Top ten best rewards as motivators

IreneAdler
IreneAdler Posts: 69
edited September 23 in Motivation and Support
So, I've been doing this diet thing since the first of January, and have lost about 7 pounds. I'm looking for good rewards to further motivate me, now that the newness has worn off and it isn't as exciting.

How are you "non-food" rewarding yourself if you meet a goal? I'm on a tight budget, so going out and buying new clothes is not realistic for me.

Replies

  • RobinsEgg
    RobinsEgg Posts: 3,702 Member
    I throw a nickel into a GLASS jar the morning after a good day. It make a nice ringing noise. And if I'm still hungry at night I think if I eat I don't get to put my nickel into my jar in the morning.

    I use nickels because they are 2.oo for a roll of nickels so its not expensive. It doesn't add up to a lot but its the ringing sound thats the reward.
  • fevre
    fevre Posts: 60 Member
    I've got the same problem! I want to offer myself rewards, but I don't want to reward myself with food (that seems counter-productive) and I don't have the money to "treat" myself (honestly, if I had that much extra money, I'd probably treat myself anyway!)
  • loriefolk
    loriefolk Posts: 352
    First of all, congrats on your success! 7lbs this month is awesome progress :)

    I buy myself small things, like hair accessories, a new handbag, lotions, body washes, etc. It sounds silly, but buying myself those things when I reach a small goal motivate me to do better and better. If I make a bad decision, I won't allow myself a reward until I overcome it and see a difference on the scale :)
  • menchi
    menchi Posts: 297 Member
    If you aren't the kind of person who feels compelled to buy stuff, I found it really nice for me to go "shopping" for clothes and actually just trying on things w/o looking at the price since I'm not buying anything. I found that it was really empowering to see that I fit into things I didn't expect to.

    I do treat myself with food too. I make it a challenge to find good healthy treats that are mouthwatering. I found the best dark chocolate I've ever had (and I don't like chocolate much), so I have a piece of it a few days a week. Plus it has a reasonable amount of iron which I have a hard time getting. Fruits I also love and I don't tend to have much variety in the winter, but I find I'm more willing to splurge occasionally on a box of strawberries because "I've been good."

    I'm also giving myself relax time that is all mine where I answer to no one's bidding. Dieting was really stressful for me at the start and I pretty much lost my sense of humor before I lost any weight. Having that time and feeling like I earned it by eating well and working out, it helped a lot. Lately I've been spending that time in the sauna just letting my thoughts fade away.
  • blessedbirdie
    blessedbirdie Posts: 41
    first of all congrats on losing and hope for continued sucess
    It is a challenge when money is tight for rewards but you can find ways
    make time to call a friend and do a manicure on each other or facial
    make a special movie night and pop a 100 calorie bag of popcorn or play some games
    being lonely doesn't help when trying to lose so keep in touch with family and friends and do things
    take a walk around the mall and just window shop or go to a second hand store to shop also
    I buy a special tea as a reward
    I have a necklace and add a bead each 5 lbs I lose and then wear it... hobby lobby is where I got mine and they go on sale half off a lot... add charms too ... most cost under $4 and the necklace was $4 with the 1/2 off

    hope you find a good reward
    happy losing
    birdie
  • menchi
    menchi Posts: 297 Member
    Oh I just had a thought about motivators, this one doesn't cost any extra. As I've been approaching my goal weight, I've been slowing down my loss rate by slowly increasing my calorie goals (in the custom option when you change goals). The reason I started it had nothing to do with motivation. I wanted to make sure I gradually approach maintenance calorie goals and letting MFP do it by setting a lower loss rate was too big a jump in the number of calories. So I'm doing 100 Cal increments every 2-3 weeks depending on how much I've lost. I just upped it yesterday and it's like telling myself "you're getting closer, you get to eat more!" It's small enough a change that I don't notice most days, but the act of changing those numbers gives me a sense of empowerment and accomplishment.

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