What reward system did you use or are you using?

2

Replies

  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    whirlygigs4 wrote: »
    I'm just doing stickers in my planner so far. Gold star each day I meet my calorie target and a green star for exercise. I like the visual pattern.

    that what we do with my two year old that is potty training
  • saralthrash
    saralthrash Posts: 105 Member
    Caen bracelet is such a great idea! Can I steal?
  • JenniK614
    JenniK614 Posts: 22 Member
    I use DietBet as motivation, and the payout as my reward :)
  • dasher602014
    dasher602014 Posts: 1,992 Member
    The charm bracelet sounds awesome and stickers do work for any age.

    If the subject is motivation, not rewards, then I help motivate myself through watching youtube about weigh loss or reading books. It seems the more informed I am about the workings of my body and what putting different foods into it does, the more motivated I am to keep feeding it what it needs and avoid what it doesn't need.

    I recently saw a youtube video about the sugar in cola. (Yes, I drink sparingly and diet cola when I do.) When they said a small movie cola, not medium but small, has a higher glucose load than what you are given at a lab for glucose testing... and the medium, not the large, has more than double that, it sure puts me off "just this one time" thinking. More info. That motivates me.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    I didn't reward myself for losing weight, I'd reward myself when I managed to keep a habit. The biggest one was logging; took me forever to get into that habit! And yes, you're not supposed to reward yourself with food, but when I started, for every 30 days in a row I logged, I would treat myself to steak dinner. Texas Roadhouse, so small and affordable, and if I make sure to limit my rolls, fits within my calorie goal for that meal, so it worked out well for me.
  • tesha_chandler
    tesha_chandler Posts: 378 Member
    At 10 pounds I got a manicure, at 20 pounds I got a pedicure, at 30 pounds I will get my car detailed, at 40 pounds I'll buy new clothes ;)
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Looking good is my reward.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    never bothered with rewards. losing weight, being fitter. smaller clothes was my reward
  • tbirk
    tbirk Posts: 25 Member
    I love the charm bracelet idea! My biggest motivator for fitness is signing up for a race -- usually a 5K or a 10K. If I get someone else to sign up with me, then that's even more motivation for me! I like eating healthy, so it's the exercise that I need motivation for.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    When I approach my target weight and have the look I want, I'm going to buy a couple-three nice suits. No more "Oh no my suit doesnt fit" (because I gained or lost) and scrambling to get a cheap suit because I need it NOW
  • kcoty001
    kcoty001 Posts: 15 Member
    clothes is always my reward system <3... and with that new dress that has to come accessories and new heels... ahh you look good you feel good right!?
  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
    saralthrash wrote: »
    Caen bracelet is such a great idea! Can I steal?

    Please do!!! Add me and we can show off our bracelets!!!
  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
    JenniK614 wrote: »
    I use DietBet as motivation, and the payout as my reward :)

    I love that!!! My local radio station participates in something like that
  • minizebu
    minizebu Posts: 2,716 Member
    edited January 2016
    The problems that I see with your charm bracelet reward system are:

    1) The ten pound loss is not going to happen often enough to act as a strong reinforcement. If you are losing at a rate of one pound per week then you will only be rewarded every ten weeks. Ten weeks is a long time to go without reinforcement.

    2) You are rewarding yourself for weight loss, which, unfortunately, is sort of out of your control. What I mean is that weight loss is not linear, and weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on hormone levels, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, the type of exercise you are doing (e.g. water retention during muscle recovery), etc. Your weight loss is not entirely up to you, it is up to the whims/fancies/peculiarities of your body, if you will.

    I'd prefer to see you using a reinforcement system for the positive habits that eventually result in weight loss, such as the system @tincanonastring uses (he rewards himself with food in such a way that he achieves a negative energy balance, which will result in eventual weight loss), or @whirlygigs4 (she rewards herself with stickers for meeting her calorie goal and exercising, again, behaviors that will help her to achieve a negative energy balance and lead to weight loss). I use a similar, if silly, system. I reward myself for "good behavior" by changing my profile picture each day. It's not a big thing, but it makes me happy and so it acts as a positive reinforcement.

