Money jar! Reward yourself for good habits!

suppakana
suppakana Posts: 307 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Around New Years, I started keeping a jar - every time I worked out, I put a dollar in the jar. If I did a double that day, I put two dollars in the jar. I would use money from the jar to reward myself with little things - a new pair of jeans, lunch with a friend, etc.. After a while, I stopped keeping the jar because I was beginning to get these things for myself anyways, and that with the positive reinforcement (i get money that I already had anyways for working out!) by the time March/April rolled around, I was well into the habit of working out. It's now something that I just kind of DO, and feel good doing, and have routines for doing.

Now that I have the good workout habits, I have been really noticing how lacking I am in discipline in the food area. I don't go out to eat a lot, per-se, but I do eat a lot of processed foods right now - pizza rolls, microwave burritos, sugary cereals, etc. I know that I should be replacing these with things like fish, stir fry, oatmeal, etc... But the previous options are so much easier. I was thinking that I would start up my exercise jar again, only have it be a food jar this time: for every day I log my food correctly, am within my calorie limit, and eat a majority of healthy foods (I WILL be allowed to eat a few cookies if I feel the urge for cookies - saying no to them just causes binging sometimes.)... I will put a dollar in the jar.

Money in the jar will be put towards things I don't normally treat myself to - eating out, manicure/pedicure (I think the last time I got one of those was over a year ago?), etc., in an effort to keep the jar relevant.

What do you guys think of this idea, and what are some things that you might use as self rewards... As things that I can buy with jar money to reward myself further for being good about eating right?

Replies

  • suppakana
    suppakana Posts: 307 Member
    bump!
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I also have the exercise down, but not the eating ... my goal is to someday feel ok about opening up my food diary without being ashamed! Even ONE day ...

    You mentioned a pedicure ... I do love those. Maybe a subscription to one of the Fitness magazines (they can also be inspiring), new clothes. Just think about what other things you would maybe ask for for birthdays or Christmas. Try to keep them NONE food related (as that does defeat the purpose).

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