Reward system

daneejela

I am curious - do you have a reward system?
How does it look?
Does it help you stay motivated?

kommodevaran

Eating better, paying less for food.
Moving more freely.
Losing shame, guilt and worry.
More relaxed, better sleep.
More energized.
Less physical pain.
I like it.

tinkerbellang83

Losing weight is my reward it motivates me pretty darn well and looks great

sweetpea813

I just read this quote in another weight loss forum...

"Stop rewarding yourself with food, you're not a dog."

I put it on my refrigerator.

Alatariel75

I too am of the "the results are the reward" crew.

I find that the more I make this way of eating a part of every day life, and not something 'special' or noteworthy, the easier it is to do long term.

MimGSR

I do! I've based it on achievements rather than weight. A lot of the rewards are jewellery or accessories as once I'm down to goal weight I plan on completely changing my wardrobe. I recently rewarded myself with a pair of earrings after achieving my leg press aim I also got a new hat after managing to give up chocolate for all of lent. I’m doing Couch to 5k and I plan to buy a fitness tracker after running my first 5k. I also have new trainers, a diary, running headphones, and some new boots on my wish list.

Machka9

Losing weight and being able to do more was my reward.

junodog1

I don't have a planned reward system, but I did reward my first 25 pounds down by purchasing a fit bit. (And I am so happy I did.) So I might justify some future purchase as either a reward for doing it or as a tool to help me do better. Like I've been thinking of a mani-pedi when I hit 199.

Alidecker

I did in the beginning, I had a lot of weight to lose. The first 25# I bought some new workout clothes, when I hit 50#, I bought new gym shoes, 75#, more clothes and 100# a new grill. I really ended up buying more workout clothes besides, that, but I bought more expensive stuff when I hit a goal.

SeikoMonster

For my 100 pounds lost this year and my weight starting with a 2 for the first time since high school... I bought new clothes because the old ones don't fit! That is a pretty awesome reward in itself.
Not having to pay DXL $40 for a tee shirt and being able to buy a $5 one at walmart was a life changing experience.

In fact today I boxed up all my old dress shirts and pants to drop off at goodwill on the way to the gym this afternoon.

Seffell

Losing weight for me.

I just recently gained the weight so I just want it gone and myself back to normal.

Lizzy622

Jealous husband - because everyone is telling him how good his wife looks

qpmomma1

Buying new clothes that are cute and that fit.

Rebecca0224

I don't need to be rewarded for living a normal healthy life. When I stopped looking at what I eat as anything other than normal I didn't need rewards.

ValeriePlz

I got Birchbox as a treat - fun makeup / hair / lotion samples.

Emily3907

Rebecca0224 wrote: »

I don't need to be rewarded for living a normal healthy life. When I stopped looking at what I eat as anything other than normal I didn't need rewards.

This has become my attitude. I used to try the "rewards" thing, but I slowly came to the realization that as @sweetpea813 said, I am not a dog. Plus, let's say you hit a reward mark, follow through with the "reward" and then slip up and gain back after a weekend of too much whatever. Does that mean the reward no longer counts? Or that you should feel guilty for rewarding yourself too soon? I just think it can lead to some less than ideal situations/mindsets.

I have tried really hard to remove any connotations of "good" or "bad" from my diet. And rewarding myself implies that I have been "good" and not rewarding myself implies I have been "bad". That has been the most "rewarding" thing because I am no longer a slave to my plate or the gym. I just eat, I move and I adjust as I go to meet my goals.

NorthCascades

When I was losing weight, each pound made me faster going up hills, which was a hell of a reward.

AnnPT77

I'm in the "weight loss is its own reward" camp, big time. It improved my daily functioning, and my health markers, not to mention my overall sense of well-being.

However, if someone tends to reward him/herself with food, then I think it could be a good transitional strategy to use some non-food rewards for meeting weight loss (or other) goals. Spa days, workout equipment or other toys, trips, fun experiences (concert, play, etc.) could be good ones, depending on one's interests.

For me, having to buy new clothes was a punishment for weight loss, but I know that many folks think just the opposite.

CSARdiver

Athletic performance. Faster, stronger, higher...

I've had friends set a beer, cigar, etc. at the finish line as motivation. Coincidence that these are my fastest times?

I recently took in two suits to get tailored and told that the alterations would be too great, so my reward is two donated suits listed on my returns for tax deduction and getting two suits that fit me.

tabletop_joe

I reward the hell out of myself. It keeps me going because a) I don't think I look better thin b) health, shmealth. I've always felt healthy, even when I wasn't, so where's the upside to that?

I need something to keep me working towards my goal, even if it's not a natural consequence, because it will still further the real benefits my undisciplined mind rejects. I am using behavioral techniques on myself because I know the ultimate price of being chronically overweight and I know myself. There's no shame in using a reward system if you know it'll help you too!

I buy myself nice things when I hit goals. Nice jewelry, records I want, better shoes... anything I can't eat because I've broken the food/reward association in my mind. Maybe when I hit my ultimate goal I'll keep it up--I've put others first my whole life, and myself a distant second (if anything), and I kind of like this new way of doing things!

Cheers to a better future!

nowine4me

Every time I hit my next goal, I switch the color band for my Apple Watch. Since I look at it a gazillion times a day, it's a great reminder of how far I've come. The orange one I have now is faded and ratty, my shiny new yellow one is in the drawer for when I hit 145#. It's the best $10 I could spend.

callsitlikeiseeit

my reward was getting rid of an abusive ex and finding a wonderful man.

in all seriousness though (well, i actually am serious with that but whatever LMAO) no, i dont have a reward. My reward is losing weight, feeling better, feeling stronger, moving down in sizes and measurements.

those are my rewards.

xmissxamyx

I did the whole "when I reach X weight, i'll buy XX" type reward thing and it kept me motivated for a little bit, but not for long. Because I always knew in the back of my mind I could really just go out and buy that item whenever I wanted to no matter what my size was and if I wanted it bad enough I often would just think 'bugger this I'm having it now'. Being able to fit into smaller sized clothes was good and I did go a bit crazy "rewarding" myself with a bunch of nice clothes, but then I fell back into bad habits and ended up gaining 10kgs and of course none of the other stuff fit me so I not only felt bad that I gained weight but that I had wasted so much money buying clothes that no longer fit me, and having to spend more money buying clothes in the bigger sizes again.

Now I'm just trying to look at this as a thing that I do forever, it's not a limited time thing that has a deadline and a reward system, where I get treats if I do "good" and nothing if im "bad" it doesn't help in the long run I don't think to always be dependent on an external reward for doing something that should be a natural way of life.