rewards

I need your help with suggestions on how to reward yourself when you accomplish your goal(s). My budget does not allow anything really extravagant, so any input you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Mon. Feb 27, 2:43pm

I'm respectfully saying this...

but isn't your health and fitness worth spending on? Why won't people spend money for the most important area of their life? I've seen this a few times so I'm asking.

I usually buy a new pair of jeans when I reach a goal. I spend a lot on them.

Monday, February 27, 2006, 2:45 PM

I don't think a reward has to be necessarily monetary...

Are you married? Single? Can you give yourself a "spa day"?
There's lots of home spa remedies--such as:
Using oatmeal & honey for a facial scrub
Taking a bubble bath with a few drops of essential oils
Even having a significant other give you a nice massage-- I think you can even use a little almond or olive oil. :-)

Maybe go to your favorite book store, get yourself a book from their bargain books table...
If you like the outdoors-- go to your favorite park (weather permitting) spread out a blanket and bring your favorite book and relax for the afternoon, etc... :-)

Monday, February 27, 2006, 2:52 PM

rewards

I don't know if you like coffee but I certainly do. I love the international coffees and lattes. Unfortunately, I loved them too much and I'm where I am today. I allow myself one cup when I attain my goals. It's a real treat. I also think it is helping me learn "moderation". Pretty inexpensive and definitely a treat. Sometimes I splurge go out for one with a friend and spend the morning talking. That's a real treat. If you don't like coffee maybe you could substitute something else it it's place.

How about rewarding yourself with a new exercise tape or perhaps something new like dumbells that you don't have that will change your routine and help you look forward to your next goal.

Monday, February 27, 2006, 3:02 PM

I also have a tight budget, and don't want to spend a lot of money on "rewards," because there's always something else I want to spend it on.

Some ideas I've had:

Throwing a "girl's night" and inviting all of your girlfriends over to watch cheesy movies is a good one - just be sure that it doesn't turn into a junkfood fest! Some microwave popcorn is okay, but skip the homemade brownies/cookies and ordering in pizza! Make it clear that the party starts after dinner! Or else just save up calories for it!

If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, make a deal with them that they'll give you a full massage, oils and everything, when you reach goals. Of course, let them make some goals of their own, related to anything they want, and offer the same in return! If you have a close friend that you're comfortable with, you could do this too, just with more clothes!

I don't know if this is a possibility for you or not, it depends on everyone's situation, but, when you reach a major goal, call in "sick" for a day, and spend the day pampering yourself - take a bubble bath and read your favorite book, give yourself a mani/pedi, cook something that takes a long time (but is healthy), go to a museum (many have great deals on weekdays), etc. Just don't go back to work looking too happy!! If you can't do that, try and put a day or a weekend aside to do things just for you - no errands, no tasks, just good stuff!

Do you have any projects that you really want to do? Turn them into rewards. For example, once you lose 10lbs, you're going to re-paint your bedroom.

Take out your old clothes that are too small, if you have any, and put them in piles based on their size. Make a project of, every 5 lbs, or 10, or whatever, you'll try on the next-smallest pile and add things to your wardrobe. At the same time, go through your wardrobe and take the largest pieces out. Soon, you'll have a whole "new" wardrobe! And just fitting into your old favorites will certainly feel like a reward!!

Good luck!

Monday, February 27, 2006, 3:14 PM

I like the idea of going through your clothing-- Plus, it's a good way to get rid of stuff (purging is good!) that you don't want to wear any more!

Monday, February 27, 2006, 3:22 PM

I reached my first major goal last week (40 lbs lost) and treated myself to a good santoku and cleaver knife set. It's only $20 from HSN and will help me with the prep of all those vegs and fruit I eat.

I plan to make all my rewards something that will help me reach my weight loss and health goals. If you like to cook there are tons of kitchen tools and healthy cookbooks you can use as rewards. If not, maybe something that makes your exercise more fun and rewarding (new clothes, fun music cd, time for a long walk with a friend).

Good luck!
Trish

Monday, February 27, 2006, 3:35 PM

Rewards

I'm in total agreement that you don't have to spend a lot -- but you do deserve and should have a reward for yourself. I often reward myself by taken more time for my favorite things. Golfing, sewing, reading a book, playing games with the kids. Keep up the good work.

Monday, February 27, 2006, 3:47 PM

I asked a similiar question back when I first started PeerTrainer. I have to tell you that once I really started to lose I no longer needed rewards. The compliments and how good I felt were better than any reward!

Monday, February 27, 2006, 4:25 PM

I like you are on a tight budget as well. That's why I opted to use the peertrainer sight as opposed to joining a program. I get exercise tapes from the library which mixes up my routine. I rewarded myself with a new set of knives after my first 10 pounds. They were not primo but they were definitely nicer than the ones I had. It encouraged me to cook healthy and now 8 months later, I still love using those knives and think about my accomplishment that caused me to buy them and the accomplishments I have continued to have because of them!

Perhaps a grill pan with holes so you can grill fish, shrimp, veggies. I think that's a great addition to a kitchen when you are trying to lose weight.

I made a nice journal just using a composition log (science fair type) and covering the outside cover an inside cover pages with special papers and printed out a label for the front that says. "My Personal Best" I also put inspiring thoughts and quotes on the inside. I now have a very fun log to journal my wonderful thoughts and progress.

Another thing. Find a great resale shop and buy your new clothes there until you hit your goal. Donate your old clothes as you grow out of them. It really stretches the budget. If you find a few good shops you may find that losing weight and rewarding yourself is not as costly as you thought. I for one, may never buy much retail again!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 10:14 PM

I like the compliments as well. I also like looking in the mirror and trying on clothes.

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 5:18 PM

I buy myself flowers. :o)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 1:57 PM

I like to buy things that help my weight loss progress to the next level. At 30 pounds I got some fitness DVDs to use on rainy days. At forty pounds (yea!) I got a pair of water running shoes to wear in the pool. Other things on my list... gym member ship for 50 pounds, new waterproof MP3 player for 75 pounds, a mini vacation at 100 pounds, a really cool heart rate monitor at 125 pounds, and when I hit my goal? I have a family member who has offered me a whole new wardrobe. Is that awesome or what?! (Yeah, I'm hoping I get some of the other things as gifts. I'm mostly saving money in case I need one of those skin removal surgeries when I hit my goal.)

For my non-spending rewards, I get out clothes that I've packed away and try things on until I find something that fits. I've been saving clothes for a long time, so that's working pretty well... lol. I think I have jeans in five different sizes. I also start doing activities that I've been missing out on since I got big. Next on my list is bike riding again. Getting a tune up next week :-)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 7:42 PM

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