    Concentrate on the behaviors that will lead to weight loss and give yourself frequent rewards for those behaviors. The weight loss will happen when it happens. Changing your day-to-day habits is the hard work that you have to do, and that is what you should reward yourself for.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    minizebu wrote: »
    The problems that I see with your charm bracelet reward system are:

    1) The ten pound loss is not going to happen often enough to act as a strong reinforcement. If you are losing at a rate of one pound per week then you will only be rewarded every ten weeks. Ten weeks is a long time to go without reinforcement.

    2) You are rewarding yourself for weight loss, which, unfortunately, is sort of out of your control. What I mean is that weight loss is not linear, and weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on hormone levels, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, the type of exercise you are doing (e.g. water retention during muscle recovery), etc. Your weight loss is not entirely up to you, it is up to the whims/fancies/peculiarities of your body, if you will.

    I'd prefer to see you using a reinforcement system for the positive habits that eventually result in weight loss, such as the system @tincanonastring uses (he rewards himself with food in such a way that he achieves a negative energy balance, which will result in eventual weight loss), or @whirlygigs4 (she rewards herself with stickers for meeting her calorie goal and exercising, again, behaviors that will help her to achieve a negative energy balance and lead to weight loss). I use a similar, if silly, system. I reward myself for "good behavior" by changing my profile picture each day. It's not a big thing, but it makes me happy and so it acts as a positive reinforcement.

    Concentrate on the behaviors that will lead to weight loss and give yourself frequent rewards for those behaviors. The weight loss will happen when it happens. Changing your day-to-day habits is the hard work that you have to do, and that is what you should reward yourself for.

    oh wow

  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
    edited January 2016
    minizebu wrote: »
    The problems that I see with your charm bracelet reward system are:

    1) The ten pound loss is not going to happen often enough to act as a strong reinforcement. If you are losing at a rate of one pound per week then you will only be rewarded every ten weeks. Ten weeks is a long time to go without reinforcement.

    2) You are rewarding yourself for weight loss, which, unfortunately, is sort of out of your control. What I mean is that weight loss is not linear, and weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on hormone levels, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, the type of exercise you are doing (e.g. water retention during muscle recovery), etc. Your weight loss is not entirely up to you, it is up to the whims/fancies/peculiarities of your body, if you will.

    I'd prefer to see you using a reinforcement system for the positive habits that eventually result in weight loss, such as the system @tincanonastring uses (he rewards himself with food in such a way that he achieves a negative energy balance, which will result in eventual weight loss), or @whirlygigs4 (she rewards herself with stickers for meeting her calorie goal and exercising, again, behaviors that will help her to achieve a negative energy balance and lead to weight loss). I use a similar, if silly, system, I reward myself for "good behavior" by changing my profile picture each day. It's not a big thing, but it makes me happy and so it acts as a positive reinforcement.

    Concentrate on the behaviors that will lead to weight loss and give yourself frequent rewards for those behaviors. The weight loss will happen when it happens. Changing your day-to-day habits is the hard work that you have to do, and that is what you should reward yourself for.

    I appreciate the input and agree with you in many many ways. I have over 100 pounds (100 only being my 2016 goal) to lose so I know if I stick to mfp guidelines I should be able to lose this weight or a good deal of it "pretty easily" I lost the first 75 that way.

    I love your idea of not focusing on the weight and more importantly on behaviors, I think this is very valid and something I do do on a daily basis. I just don't reward myself monetarily.

