Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Non-Food Rewards



Need I say more? Probably not but I will. Growing up we are taught that food = reward. Graduate high school: Go out to dinner. Win a baseball game: Go for pizza. Get an A in school: Get a candy bar. So when it comes to weight loss it's no wonder that for most of us in the beginning, we think "Lose 10lbs, eat a pepperoni pizza". Well I'm here to tell you, that's not how it goes with THESE accomplishments. How counterintutive is it to reward weight loss with food??

I am guilty of this exact thing in the beginning!! My boyfriend and I used to have a competition in the beginning who could lose more weight and whoever lost more had the option to get a massage or get taken out to breakfast. After a while, I started questioning what kind of sense that made! Put that to a halt.

We need to celebrate in other ways!

When I reached my 50lbs mark, I walked 7 miles to my in laws. When I lost 75lbs I bought myself flowers. When I lost 90lbs I went right to Turbo Kick and Body Pump at the gym and kicked some ass.  And several other celebrations in between. My friend Dani at Weight Off My Shoulders shares her non-food rewards here. I saw someone on Facebook the other day say that her husband bought her a ring to celebrate her weight loss that she wears on her "Fork hand" as a symbol of where she came from and where she is never going back. I love ideas like this! I have friends who celebrate by walking/running 5Ks, trying something new in the gym, buying new workout clothes (My personal favorite reward!), and so on.

So if food is your reward, I'm challenging you to stop thinking of food as a reward and celebrate with something that is going to help you to continue to reach your future goals!!

With that being said....my 100lbs lost mark is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER and I have to figure out how I am going to celebrate!!!! I know when I get to my goal of 105lbs lost, I am getting a new tattoo and having a little night out with my friends to celebrate but I still have to celebrate 100lbs gone! Hmmm.......

What kind of non-food celebrations do you reward yourself with for your accomplishments???  Share!!

13 comments:

safire said...

This is SO true. I eat things when I want in moderation and that's what's important. In this journey I really needed to separate the idea that healthy living was depriving and sad. Food =/= reward was a BIG lesson to be learned.

The other way is true too for me. Food is not punishment either.

Fit Mom said...

So funny...I saved this same badge from Pinterest and thought about Blogging on the subject.
Anyways, I digress...

Usually with my weight loss I would reward myself with a new pair of jeans. Nothing fancy- a $10 pair from Meijer would work just fine for me because I was still losing and would need another pair soon.

Once I reach my goal weight I would love to have a nice reward like a pendant or a ring symbolizing where I came from as a reminder BUT right now, we just cant afford that.

I also really want to get a tattoo of a Phoenix on my side or shoulder. It symbolizes rebirth and my new start in life.

Also, once I finish my P90X, I want to hire a personal trainer to get me thru to my sisters wedding in July. We will have to probably wait on that one too. Thats ok though. My mom gave me a reward of P90X2 and I will be starting that.

So instead, I will celebrate with something silly like photos for my blog.

Dont get me wrong, I will get my well deserved item(s), it will just have to wait for a while.

I would love to hear some more ideas-maybe some that dont cost money that I can "borrow" in the meantime. LOL

misty said...

I always complain about not getting my hair or pedicures done at the "nice places" anymore (with 5 kids, its a wonder I can get either at all! Lol) so, my hubby got me gift cards at the NICEST place local for each 25lbs I want to lose! They are already paid for, so no worries that we wont be able to afford it when I hit those milestones. I can NOT wait to use the first one.... 13lbs left to lose :) non-monetary ideas would be great as our budget is tight. I don't even have a gym membership... I have DVD's and 6 acres to exercise on as well as miles and miles of open roads to run...

Melody said...

I love your ideas. I am dealing with the same issues; what or how do I reward myself? I came up with a couple things that test my nerves like go zip lining or white water rafting. I also thought of things to make myself feel good again out of my comfort zone like a swimsuit shoot. I have also never had a full body massage at a salon so that might be up there. Good luck with reaching your goals. You are doing amazing.

Unknown said...

Love this. Hitting a weight loss milestone doesn't need to be rewarded with food! I decided to reward myself with Brighton charms or beads, every 5 lbs. And for big milestones, like 10%, 25, 50, etc. I've got some bigger things in mind!

