she seems more confident in her body. Some days are harder than others but we continue holding each other accountable by setting small, attainable goals.