When you are in a habit of rewarding yourself with food treats for a job well done, what do you do when those treats no longer fit in your daily diet? After all, when you are trying to lose weight, it goes against all you are working toward to celebrate that five pound weight loss with a big slab of cheesecake. (Not to say that it may not taste delicious, but that slab of cheesecake might set you back more than 500 calories – are you ready to run for an hour to burn that off?) As you work to lose weight, staying motivated can become very difficult. Here are some non-food ways to reward all of your hard work:
- Buy a new exercise DVD
- Try a new class – if you are walking, try a spin or martial arts class – think outside your comfort zone!
- A new outfit to set off your new shape
- New music for your iPod or MP3 player
- Get a massage. After all, you are working your muscles – isn’t it time to reward them?
- Change your look with a new or different hair style or color, not a complete makeover
- Start a savings account by putting aside a small amount of money for each pound lost – between $1 and $5. At the end of your weight loss journey, donate that money to your local food bank.
- Do something daring, something you never had the courage to do when you were heavy. What about hang gliding, sky diving, or parasailing ?
- Get a new tattoo or piercing
- Schedule a time to meet with friends in a non-food atmosphere. Why not catch up while hiking?
What are some of the ways that you have rewarded yourself for all of your hard work?