How did/do you reward yourself?
 

Hi ladies and gents! I am looking for cheap or free ways to bribe myself into eating healthier, since "not feeling like crap" doesn't seem to be good enough...heh. I have put on quite a bit of weight (I think...too scared to weigh myself :rolleyes: ) in just the past month and it's really interfering with my ability to function like a normal human. I kind of feel like there's no point in even trying, and I should just give up and get fat.. I usually genuinely enjoy exercise, but now it's just a torture session complete with jiggling & extreme self-consciousness.

Thanks for your patience if you read that :) I really am at the end of my rope. Help?

In the beginning I got really motivated dreaming about fancy underwear. Good quality and really beautiful things are very expensive and I wouldn't look that good in it overweight. Also, I figured that there's no point in getting a new matching set of bra and panties if they're going to be too big for me in a month anyway... that lead me to the thought to reward myself with one expensive set when I got to my next big milestone. And it worked :) Still works. Now the problem is that all my nice dresses, skirts and shirts are way too big and I'm still losing weight. I can't go shopping for new smaller things before I get to my final goal! Otherwise it would be lots of wasted money :D

it could help if you think of something that you really really really want (to have or do) but can't because of your weight and then set it as your reward for reaching the goal. My other reward at the moment that I'm looking towards is having professional photo shoot done and I'm not that far away from it any more :)

I didn't really reward myself until I got to goal :) I bought an iPhone 4s, but only because I happened to have an upgrade :lol:. I probably would have skipped it otherwise, but I thought I deserved it!

I found that to help motivate me I looked at every pound lost as a victory instead of focusing on the overall picture. I had mini-goals every five pounds and was excited each time I had to move my ticker lower. Before I knew it I had blew past my goal!

I actually started with sticker charts that looked kind of like bingo cards, but insted of 25 boxes, there were 20. 4 rows by 5 columns.

Each box represented one pound. Each row represented five pounds. and a completed chart represented 20 lbs.

At the end of each row (so for each 5 lbs lost) I'd write down a reward for those 5 lbs. Each sticker was like a mini-prize, and after 5 stickers I'd give myself that reward (usually a small $5 or less item, when the budget was really tight, the reward might even be checking out a particular library book).

When I filled a sticker page (20 lbs) I'd choose a slightly bigger reward.

I did this for exercise too. Only on the exercise chart, instead of the boxes representing pounds, they represented units of exercise (I was in such poor shape when I started that at first the boxes represented only 10 minutes of exercise). When I completed 5 boxes (50 minutes of exercise) I chose a small reward.

I alsobought a donut bead bracelet (like the Pandora charms, only really, really cheap). Each bead represents 5 lbs. I was buying the beads in a gift shop for $4 a bead, and then I discovered that JoAnn Fabric, Michael's and other craft stores sell the beads in strings of 5 to 7 beads for $2.50 to $5.00 per card.

I had to buy a second bracelet when I passed the 100 lb mark. So I have 20 beads on one bracelet (representing 100 lbs lost) and one bead on the second bracelet.

Wearing the bracelet helps reminds me to be aware of my goals. For example, whether I'm eating at home or going out to dinner, I'll run my fingers over the beads to remind myself to make better choices during the meal.

Thank you so much, ladies. Those are all wonderful ideas. I especially like Kaplods' bracelet idea.

Keep them coming!

I have done and continue to do a couple of things.

After reaching my goal, I bought a Pandora bracelet (kaplods-- you and I think similarly!). Each month I stayed at or below my goal, I bought myself a new charm. Now the bracelet is full and I wear it almost every day as an anchor or reminder. I have told myself that if I'm ever over my goal, I will take it off, but that hasn't happened yet.

I also put $$ aside when I work out. I put $3 aside every time I work out (I've heard some people put aside $1 if $3 is too much). Then, I've used the money to buy myself some real expensive things that I wouldn't normally buy-- so far, I've bought myself two Coach purses and wallets, and a Michele watch!

When I was losing, I set non food rewards for myself such as a pedicure, a new top, or the like. If you want to spend less money, you could reward yourself with a day (or partial day) to yourself-- to read, nap, take a bubble bath, etc.

