Rewards? do they help?

HealthyFor2013
HealthyFor2013 Posts: 30
in Motivation and Support
hi i'm Amy and i just wanted to ask MFP people if it is a good idea to set up a reward system for myself?
who on here sets themselves weight loss goals that aren't their goal weight and rewards themselves when they get to it?
does anyone find setting yourself rewards seem to help motivate your workouts and help you weight loss?
is it worth doing?

thank you in advance
Amy

Replies

  • HannahsBestLife
    HannahsBestLife Posts: 209 Member
    I do this :D although I havn't hit my first 'mini goal' yet, I have about 7lbs to go.. BUt yes, for every 10lbs I lose I will treat myself to something I want.. NOT FOOD THOUGH.. So for example once I lose the next 7 I will have reached my first one and I will go to the hairdresser and get my hair done.. :) I have BAD regrowth and can't go before I reach it so this is working well for me haha..

    My other goals are things like, New workout gear, Mani/Pedi, New jeans/top/shoes etc, Jewellery
    ..
  • AmberJo1984
    AmberJo1984 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I have heard it is a good plan. However, I would think it would be wiser to do this with something non-food related. For me, if I receive one bite of something sweet, I can't stop. I know this is a weakness for me... so, I know to make my rewards something that will not risk my progress. For me... my rewards will be new clothes... or a nice trip to the movie theater (without the popcorn).
  • HealthyFor2013
    HealthyFor2013 Posts: 30
    i don't think i would make it something food related but some new shoes maybe?
    ill think ill do every 10kg what do you think?
  • AmberJo1984
    AmberJo1984 Posts: 1,067 Member
    i don't think i would make it something food related but some new shoes maybe?
    ill think ill do every 10kg what do you think?

    That sounds like a plan to me. I think that is a good goal.
  • nichojanes
    nichojanes Posts: 76 Member
    Give yourself rewards if you think it'll help. I'm off tomorrow to get some new running shoes as my 3 stone goal and am planning something else for when I complete a 5k race.

    As others have said it is best not to have food goals, kinda defeats the purpose.
  • berryjk
    berryjk Posts: 120
    short term goals are a great way to help you reach your long term goal! I do it all the time! no matter what you're working towards!
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,924 Member
    I used the system to quit smoking. I figured my cigarettes used to cost about a CD a week, back in the day before downloads. So I would buy a CD at the beginning of the week and would promise myself not smoke until it was paid for. It was good to get some positive reinforcement with not smoking. As time progressed, I would pre-buy bigger gifts like new shoes, etc, which would require not smoking for a longer period.

    For weight loss an appropriate gift would be a cute fashionable (but disposable) piece of clothing in your smaller transition size as you hit your mini goals.
  • DarkFlutter
    DarkFlutter Posts: 336 Member
    For 30 lbs lost, I did a hair makeover...cut and color.

    For 50 lbs lost, I want to go Rock Climbing...something I've always wanted to do, but felt I was too heavy.

    Want to do something for every 25lbs after that...just haven't decided what yet.
  • jerbear1962
    jerbear1962 Posts: 1,157 Member
    I have set goals nothing food wise all either, clothing, exercise equipment, new music for my mp3 player, something to help keep me going.
  • ineedtoloosesomelbs
    ineedtoloosesomelbs Posts: 6
    Rewards are definitely motivating! I set my goals up like this:
    1 inch off my thighs and waist- Goodie(like a new nailpolish, etc.) or I put $6 into my Money Blowout
    My money blowout is where I put the money that I could of spent on my goodie or whatever I was going to reward myself with, and put it in a jar. By the time I've reached all my goals, I get all the money I saved, and go on a big Money Blowout for myself. Like shopping for a new wardrobe or something of that sort.
    So if i choose my money blowout option for every one of the goals I conquer, I should have around $200. (I also give myself $50 at the begging to motivate myself)
    *each bigger goal gets more money for example
    1 inch- goodie or $6 in MB
    3 inches- a new hoodie/jacket or $13
    5 inches- new heels or $20
    6-7 inches- skinny jeans or $30
  • HealthyFor2013
    HealthyFor2013 Posts: 30
    thankyou everyone for your replies :) im defiantly going to do this now !!
    thankyou for you opinions :)
  • Williamj
    Williamj Posts: 199 Member
    An awesome NPR program called Radio Lab did a show on motivation, more specifically, the power of negative motivation.
    If I don't hit my goals by deadline, then a check for $500, that I've all ready filled out and given to a friend for safe keeping gets mailed to a certain political figure that I loath.

    I have a goal / reward system too, but it's that damn check that drags me out of bed at 5 am to go to the gym.
  • realme56
    realme56 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I did a new tat at my halfway point..... earrings at a 1/4 point......new clothes come when I need them but special things I make as rewards.
  • econut2000
    econut2000 Posts: 395 Member
    An awesome NPR program called Radio Lab did a show on motivation, more specifically, the power of negative motivation.
    If I don't hit my goals by deadline, then a check for $500, that I've all ready filled out and given to a friend for safe keeping gets mailed to a certain political figure that I loath.

    I have a goal / reward system too, but it's that damn check that drags me out of bed at 5 am to go to the gym.

    I LOVE this idea!! If I had 50 cents to my name I would do the same :laugh:
  • 2012asv
    2012asv Posts: 702 Member
    Totally helps so all this doesn't seem like a chore sometimes. I planned to give myself $20 for every pound lost this month... in hopes to reach $100 to go shopping with. I've never done this type of reward before so it should be fun!
  • 2012asv
    2012asv Posts: 702 Member
    An awesome NPR program called Radio Lab did a show on motivation, more specifically, the power of negative motivation.
    If I don't hit my goals by deadline, then a check for $500, that I've all ready filled out and given to a friend for safe keeping gets mailed to a certain political figure that I loath.

    I have a goal / reward system too, but it's that damn check that drags me out of bed at 5 am to go to the gym.

    I LOVE this idea!! If I had 50 cents to my name I would do the same :laugh:

    lol true that!!
  • totallydevious
    totallydevious Posts: 309 Member
    I have a rewards system, I feel like it helps when I just want to say, screw it.
    It has to be something you really want, something that is worth all the sweat and the soreness.
    :flowerforyou:
    15 more pounds until I get my reward for dropping 25 pounds!
    Century, The Original Wavemaster, Freestanding Training Bag and Everlast, EverGel Hand Wraps. :heart:

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