Do you use a 'rewards list' and do you find it to be motivating? I have one all written up, I used it for the first 30 pounds or so... but that was it. I didn't get my 45 or 50 or 60 pounds lost reward. (Well, beside the fact that I gained some of it back after hitting 60)
I missed the bandwagon for goals for the year or even the month. I'm at a little of a slump as far as feeling motivated. Granted, I don't think 'buying' myself a 'prize' means I'll be super motivated, but who knows. I think my biggest motivation is that I'm going on a trip in April and miracle baby comes so I know there will be lots of pictures. But, if it's not until April - I don't have to rock shit out until March, right? Goal jeans are on the fridge, but they've been there since October and still don't fit - I'm so over it. (They have $50 in the pocket for when I do fit them, remember.... there's a 'reward' right there that I seem to not care about).
'To be healthy' doesn't seem to be an influence on me........ Don't get me wrong- I've been exercising and eating well - I actually anticipate to have a GOOD weigh in tomorrow, but... overall - I'm really passive about it at the moment. I can't seem to care when I just think about the big picture, I need something tangible for right now.
This is the second blog ive read today with rewards... interesting... I think rewards work. Just I dont buy myself rewards for every 5 10 lbs more like 20 30 lbs. Just like when I hit goal im going on a mini shopping spree YAY! lol.
ReplyDeleteI do like to reward myself by buying myself something I've wanted but I don't make a rewards list. I just give myself goals like if I lose 15 pounds I'll buy that cute pair of shoes I wanted. I don't make a drawn out list for every certain amount of pounds... I do one goal at a time... one reward at a time.
ReplyDeleteSmall rewards did not work AT ALL for me. Those pedicure, cds, dress, etc. Nope. Total failure to motivate.
ReplyDeleteBut a big reward, that is motivating me. A full out trip to Tuscany with hubby when I'm at a healthy weight for 2 to 3 years (negotiable, but at least TWO years). Why? Losing it isn't the the biggest issue. Keeping it off is, so to me, every day, I think about that trip to Italy. Every day I think,I gotta stay OUT OF OBESITY for 2, 3 years and I get to see Florence. :D
Hubby hates to travel. But he'll gladly do this to get me psyched..he's IN. Me, for weight and health reasons, haven't traveled for decades. So, it's a big motivator. And that's thousands of bucks worth of a trip. So...time to save for it.
This is the one that stays in my mind. Small rewards, pfft.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletenever stuck to my rewards either. I go in cycles where I'm very motivated, and others not. When I'm not feeling it, I try to look over all the reasons I want it, and try to get motivation from other blogs, but much of the time I just tell myself be good and stick to plan TODAY. Then I say the same thing the next day. One foot in front of the other. Eventually my Mojo comes back and I'm good for another while!!
ReplyDeleteThey don't really work for me either. I mean I do reward myself now and then when I get to big goals, but they aren't my motivation for getting there.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to find tangible motivation too... for now, I'm just staying the course.
I guess my true reward has been when I look in the mirror and am surprised by the way I look. It still gives me a shock and keeps me motived to keep going. Prior to losing weight, I didnt look in the mirror more than I had to. I hated it when I saw my reflection in windows.
ReplyDeleteRewards have really never worked for me. I have a problem thinking of anything I really want bad enough that I'd be on a mission to lose weight to do it. I have to just want it for me I guess. I've tried setting little things that were luxeries or whatever but when I lost the weight & got to the point to do it I just never did cause I no longer wanted to or maybe never really did, who knows. If there is something I want bad enough that I can't wait to get and I try to use that then the same thing happens... by the time I get to the goal I either no longer want it or it's just not a big deal to go get it anymore. I've tried trips but I really don't have the money for that, even to just put aside a little here & there is hard to do right now cause of other bills, so I don't feel like it's an attainable reward... even if it were I don't think it would work. I guess you just have to find what works for you cause were're all different but it boils down to the simple fact that you have to want to do it for you before any type of reward would even entice you. Unless maybe it were a butt load of cash:-) I think that sometimes people just get to a comfy time in life where things seem to be going well and they feel happy how they are and the weight no longer seems to be as big of an issue for them to want to get rid of it bad enough. If you are happy, why change things?? Overweight people can be happy too and when you've already dropped a lot of weight you are feeling good about that so your drive to continue being all gung ho about it starts to die down cause... your happier. Does that all make sense? I go through those boughts and have to remind myself that I am happier and healthier but not to my goal so I have to keep pushing for that. What motivates me to do that?? To be honest nothing really can but me, I have to want it. I do have to say that taking part in the challenges has helped to keep me motivated because there is some accountability other than just to myself. Other than that & my own inner desire, I haven't found any great rewards... well except for the occasional compliments that people sometimes toss my way... those go in the reward bank to keep me fueled for a while:-)
ReplyDeleteMan, sorry that's so long... I'm wordy:-)
ReplyDeleteIf my current rewards aren't working then I change the rewards to something that does give me motivation. You've just got to find out what that is.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence about the reward system. I don't know. So far it hasn't really worked out for me. I had big plans for my reward system and nada. I think it depends on what kind of person you are. The prob was I kept getting myself some of the stuff that was on my list. All the little 5lbs rewards stuff kept finding their way into my home with out me having done anything to earn them. Maybe the key is to set up bigger rewards that are harder to obtain. 100lbs lost, Louis Vuitton bag? 50lbs lost ipad! I dunno. :-/
ReplyDeleteI have a half-way reward, a tattoo I'm wanting. Or rather, when I get half-way I can make an appointment. She has a 6month waiting list, so by then I should be set. :p
ReplyDeleteI too set up something big. Right now I put $5 for every pound I lose in a piggy bank (yes I have an actual piggy bank), to save up for when I get to my goal weight I'll have money to buy a whole new wardrobe. By then end I should have $550 bucks for new clothes.