    What I like about the charm idea is 1.) The bracelet is signifying the 75 pounds I have already lost, so God forbid I don't lose another pound (I've been maintaining for over 3 years now) I can look at my bracelet every day and know what I've accomplished. If I can do it once I can do it again. 2. )I have no doubt that I will get some charms on that bracelet. Even if it is once every time they dangle or anything I am feeling weak or run down, my motivation is on my arm reminding me every day.

    I'm gonna give it a try.

    But once again I agree with your ideas

    Eta, the charms aren't cheap so money spent every 10 weeks is ok w me, but once again I have a lot to lose so no doubt it will be more often than that.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    hope516 wrote: »
    minizebu wrote: »
    The problems that I see with your charm bracelet reward system are:

    1) The ten pound loss is not going to happen often enough to act as a strong reinforcement. If you are losing at a rate of one pound per week then you will only be rewarded every ten weeks. Ten weeks is a long time to go without reinforcement.

    2) You are rewarding yourself for weight loss, which, unfortunately, is sort of out of your control. What I mean is that weight loss is not linear, and weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on hormone levels, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, the type of exercise you are doing (e.g. water retention during muscle recovery), etc. Your weight loss is not entirely up to you, it is up to the whims/fancies/peculiarities of your body, if you will.

    I'd prefer to see you using a reinforcement system for the positive habits that eventually result in weight loss, such as the system @tincanonastring uses (he rewards himself with food in such a way that he achieves a negative energy balance, which will result in eventual weight loss), or @whirlygigs4 (she rewards herself with stickers for meeting her calorie goal and exercising, again, behaviors that will help her to achieve a negative energy balance and lead to weight loss). I use a similar, if silly, system, I reward myself for "good behavior" by changing my profile picture each day. It's not a big thing, but it makes me happy and so it acts as a positive reinforcement.

    Concentrate on the behaviors that will lead to weight loss and give yourself frequent rewards for those behaviors. The weight loss will happen when it happens. Changing your day-to-day habits is the hard work that you have to do, and that is what you should reward yourself for.

    I appreciate the input and agree with you in many many ways. I have over 100 pounds (100 only being my 2016 goal) to lose so I know if I stick to mfp guidelines I should be able to lose this weight or a good deal of it "pretty easily" I lost the first 75 that way.

    I love your idea of not focusing on the weight and more importantly on behaviors, I think this is very valid and something I do do on a daily basis. I just don't reward myself monetarily.

    What I like about the charm idea is 1.) The bracelet is signifying the 75 pounds I have already lost, so God forbid I don't lose another pound (I've been maintaining for over 3 years now) I can look at my bracelet every day and know what I've accomplished. If I can do it once I can do it again. 2. )I have no doubt that I will get some charms on that bracelet. Even if it is once every time they dangle or anything I am feeling weak or run down, my motivation is on my arm reminding me every day.

    I'm gonna give it a try.

    But once again I agree with your ideas

    i like the approach you have taken as you say you have 100 pounds to lose. instead of thinking about the bigger picture you have broken it down into small chunks. you like the charms you will get your charms.
    you cant control how much you lose each week but you can stay in control by never giving up
    good luck
  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
    @Therealobi1 thank you very much for the encouraging words. That's exactly what I am doing. If I wake up everyday and say I need to lose 100 pounds it seems daunting but I think focusing on 10 pounds at a time will be the key for me.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    For me, progressing toward my goal is its own reward.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    losing weight IS the reward.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    A leaner, healthier and stronger me. Guess I'm just simple folk for whom hard work and success is it's own reward.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    hope516 wrote: »
    minizebu wrote: »
    The problems that I see with your charm bracelet reward system are:

    1) The ten pound loss is not going to happen often enough to act as a strong reinforcement. If you are losing at a rate of one pound per week then you will only be rewarded every ten weeks. Ten weeks is a long time to go without reinforcement.

    2) You are rewarding yourself for weight loss, which, unfortunately, is sort of out of your control. What I mean is that weight loss is not linear, and weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on hormone levels, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, the type of exercise you are doing (e.g. water retention during muscle recovery), etc. Your weight loss is not entirely up to you, it is up to the whims/fancies/peculiarities of your body, if you will.

