---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father offered me a dollar for every…"
description: "\"My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run. Who are you competing ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg"
---

#  My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose…

![“My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run. Who are you competing against? It's you. You need to be doing this for you and only you.” quote by Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg)

> “My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run. Who are you competing against? It's you. You need to be doing this for you and only you.”

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

External rewards rarely sustain long‑term behavior change; intrinsic motivation is essential.

**In simple terms:** Money incentives don't keep lasting change.

Key Takeaway

Focus on personal reasons.

Themes

motivation self‑discipline health

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- weight loss
- exercise habits
- dieting
- personal goals

Key Concepts

behavioral economics intrinsic motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What internal reasons drive your health choices?
- How can you reinforce self‑motivation daily?

A Different Perspective

External rewards can backfire, causing reliance on incentives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every-pound-i-would-lose-as-a-kid-2/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [The exchange rate of the Rand against the dollar, pound or euro makes South Africa an attractive location. The positive side of this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/the-exchange-rate-of-the-rand-against-the-dollar-pound-or-euro-makes/)

[John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/)

> [When I'm competing, I need to be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/when-i-m-competing-i-need-to-be-strong/)

[Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/)

> [When Im competing, I need to be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/when-im-competing-i-need-to-be-strong/)

[Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/)

> [When you're competing, you need to be selfish. You need to think of yourself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-askren/when-you-re-competing-you-need-to-be-selfish-you-need-to-think-of/)

[Ben Askren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-askren/)

> [Not many people can say they were the pound-for-pound best, but I'm one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/not-many-people-can-say-they-were-the-pound-for-pound-best-but-i-m/)

[Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/)

> [“Who am I, and when did I gain a pound?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-am-i-and-when-did-i-gain-a-pound/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [As a technology, the book is like a hammer. That is to say, it is perfect: a tool ideally suited to its task. Hammers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/as-a-technology-the-book-is-like-a-hammer-that-is-to-say-it-is/)

[James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/)

> [I think you're lucky if you discover what you really love at a young age. College wasn't something I was going to do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-think-you-re-lucky-if-you-discover-what-you-really-love-at-a-young/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [Pound notes are the best religion in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/pound-notes-are-the-best-religion-in-the-world/)

[Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/)

> [A handicap is like trying to race and you have a ten pound weight stuck to your waist. That is a handicap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/a-handicap-is-like-trying-to-race-and-you-have-a-ten-pound-weight/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [“Don't get mad about the infestation of fleas if you keep shopping at the dog pound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-j-lewis-coleman/don-t-get-mad-about-the-infestation-of-fleas-if-you-keep-shopping-at/)

[Valerie J. Lewis Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-j-lewis-coleman/)

> [Ground and pound is my thing, everyone knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/ground-and-pound-is-my-thing-everyone-knows-that/)

[Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/)

> [“I like ’em round, more of them to pound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ker-dukey/i-like-em-round-more-of-them-to-pound/)

[Ker Dukey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ker-dukey/)

> [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/)

[Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/)

## More by Richard Simmons

> [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [I'm like a stuffed toy. You've never met me, but if you did, you'd just want to take me home and put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-m-like-a-stuffed-toy-you-ve-never-met-me-but-if-you-did-you-d-just/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [The real pride, the real present, is your health and your longevity. My whole career, I have never done anything where competition was involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/the-real-pride-the-real-present-is-your-health-and-your-longevity-my/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [For my workout, I'm up at 4am. I say my prayers, count my blessings, and I work out right away. I just get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/for-my-workout-i-m-up-at-4am-i-say-my-prayers-count-my-blessings-and/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [When you gain weight, for every pound that you gain, it adds four pounds of stress on your knees. So if you gain five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/when-you-gain-weight-for-every-pound-that-you-gain-it-adds-four/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [After I talk to so many people who are so unhappy about their weight and so depressed that they don't see any rainbows in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/after-i-talk-to-so-many-people-who-are-so-unhappy-about-their-weight/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [I have been up to my head just with calling people, I call about 50 to 100 people a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-have-been-up-to-my-head-just-with-calling-people-i-call-about-50-to/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [When we're binging, we do not think about death. We just think about how good it tastes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/when-we-re-binging-we-do-not-think-about-death-we-just-think-about/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [I was born with a crippled leg. I wore a corrective shoes since I was three years old and I still wear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-was-born-with-a-crippled-leg-i-wore-a-corrective-shoes-since-i-was/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [I was always into staying busy, into my goals, into making notes and planning. I'm not one who truly lives in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-was-always-into-staying-busy-into-my-goals-into-making-notes-and/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [We overweight people, we say terrible things to ourselves. Oh, you wouldn't believe it. 'You fat pig. How can you do this? You're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/we-overweight-people-we-say-terrible-things-to-ourselves-oh-you/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [Most workouts are way too aggressive. Thousands of lunges wear out the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/most-workouts-are-way-too-aggressive-thousands-of-lunges-wear-out-the/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [I spent my childhood eating. The only exercise I got was trying to twist off the cap of a jar of mayonnaise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-spent-my-childhood-eating-the-only-exercise-i-got-was-trying-to/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [My parents always told me to be myself. I was always funny and silly as a kid. And I would always make them laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-parents-always-told-me-to-be-myself-i-was-always-funny-and-silly/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [My way is the sensitive, emotional way, because that's who I am. A day doesn't go by where I don't sit and cry, listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-way-is-the-sensitive-emotional-way-because-that-s-who-i-am-a-day/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

[Explore all 165 Richard Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

## More Against quotes

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/)

[Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/)

> [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/)

[Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/)

> [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/)

[Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/)

> [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/)

[Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/)

> [Ronaldo will always score against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/ronaldo-will-always-score-against-everyone/)

[Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/)

> [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

Joe Pitts

> [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/)

[Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/)

> [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/)

[Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/)

> [I'm an Indian and I shall not do anything that goes against my ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-m-an-indian-and-i-shall-not-do-anything-that-goes-against-my-ethos/)

[Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/)

Browse all 2,190 Against quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run. Who are you competing against? It's you. You need to be doing this for you and only you.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Simmons"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every-pound-i-would-lose-as-a-kid/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Against"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every-pound-i-would-lose-as-a-kid/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/richard-simmons-2455_against_my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every_1482995.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really…” — Richard Simmons",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Simmons",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My father offered me a dollar...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every-pound-i-would-lose-as-a-kid/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-father-offered-me-a-dollar-for-every-pound-i-would-lose-as-a-kid/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
