Favorite Weight Loss Incentives

[SusanT]

I'm interested in hearing what non-food incentives and treats you give yourself as a reward for weight loss. I'm thinking of treating myself to a facial when I lose 5 pounds.

What do you treat yourself to and when?

[SandyM]

When I lost 30 lbs. 5 years ago, I paid myself $5.00 for every pound lost. When I gained, I had to pay him $7.00. We don't keep separate funds, but darn it, I hated to hand over that money to him when I did gain!

Kept a jar on top of the stove, and I'd throw in little slips of paper with the money, monitoring my progress ("2 lbs. down today, +$10 - whoopee!!"). It was fun watching it go up.

[kwormann]

When I reach my first goal I will treat myself to a nice haircut and highlights!

[mandarin2j]

Well, during this attempt, I'm trying to look at weight loss as a journey, rather than an end. (How touchy-feely is that?!) So…I'm going to treat myself to a new summer clothing item each time I do what it takes to be a healthier person for a given period of time. For each week I cycle to/from work each day & do yoga and weights at least three times, I'm going to get myself a tank top, new shorts, or other low-priced item. I need new summer clothes anyway, and this is a fun way to "earn" them. I'm storing up credits for the new clothes and not buying until I have a decent-sized order to send for from Lands End. That way, I may be placing that order for a smaller size! If I stick to my exercise goals for 2 consecutive months, I may up the ante and up the payoff by incorporating a stricter diet.

-Amanda

[beccathebaker]

Well- as a cancer survivor with some radiation damage I am trying desperately to gain weight (yet still eat fairly healthfully) so I give myself incentives for gaining. I know that it sounds silly, but for me it is just as difficult to force myself to eat and drink the nasty supplements with special MCT oil for my fat malabsorption.

When I have gained, I treat myself to a massage, or I go out and buy myself some fun magazines and crossword puzzles. Has anyone read the latest Rosie magazine? It is great.

I think that we all have our own struggles and rewarding yourself for lots of tough effort is one of the best things that we can do!

[BosunsWife]

A new article of clothing, and the biggie for me is treating myself to a new tattoo. Shocked you all didn't I. I have it planned as to what I want, but haven't yet decided on placement. I also have to find a reputable artist here in Hawaii since my first two were done in a little town in upstate New York.

[MelissaAS]

I did the massage reward (wonderful!) after 10lb. It felt fabulous! Now that I'm around 15lb. down, I need to buy new clothes so that's a bit of a reward. Haven't decided on 20lb. yet, but it'll be a while so I have time http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif- I do think it's important to have non-food rewards in my life, though. Even just for making an effort to live healthfully- like the joy of a warm bath after a tough workout. It's just so easy for me to fall into a pattern of rewarding myself with fatty foods, it's important for me to find a replacement.

beccathebaker- Thanks for the perspective. It really is all about doing what you need to do to stay healthy, no matter your path.

[Gina O]

Clothes was a fun, sorta unplanned reward during my major loss time... I lost about 60 lbs in about 9 months. I went from an 18-20 to a 6-8, so had to buy an entire new wardrobe. (I also let my hair grow, got contacts and started wearing makeup so most people didn't recognize me anymore http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif )

One thing I have always enjoyed as a reward was getting my nails done. That is what I have used most recently. What I would really like is a sexy new bikini, but am just not there yet at all. Gina