Does rewarding yourself work for you?

[journeymom]

I'm reading that one way to stay motivated to achieve your fitness goal is to give yourself small rewards. I'm imagining a new pair of running socks for sticking with a new routine for two weeks, or an iPod arm band or a pedicure or ...I don't know what, I'm new to this!

Anyway, has anyone done this for themselves? Does it work? I just imagine it wouldn't be near as motivating as receiving a little something from someone else.

[journeymom]

Looks like no one else uses this trick either.

[BettinaAuSucre]

Sometimes(rarely) it's a smoothie at the smoothie place right at the end of my walk. Or new clothes! Or a nice hot bath after my workout.
I HAD to buy an armband for my Iphone, as it was awkward getting it in and out of my bra LOL. But i try to limit my rewards as they tend to just become purchases and do nothing for my motivation.

[savannah smiles]

I've tried to set up a reward system but I don't find it particularly motivating. Not sure why, really, but I don't like to have carrots dangled before my nose, even if it's me doing the dangling. Right now my weight loss is rapid enough (due to lap band surgery and lots of exercise) the I have to buy new clothes fairly often. That seems rewarding enough to me for now, although I've been putting off shopping for new bras. I don't think there's anyway to make that more fun. *sigh*

I told my dh that if I lose 100lbs that I'm taking myself on a trip to Iceland, somewhere I've always wanted to go, but he just kind of rolled his eyes, lol!

[NiteNicole]

Ooooh, if I lose 100 pounds, can I come, too?

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by BettinaAuSucre

Sometimes(rarely) it's a smoothie at the smoothie place right at the end of my walk. Or new clothes! Or a nice hot bath after my workout.
I HAD to buy an armband for my Iphone, as it was awkward getting it in and out of my bra LOL. But i try to limit my rewards as they tend to just become purchases and do nothing for my motivation.

I thought of this morning when I went for my walk. My clothes had no pockets, and I told dh I wouldn't be taking my cell phone. He told me to tuck it into my bra. Ick! Too sweaty and bulky! I can imagine taking it out and dropping it.

[savannah smiles]

Originally Posted by NiteNicole

Ooooh, if I lose 100 pounds, can I come, too?

Sure! I'd love to climb a glacier w/ someone!

[chezlyryan]

Rewarding myself didn't work at all for me. Turns out I have no self control and I bought myself the rewards anyway. I need classes with an instuctor to get a good workout, so I found a workout buddy who went to the same classes as I did. Now that I have been attending the same classes all summer the instuctor knows me. That is huge motivation to show up and work hard.

[34me]

It works really well for me but I don't buy myself a lot of treats as a rule so a new pair of socks (good ones - not the multi pack) is heavenly.

[rootzdawta]

I rewarded myself for reaching 10% of my weight loss goal by purchasing P90X. Really, the only reward that motivates me are ones that further my fitness goals. So I could see rewarding myself with a pair of functional socks or some kind of equipment but not with food or anything. I guess I don't really see it as motivational though . . . just what I need to make me better once I get to a certain point in my fitness.

[busymama77]

I haven't rewarded myself with food or anything mainly because I'm on a low carb snack - a reward for me would be fresh raspberries and sugar free cool whip. But anyhow, just last week, I bought myself some new clothes - in a SMALLER SIZE. That totally motivated me to keep on going. And I only spent $50!

Now, I'm not going to go out and buy something every time I lose a pound. But my next goal is to completely finish a 5K - running - not walking part of it. If I finish that, then who knows - maybe a new North Face jacket or a new purse. We'll see.