    I'd prefer to see you using a reinforcement system for the positive habits that eventually result in weight loss, such as the system @tincanonastring uses (he rewards himself with food in such a way that he achieves a negative energy balance, which will result in eventual weight loss), or @whirlygigs4 (she rewards herself with stickers for meeting her calorie goal and exercising, again, behaviors that will help her to achieve a negative energy balance and lead to weight loss). I use a similar, if silly, system, I reward myself for "good behavior" by changing my profile picture each day. It's not a big thing, but it makes me happy and so it acts as a positive reinforcement.

    Concentrate on the behaviors that will lead to weight loss and give yourself frequent rewards for those behaviors. The weight loss will happen when it happens. Changing your day-to-day habits is the hard work that you have to do, and that is what you should reward yourself for.

    I appreciate the input and agree with you in many many ways. I have over 100 pounds (100 only being my 2016 goal) to lose so I know if I stick to mfp guidelines I should be able to lose this weight or a good deal of it "pretty easily" I lost the first 75 that way.

    I love your idea of not focusing on the weight and more importantly on behaviors, I think this is very valid and something I do do on a daily basis. I just don't reward myself monetarily.

    What I like about the charm idea is 1.) The bracelet is signifying the 75 pounds I have already lost, so God forbid I don't lose another pound (I've been maintaining for over 3 years now) I can look at my bracelet every day and know what I've accomplished. If I can do it once I can do it again. 2. )I have no doubt that I will get some charms on that bracelet. Even if it is once every time they dangle or anything I am feeling weak or run down, my motivation is on my arm reminding me every day.

    I'm gonna give it a try.

    But once again I agree with your ideas

    Eta, the charms aren't cheap so money spent every 10 weeks is ok w me, but once again I have a lot to lose so no doubt it will be more often than that.

    You could do both. Having the charms means a great deal to you, so rewarding yourself with one every 10lbs or so is a good idea. But you might consider other things you can do to help establish habits. I know food isn't supposed to be a reward, but what I did was for every 30 days in a row that I logged, I would treat myself to a steak dinner. Nothing fancy and what I would eat there fit within my calorie limit for dinner, but I LOVE steaks, so that was a treat for me. So maybe look and decide on a habit you want to establish, and think of something to reward yourself with that, too.
  • AnneBrader
    AnneBrader Posts: 18 Member
    I reward myself by buying a new workout outfit or maybe some perfume after I've lost a few pounds helps me stay motivated and focused :)
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I personally don't find physical rewards necessary. However I think that if it works for you and helps you to stay motivated, you should do it. And I think a charm bracelet is a lovely idea. :)
  • harrybananas
    harrybananas Posts: 292 Member
    There's no better reward for sticking to my diet than to reward myself with more food.
  • lizwrites1313
    lizwrites1313 Posts: 160 Member
    what a great idea!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Many years ago Weight watchers used the charm bracelet.

    I really really love throwing out / giving away big clothes and buying new ones.
    It feels freeing to make space in the closet for my new life.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    edited January 2016
    Nothing, really.

    My rewards are lifting heavier than I did the last time, my clothes fitting better than they did, and beer when I've earned the calories to drink it. I've tried the "I'll buy myself jeans when I get to X pounds" or whatever. It doesn't work for me because I know I'm able to go out and buy jeans whenever I want. If it works for you, great!
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    Cute idea! I love it.
    I buy myself things that are fitness & outdoor related when I hit milestones. I prefer 'incentives' to 'deadlines'...
  • Nell8i8
    Nell8i8 Posts: 61 Member
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    For every 3 calories I burn during exercise, I get to eat 2 calories. So, if I burn 450 calories on a run, I get to eat something with 300 calories. It's an awesome reward system for exercise!
    This! You burn it. ..it earn it!

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