ReplyDeleteI also set up a half-way goal. I will either do a cruise or take a trip out to California to see friends and family. I haven't decided which one yet.
I do have a few smaller rewards, but like everyone else has said, they don't do much in the motivation dept. Try to figure out something worth working towards. Maybe you want to go sky diving or plan a trip through Europe. Something BIG!
The rewards work for me because I am on a money diet as well right now. So when I lose the weight it's permission to buy something that I've been telling myself "no" for a while.
ReplyDeleteDo you have anything that you haven't allowed yourself to indulge in? - besides food of course.
a weekend trip to see a friend.
new work out clothing
new work out video/equipment.
But that alone does not motivation make. I've also got post-its on the bedroom door... Each one reads a pound (eg 325, 324, 323) and when I lose the pound I get to rip one of those babies off. I need something to measure to remind myself of progress - immediately visible on my body or not.
P.s. Round about these days, I can't wait for the next opportunity to buy a bra that FITS - that's usually motivation.
I find that a 'reward' works for me- but only when it's something I NEED.
ReplyDeleteLike, I really, REALLY need and eyebrow wax- but not until I lose 5 lbs.
So, until/unless I get my ass in gear I'm sentenced to unibrow.
It only really works in little increments like that, but maybe that would help?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it I never rewarded myself. I think that is a great idea after 30, or 40lbs a reward is due. Just not with food right.
Every other time I have lost weight or tried to lose weight I have made a reward list for every 5 or 10 lbs. I decided not to do it this time around. It just didnt seem to work for me because when ever I want something I go out and get it so it wasnt ever anything special.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew what works to get out of the dieting doldrums. We all get them. Yank the jeans down off the fridge and try them on. Estimate how many pounds it will take to get into them and then calculate how to get there. Maybe? I am a numbers girl.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you, honestly rewards never really worked for me, nor did deadlines or much else to be honest. It seems to be a mindset. I find sometimes if I have an event in mind in the short term it can be a good motivator. Keep the events small and in quick succession and I find it helps with motivation.
ReplyDeleteI've been so rubbish recently, I swear I've gained about 10lbs and my thyroid is still unmedicated (thank you doctors, they're waiting to see how low it falls-good huh, so in the mean time it's nigh on impossible for me to lose weight as my metabolism is so slow. I could actually cry) But anyway I need to at least try and lose weight somehow, it's just so disheartening when due to things outside my control my body isn't metabolising food properly and im not losing.
Totally not feeling very good about myself at the moment. But anyway.
Lol sorry to go off on a tangent. But on the rewards front, I say only do what works for you, when I was losing better I found doing things I really enjoyed like in my case tap class and dance classes encouraged me to do exercises I like and not notice the exercise if that makes sense. I know thats not a reward but that's just what I found worked in the long term.
:)
dp
x
I'm kind of where you are right now and have been for sometime. I am making small changes, but it is not the all consuming focus I need to have for true weight loss to occur. If anything, I have been revisiting the same 8 or so pounds up and down the scale since July. So, I;m not really one to give advice right now - but I can provide encouragement and let you know you are not alone in the way you feel. If it makes you feel any better - I never even hit my 10 lb reward of a mani/pedi. How sad is that?
ReplyDeleteI just want to look good naked. A look in the mirror is enough to remind me of the goal and how to reach it.
ReplyDeleteI had a rewards list but I kinda quit using it because it costs too much to reward myself haha. Plus I am bad about rewarding myself despite not achieving my goals. Or there are other things I'd rather spend my money on once reward time actually does roll around.
ReplyDeleteRewards are hit or miss for me.. They've worked before, but sometimes it backfires. Once I get my reward, I slack off. Basically, I'm just a moron.
ReplyDelete