How do you reward yourself?

I read you should reward behaviors that help you achieve your health goals for example, saying no to second helpings, adding a little more intensity to your exercise, skipping the carbs or sweets. You get the best results and most benefits when rewarding desired behavior consistently until it becomes part of your normal routine.
This does not mean you have to reward yourself immediately every single time you do the right thing however you should reward yourself frequently for changing bad behaviors into good ones. Using treats as a reward sends a confusing message to your brain and encourages the bad behavior that got you where you where you're at in the first place.
Pedicures, trip to the movies, new clothing item are ideas. I also heard you should make short and long term behavioral goal changes. A friend of mine suggested for a long-term goal putting a dollar for every day you do the right thing into a jar to purchase a special gift for yourself at 30 day intervals or when you reach your fitness goal. I also heard of buying a bracelet or ring and putting it on your dominant hand or wrist so it reminds you of your good behavior. Another idea that involves no money is to make someone else happy by doing an act of kindness or volunteering. By doing something for someone else will make them and you both feel good! Good Luck!

faceal
massages
bra's
new clothes
CD
DVD
books
make up
shoes
getting my hair done



a quote 'do not reward yourself with food. You are not a dog.' ( don't mean to bemean or rude)

anyone can add me

I intend to reward myself every half a stone I lose. The first half I have lost, I had my hair cut and coloured and splashed out on highlights which I don't normally have. The next half a stone I'm going to have my eyelashes tinted and my eyebrows shaped and I can't wait, clothes will probably be the next reward, a size smaller !!! I do have about 5 stone to lose so a lot of rewards to think about.

Food is not the enemy--it is a pleasurable part of life, and a frequent part of celebratory events. By all means find a range of ways to reward yourself, and you've already gotten some great ideas above. But I utterly reject the notion that food cannot be a reward. Dinner at a new or favorite restaurant, a picnic with your sweetie on a warm spring day, a single amazing truffle from a high-end chocolatier, hell--deep-fried butter at the Indiana State Fair (yep, that was a real thing)--all can be wonderful, satisfying treats AND fit within your day's calorie goal.

In my opinion, building a healthy relationship with food means learning how and when to indulge.

Exactly! I reward myself with food all the time. If I bike to work, I get Ben & Jerry's for dessert because it fits well within my calories then. Simple.

Longer-term, though, I'm allowing myself to indulge in more impulse buys and major purchases, especially if they're things that will keep me active, though that's also a side-effect of starting a full-time job about the same time I started here Just bought a new riding helmet. Currently putting an extra £20 per week toward my own fencing mask and rapier.

(edited to fix quote)

I am 1.2 lbs from my first 10lbs and my reward will be a 3 month gym membership with daycare 3 days a week.

My first reward was a new purse. After my next goal I'm getting a massage. :-)

Clothes! I need them anyway, so it works out great. I had to buy an entire new wardrobe for this spring and summer because last year at this time I was 60+lbs heavier. I can't afford to go crazy, but buying a bunch of $7 size small Target t-shirts sure felt rewarding to me, considering I used to be in an XXL. :happy:

I use clothing a lot, or stuff like manicures, pedicures...things like that. Non food ways that help me to feel more attractive as I'm losing weight.

When I started I told myself that when I will have lost 25 pounds I will get my nails done as a reward, wich i did and continue to do so. My next reward will be when I reach 50 pounds to got get a new haircut and maybe color. Next might be getting a new shirt, purse, pair of shoes every month...


With me gaining weight I totaly stopped taking care of myself and let myself go completely... As I'm losing the weight, I'm taking more care of myself:blushing:

makeup, clothes??

I have always used food as a reward and a way to celebrate. Obviously that is changing now. What non-food rewards do you use?

Small rewards are generally food or beer related IF I can fit it in that day. Bigger rewards are usually retail based - CD's, DVD's, .... The last was an expensive torch for walking the dog at night.