Motivation is a fickle creature. There are days when you might be highly motivated to lose weight. And then there are days when you fall off the wagon and eat a tub of ice cream.

A good way to keep you motivated in your weight loss crusade is to set a clear goal in your mind. What better way to do it than by joining a cause and helping others?

The Incredible Shrinking Family is a promotion headed by Robert Cylde. In this, families can join the program and pledge to lose a certain amount of weight. They can then get sponsors, and for every pound they lose, a portion of the sponsored amount goes to charity.

Clyde started the project to inspire a generation of healthy living for everyone. It is important to note that this is not a competition. All the families that participate set their own goals, and contribute towards the same rewards – contributing to charity.

The charities include the American Heart Association, World Hope International, and Girls on the Run, among many others. You can also view each family’s progress on the website. Clyde himself started out at 320 pounds and aimed to trim that to 200 pounds. So far, he has lost over 30 pounds!

Fun runs or awareness walks are another way to contribute. An example of this is the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer. Participants will walk 39 miles over the course of two days to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The event was held in various cities throughout the United States.

Events like these help you to lose weight and stay in shape, but best of all, you also help make a better society for everyone.