Ideas for Non-Edible Rewards

This is so tough. The problem is twofold: 1. as a species, we've evolved to tie food to psychologic phenomenon. Hence the term "comfort food" 2. It's super easy to justify the cost of a small treat, but the equivalent emotional response for non-food costs 10-100 times as much (i.e. shoes, purses, video games, tools in the garage, etc). Ditto for time. We HAVE to make time to eat, not all of us have extra time for "fun" treats like a round of golf or extra hour of Call of Duty or a window-shopping trip at the local outlets.

For me, I'm trying to experiment with this as well. Some thoughts I'm toying with:

• Set up a budget for rewards. Put something into it every month no matter what, but only spend it when I hit a goal.
• Take away some things that I probably could do without and only let them back into my life when I've earned them (like, no more Big Bang Theory unless I make it the full week being "good").
• Start trying to tie positive emotion to exercise. Had a bad day? How about a run? As opposed to Had a bad day? Let's stop at DQ on the way home!

I am considering buying myself a VivoFit for Christmas if in the next 3 weeks I make it with my plans - working out, counting properly, etc.

After that... I don't know. Eventually clothes.

Whenever I want to treat myself, I always head to the spa. Sometimes it's a manicure/pedicure, or sometimes I really splurge and get a massage or a facial

Well, totally depends on your interests, but some of these things work:

* Spa treatments, especially massages or pedicures if you're sore/achy from working out
* Jewelry
* Makeup or makeup application from professional
* Hair blowout or coloring
* New clothes
* Magazine subscriptions (healthy or cooking magazines, or anything you like)
* Vacations or day trips
* Fitness tracker
* Fitness equipment - resistance bands, kettlebells, weights, pilates ring, workout dvds, foam roller, new sneakers, heart rate monitor
* Classes - painting, photography, dance, cooking, fitness
* Personal training
* Gadgets - ipad, kindle, mp3 player, camera, phone
* Cooking supplies - fancy ingredients, new pots or pans, bakeware, immersion blender, food processor, fancy coffee, fancy salts

Honestly, for me, it's anything I want that wouldn't fit easily into my everyday budget, or something I want to do but find myself needing a reason to indulge or to "justify" the experience or purchase.

You can also still use food, but instead of a sundae or restaurant, make a fancy ingredient a reward. For example, really expensive or nice cut of fish, something with truffle oil or salt, a hard to find ingredient that needs to be ordered, or a really nice bottle of wine.

I'm not going to lie... I get pedicures and buy new clothes when I want, not when I hit a new goal... but I did buy myself a new workout outfit and new jeans when I lost 25lbs. Though that was more of "i'm tired of my clothes falling off of me" than a reward.
The changes I am seeing in the mirror and my capabilities in achieving new fitness goals have been the best reward. Being able to lift myself into wheel and bust out 30 (knee) pushups has been freakin awesome

I love to read. I buy myself a new book for every 5 pounds.

yoovie wrote: »

I reward myself with achievements!

Walking through the finish line at tough mudder is an overwhelmingly beautiful, emotionally moving moment that can only be truly experienced if you put in a lot of time and hard work to earn that headband. It fills me up like food never would be able to. And it isn't the kind of reward that is gone in 2 seconds like food - or grown out of like goal outfits, or chipped away with a manicure.

It's one of those moments in life. you know what I mean :bigsmile:

hiking a mountain. climbing a rock wall. finishing a race.

all of these aren't just rewards, they are rewards with a side of a sense of self, pride and recognizing as a fact that you can conquer giant obstacles.

but have fun with the new clothes/jewelry/hair removal ideas too!

+1. So very, very true. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from something like that just reinforces everything you're doing right for your health.

I totally understand the reward system, though. When I reach my goal weight, I'm buying myself the entry fee for whatever obstacle race is in town at that time. Gonna go kick some donkey butt.

I love this thread! It is a priority for me to NEVER use food as a reward for myself or my (future) kids.

I usually do new workout clothes every two months if I've stuck to my goals. It's like a self-perpetuating reward because then I *want* to wear them to the gym! I've also bought myself lots of fancy gear as rewards over the years that I don't really need (e.g. yoga bolster & blocks, running belt, super nice rock-climbing shoes) for the same reason!

if i don't wanna spend any money, i'll take a long, relaxing bubble bath or go all-out with makeup and take a bunch of selfies.

Jeans.... or one article of cute clothing, but usually jeans. Makes me feel good and motivates me to keep going. Every once in a while I go try on a size smaller. If I fit, I buy it (within my budget, of course). I did that last week and fit into a size 10 for the first time in over a decade and I was practically dancing in that fitting room. Totally bought them and I feel great and want to keep going. It's a treat because I don't really buy myself a lot of clothes. I get a kick out of it because at my heaviest I was always so depressed trying on clothes and now I love it.

Make it something you look forward to. What would make you dance for joy?

Felt great completing my first 10km.
Felt even better going on a cruise when I reached my goal and:
wearing a bikini,
rappelling down a waterfall,
trecking through a forest on horse back,
hiking up a mountain to a waterfall,
zip lining,
Looking sleek in an evening dress

Would not have done any of the above if I hadn't lost some weight and exercised.

Put some money away for every pound you lose, or goal you reach and go on a holiday.
Cheers, h.

I added color highlights (purple and turquoise) to my hair.
I went for laser treatments and Botox.
I bought new clothes (size 4!)
I started a new workout class.
I got my group fitness instructor certification. (and bought a new sweater to celebrate)
I joined an online dating service (wait, I'm not sure that's such a great thing).
I bought a bike.

I don't have any money for extra food.

I waited until I actually reached my target. Then I went out got gym membership for myself, workout gear and a Garmin Vivofit + HRM.

I love all the ideas in this thread! For me, when I set up rewards, I try to keep them cheap when smaller goals are reached. So I go to the thrift shop (my favorite thing in the whole world) and buy something under $10. I buy a nail polish or really nice shampoo at the drug store. For bigger goals, it's clothes and lingerie, splurge at Sephora, massage, and I hope to get a new tattoo when all the weight is lost. I think rewards are important, just little ways to honor how hard you've worked.