Quote:
Originally Posted by sheramama
I love using a token economy which btw works wonders with children. I used to use small pony beads on a leather string years ago for every pound. I have a large glass bowl that I put acrylic gem rocks in for every pound I lose. I also put star stickers for every pound I lose on my diet diary.
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Ooh, behavioral psychology, yeah. I got a BA in psych from Illinois Weselyan the curriculum at the time was 95% behavioral science and 5% cognitive-behavioral psyhology). I have a master's degree in Developmental Psychology only because the behavioral program was filled when I applied.
Maybe all my weight loss experience predestined me for behavioral psyc - because I was using charts, graphs, stickers, rewards.... for weight loss since kindergarten.
I have a sticker-chart as well, counting down the pounds. The chart looks like pages and pages of bingo cards each square representing a pound. Each box has two numbers, my weight and the pound lost (for example the first box has 393 in one corner and 1 in another (for 1 lb lost) and the second box has 392/2..... Each row represents 5 lbs.
I was giving myself small rewards for each 5 lb, but finally decided to switch over to the beads (so I technically got "double rewards" for lbs 30 through 80 or so).
I was trying to do it for exercise too, but I never kept up with it.
I love the beads, because I can wear them anytime as a reminder.
When I get to goal, I think I'm going to keep going with the beads, but I'll switch over to maintainance (maybe getting a new bead for every month of maintenance).
It's only been about a week, and I'm really surprised at how well I've stayed on plan. I haven't been this perfectly on plan for a long time. I keep looking at the ring (and spinning the bead), and it's really helping me focus.
Every time I'm tempted to eat (even if it's an on-plan meal or snack), I remind myself that I want to "earn" this ring - so I make sure I'm really hungry and that I don't fudge the portion size or eat off plan in other ways.
Yeah bead! Yeah Me!