Rewards: questions and suggestions? (especially low cost!)
 

Carrot and stick time! What's your carrot? Do y'all reward yourself everyday you meet your calorie goals, every week? Do you reward yourelf for losing X number of pounds or getting into a smaller size?

I'm getting to the point where I find myself needing more motivation (2.5 months and the weight loss is starting to slow) but I don't want to reward myself constantly either). So what do y'all use? Obviously food isn't a good idea unless it's a particularly healthy treat that you can't normally afford . Also as I'm trying to get my finances in order I'm trying to keep my finances in order the cheaper the better! Here's the list I'm working on so far (prices are rough)

Under $20
manicure
movie with a friend
night at the arcade (DDR!)
bowling with friends
new plant for garden (or new potted plant)
flowers for self
new piece of clothing (maybe a shirt), accessories etc.
visit a local museum
inexpensive hair cut (not sure how much of a treat that is)
buy something nice that relates to a hobby or interest

Under $10
take the train downtown and walk around (bring camera for photos and play tourist)
visit fancish cafe just for coffee or tea
visit state park
buy something inexpensive you've always wanted but never had the room for

Essentially free (minus gas etc)
go to antique store (as long as you don't buy anything)
go on bike ride with friends or family
visit local park or park don't usually go to
get dressed up and go out window shopping
have a picnic
visit local free museum
ride bike to local library and check out book or dvd
invite a friend over and give each other manicures
wear something you wouldn't normally


So what else can you use for a carrot?

Those are some great ideas!! Thanks! I was thinking this last night and rewarding myself is so important but so is keeping my credit card bill down :)

I never reward myself with food as that was what got me into trouble to start with!

For me, getting a chance to sleep in a bit, stay in my pj's and do some reading is an excellent incentive because my life is so busy.

Another one, don't bring my work home with me (sad I know).

Renting a movie, and popping some popcorn (great to use an air popper and then Mrs Dash for flavor - no butter).

A hot bath with salts, my IPOD and no interupption - and a candle.

Turning off my phone :) - again sad but my life is busy.

Downloading some new tunes from iTunes on my Ipod - and this also helps me want to go back to the gym to try them out!

But for me - the sleeping in and lounging around is no cost and I love it!

alll really really great ideas!

Once I get to my ultimate goal, I will be doing a photoshoot with a good friend... and that's FREE.

Mostly I just reward myself with more work, namely taking in clothes I got when I was bigger. Of course there is always the reward of getting into old favorite clothes that I grew out of.

I find getting into an old outfit that I loved, and this is starting to happen already, doing my makeup and going out and doing boring regular errands really feels good. It just makes you feel so much better about yourself and in control. Plus the people you always see at the market complementing you, and noticing you've lost weight because you aren't in the bagggy yoga clothes is a plus too.

I've been playing this game with myself since I got back from spring break to keep myself from giving into temptation with the nighttime munchies I tend to get. So far, my rewards have been:
- Captive bead rings for my ears. ($7.50)
- T-shirt from Old navy ($6, I believe on sale)
- Eau de toilette spray from Victoria's Secret ($9.50)

I'm not too sure what my reward is going to be this week. I was hunting to see if I could find something cute to use as a snack bento box, but we'll just have to see!

Ohhh bento stuff. Not usually so low cost and running out of room but so cute!

I rewarded at 149 and every 5 lbs thereafter (I have less to lose, so my 5 pound increments can come pretty far apart).

Here is my list; they range from high-cost to free:

149 - haircut
144 - medi-spa laser treatment on a particularly unattractive facial mole
139 - wearing just a sports bra for yoga class instead of covering up with a shirt all the time
134 - new piercing (still waiting on this - I've hit the weight, but am waiting until I've seen it consistently for a bit - right now I am sort of bouncing around it)
129 - GOAL; no reward planned, goal in itself is enough!
6 months at goal - new tattoo

I love to read, so generally if I am feeling I need a bit of outside motivation I will buy a book off my "wishlist." :book2:

When I reach a mini-goal I buy a pricier research book I've been eyeing and when it is just a under 10$ motivational buy then I go for a fun paperback.

I also like music, so I will sometimes substitute a specific amount of downloads from I-tunes, or a cd I wanted.:)

When I do not have money to spend then I spend a day pampering myself by taking the girls to Grandma's and giving myself a facial and manicure.
Diana

I did end up getting the bento box stuff and I only spent about $15. I got two cheap ($1.50 a piece I think) bento boxes just to start me off, an elegant onigiri mold, and some lunch decor, like food separators, sauce bottles, etc. The shipping was $8, though.

I have been rewarding myself for every 5 pounds that I lose. It really helps me kick up my workouts to drop the last pound or two to get to the next prize. Here is what I have gotten so far... most has been in the clothing category since I realized I need some badley:
1st 5: new purse that I had been eyeing at NY&Co
2nd 5: Shirt and sweater
3rd 5: I am still working on this one... I bought a couple tops but I am returning one. I need some new jeans but I can't find any. I might just say to heck with it and buy some shoes!

For my goal prize (which is the next 5) I was planning on buying more clothes to fill my closet. However, I might hold off since I think I might set another 10 pound goal after that. I feel the goals are a huge help since I really want these things.

Honestly, I have not been doing that. Seeing the weight loss is reward enough! Plus, I have a whole closet full of smaller clothes that I want to fit back into.

I have a goal system sorted out like this:
139: New make-up and hair products
130: Professional teeth whitening
125:Getting hair done and/or the turboion straightener I've been wanting for months (It's 200 dollars :( )
Final goal: New clothes and new headshot pictures

I haven't decided what my final goal is yet. I'm waiting to see how I look at 130, but I suspect I might want to drop at least 5 more pounds.

My friend does the rewards for homework grades, I think, and she gets herself cute rewards that are inexpensive like a day at the swap meet and she can buy one thing for herself. Last time she got her eyebrows waxed for 8 dollars.

-10: I got new underwear
-20: I'm planning to get a ring resized
-30: I'm not thinking that far ahead yet...

my idea of some rewards and goals
 

You know I hadn't even thought of rewards yet since I started dieting last Monday again.
I think for the following goals I will do the following
190- a new pair of sandals (I plan on hitting that as this summer starts or earlier)
180-a new top or a couple if I find a good sale
170-new jeans and shorts (I may need them after that much gone)
160- a trip to the mall with my best friend from high school ;)
150- an overnight trip out with my hubby for just the two of us --no kids :hug:
145 and stay there a month- my first tattoo :carrot:

Wow setting rewards is motivating! Thanks.

I started at 209lbs.

190lbs - New undies & a workout outfit
180lbs - 2 new pairs of jeans & 3 tops (I wanted to do this a bit later, but literally had NOTHING to wear and we were going on vacation)
169lbs. - To celebrate 40lbs lost, my chest piece tattoo! (I hit this a short while ago, but I just scheduled the first session of this today for May 13th)
Original goal 155lbs. - Family pictures. (This might sound cheesy, but I havent wanted to take, ever.)
MAYBE my second final goal 145lbs. - WHOLE NEW WARDROBE!