Rewards

Hi Everyone,
This is just a "fun" little question. I really like to journal and since I'm having my surgery on Wednesday I want to set some goals for myself, other than my overall weight loss goal. I would like to have some "rewards" to give myself as I lose weight (like maybe for each 20 pounds I lose or something like that). Anyway, my whole life I've used food as a reward or for special occasions -- go out to a nice dinner on my birthday, anniversary, graduating college, end of the school year, etc. Obviously, I'm trying to stop using food as a reward, so my question is can anyone give some suggestions of some rewards to work toward along my weight loss journey. I've thought of a couple, but would gladly accept any suggestions.
1. buy a new outfit
2. go get nails done
3. buy myself something at Bath N Body works

Hi! 

Congrats on your surgery!  It is one of the best things I have ever done for myself.  Some of the rewards I have given myself are:

1.  My hubby and I took Shag Lesson
2. Several times I have bought new outfits
3.  I got dance sneakers
4. We went to the beach for a week
5. We will soon be going to an amusement park when they open!

"rewards" are a good thing. Like you, my past rewards had always revolved around food as well. Changing that behavior has taken a little more effort that I thought it would take. I decided that since I ultimately wanted to lose about 150 lbs. I would have 3 major rewards at the 50 lb marks. I've already gotten my first reward - a really, really nice watch. It's water proof - stainless steel - sporty but dressy enough that I wear it to work and when I go out. It means a lot to me and I don't feel like I'm dressed if I don't have it on. Plus everytime I look at it I'm reminded of why I have it.

My second reward is about 15 lbs away. (17 lbs actually)  I'm booking a vacation when I hit it. That will be my 100 lb loss mark and it'll also be when I hit ONEDERLAND. (I hope I have a gigantic tax refund check to pay for this). I've always wanted to go to the beach for a week. Sounds crazy cause I live 5 minutes from the beach BUT I want to go to Jekyl Island, GA for my week's vacation. They have the most amazing bike trails around the island  - and well that's a goal I set for myself. Both my kids are getting ready to go away to college in the fall so it's sorta a celebration for our family. One last hoorah if you will.

My final reward when I reach my goal is a piece of jewelry. Not just any piece either. there's a ring that I designed that a jeweler friend of mine is going to have made for me. I've got to wait til I reach goal because it will be next to impossible to have it resized. It'll be a gold and silver thing with 3 strands braided to represent past, present and future. A great reminder of where I've been, where I'm at and where I want to go.

Good Luck on your surgery and an uneventful recovery. I look forward to hearing about the rewards that others have given themselves or plan on doing.

- Iris

Like Iris I had some significant milestone rewards set out for myself, but unfortnately, financial misfortune got in the way and I haven't been able to fulfill them. I am hoping that eventually life will get better financially and I'll be able to take a vacation with my DH and daughter and I'll also be able to get myself a past, present and future ring with three diamonds, representing who I was, who I am and who I hope to be.

Some of my minor rewards have been:

Night at the movies with friends

Manicure/Pedicure

Massage... Haven't done it yet, but will be scheduling soon

Flowers

Gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, because book shopping is almost as fun as book reading.

Reading a good book in the bathtub filled with warm, bubbly water (now that I can fit all of me into the tub!)

Scrapbooking supplies and scrapbooking time with the girls.

Jewelery making ... I love it.

Knitting or crocheting

A new lowcal or low-carb cookbook or magazine

$10 to 20 at a local consignment or thrift store!

A new pedometer and walking shoes with an MP3 player filled with good walking tunes

A Wii fit and/or other home based interactive material for getting in shape ... I love my dance DVDs

Gym membership with some personal trainer time

 

I am all about the CLOTHES AND SHOES.  LOL  My closet is packed out.  I just love the idea of buying size 4's, so I do it as often as I can.  (Okay.. I shop at thrift shops and GWs, so I dont spend an awful lot of $$, but I do get  some nice stuff!!!)

I am looking forward to the day that I enjoy and get excited about shopping for clothes and shoes. It's just not much fun when you have to buy the largest size they have available and you don't even want to try it on because you know it's not going to look good, but it's just something to cover you cause you can't walk around naked. I definitely look forward to being able to really shop, like a normal person and the day that I have a closet full of clothes and shoes. By the way, what does GW stand for? I'm sure it's a silly question, but I've read it all over this website and I have no idea what it means. Thanks.
Heather

It'll come Heather, and you'll really enjoy it!  :)

GW stands for Goodwill - because most of us don't want to spend full price for clothes we can only wear for a few months.  I know many of us (me included) continue shopping at Goodwill and other thrift stores even once we get to goal.  Hey, I may be able to fit into those normal sizes, but that doesn't mean I want to spend $50 for a shirt!  :)  

Since everyone has told you our little secret.... Goodwill will be your best friend.  I literally would buy something and it would be too big in about 2 weeks.  Even if you bought $15 jeans from Walmart it would make me mad that I only got 2 weeks worth of wear from them.  The $3.49 ones from GW hurt my feelings less.. and they are usually namebrand.  One day you will be buying whatever you want to wear!!!  And it will look FAB! 

But.. Deb is right.. I got cheap buying brand name clothes from GW and I just refuse to pay $50 for a shirt.  LOL

Heather:

It's not a silly question....GW stands for Goodwill. Thrift stores are the way to go or clothes trading. See if you can find someone that also had surgery that can give you clothes. You will eventually start moving through sizes fairly fast and so there is no use in investing alot of money in them. I go to one here in Fay. on Mondays where clothes are half price and they sort by sizes. They also have a plus size section as well.

Lisa

Thanks everyone for these great responses. I am definitely looking forward to shop thrift stores and goodwill. I absolutely love a bargain and love saving money. Thanks again for all the great ideas as far as rewards and shopping post-op.