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MURRAY — Like many people, Kenny Clayton is notorious for his New Year's resolutions to lose weight. And like many of us, he usually falls off the bandwagon — or bicycle — before his goal is reached.
But he insists that won't happen this year and he's made a bet to hold him to his word.
Clayton's "blue blood" has him bound and determined to win the battle over the bulge for good. Clayton is a die-hard BYU Cougar.
"I set a goal of losing 50 pounds in 100 days," Clayton said. "I'm enjoying the idea of being a fit BYU fan."
I received some M&Ms the first couple of days and some brownies and some cookies in the first couple of weeks from Utah fans in on this bet.
–Kenny Clayton
A difficult goal? He knows it is. Is it attainable? He believes it absolutely is— with hard work, and plenty of sweat.
But if he doesn't reach his goal, there are serious consequences.
"If I don't lose at least 50 pounds in the 100 days, I have to burn all of my BYU stuff and wear a Utah shirt to the BYU game and become a Utah fan for the rest of the year," Clayton said.
The University of Utah fans at the Sports Mall Athletic Club where he works as the sales manager are planning a torching ceremony should he fail. They bring him sweets and candy, which Clayton tries to resist.
"I received some M&Ms the first couple of days and some brownies and some cookies in the first couple of weeks from Utah fans in on this bet," he said. "They're trying to get me to falter and have to wear the Utah red. Utah fans are telling me, 'I hope you lose 49 pounds.' I get a lot of that."
But it's more than smack talk keeping him on track. Clayton played college baseball for BYU. He hasn't been back to a game in 30 years. The BYU/Utah baseball game is two days after his weight loss cut-off date — April 17.
He can't wait to go back to his alma mater to cheer on his team and he wants to make sure he's wearing blue when he goes back to Cougartown. And if he doesn't reach his goal, you can bet there are plenty of Utes at the gym who will hold him to his end of the deal.
As bad as it would be to wear red until December, Clayton said this bet is about much more than just keeping his blue threads. His father died of a heart attack at the age of 50. Clayton turns 54 this year. His bet is about finally accomplishing a goal that could save his life.
"I need to change," Clayton said. "I need to change my life. There are too many things that I'm not doing by allowing myself to just choose food over exercising and being healthy."
But keeping his BYU blue will be nice, too.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