Unknown said...

I stopped rewarding myself with food early on. I have cheat days every once in a while and I eat what I want in moderation but that's because I know i wont be going forever without a cookie. Im changing my life and I still want pizza to be a part of that life! haha. Using food as a reward for all your hard work to change your life around is just useless and ca totally set you back!

I am a huge fan of clothing rewards. I love shopping and I love being cute haha. It's great because its fun and when your clothes start to not fit, (boo hoo, right? aha), look baggy and feel uncomfortable it can be sort of hard on the confidence. You want to look good with your new bod after the hard work! So thats a big one for this girl. :)

When I get to 50lbs lost Im considering a nice massage. :) 8.2 lbs away.

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Lauren Jones said...

A friend of mine on Weight Watchers used to get the best rewards - when she lost 1st (14lbs) her boyfriend bought her a bracelet...and then for every stone she lost after that he got her a charm to go on the bracelet. Isn't that adorable!? I agree that food = reward to most people. I think the best thing about weight watchers is that nothing is 100% off limits, so there's no need to 'reward' yourself with the naughty things because you can have them anyway in moderation. Does that make sense? I vote for your 100lbs lost you treat yourself to a massage/mani-pedi/facial or something else like that! Or...some new shoes! Everyone loves new shoes!

Lauren
alittlelessoflauren.blogspot.com

j said...

hi. i am new to your blog and am very impressed with your weight lose and motivation. i am a new mom (my lil girl is 5 months)and am in desperate need to lose my baby weight plus a lil more. i was wondering if you could give me an example of one of your days to see how you have time for work, school, exercise, baby, etc. i have a hard time finding time to shower or eat let alone exercise. i know once it warms up here we will be going for walks everyday but until then i need some advice on how to make it all happen. i work 3 or 4 days and week and the rest of the time i am with the babe. thanks so much for your help!

Kella said...

I just stumbled upon your blog this evening, so I have a lot of reading back to do, but I think it's safe to say that you kick ass! I can't wait to read about your entire journey!

I love that thought about food not being a reward. So true!

Chubby McGee said...

I just reached my 60 lbs down yesterday. I rewarded myself with 5 super fast miles.

It felt a hell of a lot better than rewarding myself with a cupcake.

LOVE IT!

Teresa Halminton said...

It sounds great!! Thank you for sharing your experience. For me, I think I need to find someone help me/buy me something when I reach my goal :p Because buying something myself make me feel no special (that's my money T.T)
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adam clean said...

من افضل وارخص الشركات التي توجد في منطقة مكة المكرمة والتي تعمل في مجال نقل العفش مع الفك والتركيب تلك الشركة الجيدة التي تقدم اعمال جيدة وتسمى افضل شركة نقل اثاث بجدة وهي تلك التي تختص بنقل العفش من بيت الى بيت آخر في مدينة جدة وما جاورها من مناطق تابعة لها وقد نضطر قبل نقل العفش الى المكان الجديد الى تنظيف المنزل الجديد قبل النقل من افضل شركات منطقة مكة المكرمة التي تعمل في مجال تنظيف وتعقيم المنازل تلك الشركة الجيدة التي تقدم خدمات جيدة في تنظيف المنازل من الداخل ومن الخارج مثل شركة تنظيف شقق بجدة التي تختص بأعمال التنظيف للمنازل الجديدة والمفروشة ومن الأفضل ان تقوم بعمل مكافحة للحشرات بالتواصل مع افضل واقوى الشركات التي تقدم خدمات مكافحة حشرات المنزل البق والصراصير والنمل والعته تلك التي تستخدم مبيدات آمنة وفعالة وهي شركة مكافحة الصراصير بجدة التي تتعامل في مكافحة الحشرات وتستخدم مبيدات آمنة ومضمونة ونحتاج ايضا الى تنظيف الخزان وذلك بالتعرف على اكبر وافضل واقوى شركات تنظيف خزانات المياه بجدة تلك التي تقوم بأعمال تنظيف وتعقيم خزانات المياه في جدة بمنتهى الدقة والاحترافية وتقدم شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة افضل الخدمات الجيدة في تنظيف وتعقيم الخزانات لكي تحافظ على الماء نظيفا ومعقما

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