Originally Posted by traveling michele:

I also put $$ aside when I work out. I put $3 aside every time I work out (I've heard some people put aside $1 if $3 is too much). Then, I've used the money to buy myself some real expensive things that I wouldn't normally buy-- so far, I've bought myself two Coach purses and wallets, and a Michele watch!

I really like this idea! :) I think I'm going to steal it for whenever I do a non-gym workout (since I have trouble motivating myself to work out outside of the gym).

Originally Posted by traveling michele:
I have done and continue to do a couple of things.

After reaching my goal, I bought a Pandora bracelet (kaplods-- you and I think similarly!). Each month I stayed at or below my goal, I bought myself a new charm.

Until recently, I've never thought of rewarding maintenance (maybe because I've never gotten there), but I have been lately.

I've considered getting a tattoo either at goal or when I lost 100 lbs (which I already have, but would like to get to 125 lbs lost, before I feel the 100 is "safe").

I like the bracelet so much that I've considered continuing it after maintenance, and maybe wearing the weight loss bracelets on one arm and my maintenance on the other (in a few years, I could be in bracelets to my elbows).

I got a tattoo also! I forgot about that. It signified the healthy changes I made in my life, so not necessarily from reaching my goal.

Originally Posted by kaplods:
I alsobought a donut bead bracelet (like the Pandora charms, only really, really cheap). Each bead represents 5 lbs. I was buying the beads in a gift shop for $4 a bead, and then I discovered that JoAnn Fabric, Michael's and other craft stores sell the beads in strings of 5 to 7 beads for $2.50 to $5.00 per card.

I had to buy a second bracelet when I passed the 100 lb mark. So I have 20 beads on one bracelet (representing 100 lbs lost) and one bead on the second bracelet.

Wearing the bracelet helps reminds me to be aware of my goals. For example, whether I'm eating at home or going out to dinner, I'll run my fingers over the beads to remind myself to make better choices during the meal.

I LOVE this idea!! Mind if I steal it too? :D

Originally Posted by ValRock:
I LOVE this idea!! Mind if I steal it too? :D

Not at all, especially since I didn't invent the idea, and I'm not the only one here on 3FC either. I've actually met several people in real life doing it too.

Wouldn't it be cool, if there were enough of us here to get and keep a thread going, and maybe include pics of our bead acquisitions?

The weight charms are really a very old idea. Back when I joined TOPS in the 1990's, the club would give charms for every 5 lbs a person lost. My current TOPS group doesn't give the charms away, but members can buy them if they want to. Some buy charms for each 5 or 10 lbs lost, others only buy the charms for special occasions. I like the donut beads better, as they're much easier to add to the bracelet than traditional charms - and I can much more easily rearrange the beads when I want to.

I'm into workout clothes now. I reward myself with nice-looking workouts outfits that keep me in check, so to speak.

Also, someone mentioned nice undergarments - that too. I've been married for 15 years and cannot remember the last time I wore lacy underwear or lingerie. I was always too ashamed because I was so skinny fat/frumpy. Recently, I splurged on some and DH was surprised...happy but surprised, nonetheless.

spa weekend!
 

I booked a spa bed and breakfast directly overlooking the ocean for just me :^: for 2 nights in a row. This was after 13 years of failed attempts.

I never really rewarded myself....as in set out to actually buy/do something for myself that was over the top or extraordinary. I got new clothes when the old ones got too big, I got my hair cut when it started looking shaggy, even got my nails done a few times, went on a couple vacations and had a few parties...but really not because I lost weight, but because I just wanted and/or needed those things. I guess I never really thought I deserved a "reward" for doing what I should have been doing all along. I'm pretty lame I guess. (or cheap..lol) :lol:

The only thing I have done along the way is to wear clothes that fit properly. I feel bad when clothes fit bad/loose (or too tight) and I look bigger when the clothes are baggy. So, I rewarded myself, I guess, by having clothes in my current size - even though it meant buying more frequently. I hit secondhand stores and all the super duper sales, but still - I could have spent way less along the way, but I figured - I've EARNED the right to dress my body right!