Rewards - how do you handle?

lornamarie57 · March 2022

How do you reward yourself? I don't mean at what interval I mean how? I ordered a reward that I want to give myself when I hit a milestone but not sure how to "give it" when I hit the reward. I ordered from etsy so it'll come in the next week or two and my hitting the milestone will prob be in a few weeks.

Do I just put it in a drawer and not take it out? Do I give to my husband to hold onto till I then eventually tell him I hit the milestone so can have my present?

What do you do? I buy stuff all the time. How do I make this a reward rather than just another thing I bought off etsy?

IAmTheGlue · April 2022

If it’s important to you that this item be a reward for meeting a specific goal, I would not open it until I reached that goal.

If I wanted a prize to keep myself motivated or as a reward, I would buy it when I achieved the desired goal.

np33441 · April 2022

I agree with @IAmTheGlue, I would buy the reward item when I hit my goal. If it's something that you won't be able to buy later on (something on Etsy or eBay for example, or something on an incredible sale) then giving it to someone to hold onto until you've reached your goal would work just as well.
As for making it a 'reward', I think just thinking of it as a reward goes a long way. Pick something specific to reward yourself with when you set your goal and write it down, screenshot it, bookmark the tab on your browser, etc. I usually use things I wouldn't normally buy or that are a little more expensive (e.g. American Eagle jeans instead of Old Navy jeans). But like I said, IMHO rewards are 'rewards' because we think of them as such.

Xellercin · April 2022

I don't generally buy things to reward myself for living well, living well is rewarding in and of itself. If I want to celebrate accomplishments, I try to do an amped up version of what I already enjoy, so I'll make a particularly delicious healthy meal that happens to take a lot more work, one that I save for special occasions. I'll go out to a favourite nature spot, or better yet find a new one. I'll rent a peddle boat or canoe and take a turn around the lake, which I don't do often because it's kind of touristy, but I love it once in awhile.

I just try to engage in things that are already a joyful part of my life, but things that I don't typically do on a day to day basis, which makes them special and celebratory.

I also don't reward myself for weight loss targets because I don't personally believe in them. I celebrate lifestyle goals, like if I make progress in my injury rehab because I've been diligent with my exercises, or if I've made a goal of eating only homemade, from scratch meals for a month and I succeed. I celebrate the things I've set out to do and done successfully.

I live by the philosophy that if I live an optimally healthy lifestyle that I will obtain and maintain an optimally healthy weight, and so far it's served me very well. I lost a ton of weight and kept it off that way.

That's just *my* personal experience and preference though, take from it what you will, discard the rest.

Machka9 · April 2022

My rewards and celebrations are usually activities.

I'll do a long distance bicycle ride or a long hike to celebrate things.

Hiawassee88 · April 2022

I don't reward myself with anything to replace food rewards or anything related with weight. This takes the good or bad morality out of food and weight. No good or bad foods, no good or bad girl and no rewards. You just live it as you release the weight.
You buy clothes and needed items as your budget affords. This takes all of the control and power away from food. You're in the driver's seat simply enjoying your life and each day as it comes.

lornamarie57 · April 2022

Thanks guys. I was thinking about a reward being linked to tracking food or using mfp for a set amount of time. I’ve been doing conqueror challenges and getting a medal to celebrate walking 120kms is really nice lol.

Rewards - how do you handle?

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