Today completes the Weight Loss Guideline Series. You can find guidelines 1-5 here:
- Weight Loss Guideline #1: Stay Positive
- Weight Loss Guideline #2: Eat More
- Weight Loss Guideline #3: Take The Stairs
- Weight Loss Guideline #4: Do Push-Aways
- Weight Loss Guideline #5: Set Goals
Last week I talked about the importance of setting goals. Today’s guideline deals with what happens when you achieve your goals. Not if you achieve them…when you achieve them (remember, stay positive). When you reach your goals you need something to look forward to. The best way to do this is set up a reward system.
Setting up rewards for your goals helps you focus on the end result rather than the process. They give you something to look forward to and helps you push forward.
The reward system you set up for your goals needs to be customized to you. Make a list for yourself of possible rewards by asking yourself these questions:
- What is something you like to do but don’t get to do very often?
- Where is somewhere you’ve always wanted to go?
- What is something you have been embarrassed to do because of your weight that you will be able to do when you lose weight?
- Is there an article of clothing that you never have been able to fit into? (see My Weight Loss Story for battle with Levi’s)
- Is there an activity you have wanted to do (roller skating, swimming, etc) but you haven’t felt comfortable doing because of your weight?
- Would you like a massage, manicure, pedicure, a trip to a day-spa, etc?
- Anything else?
A word of caution!
Notice anything missing from the list of questions above? If you said food you are correct. Before I go any further I want to you to know this is one thing both I and my family struggle with. I will provide more on this in a later post, but let me say this: be careful using food as a reward! Over the years we have bound food with emotions. This can be dangerous for your waistline and overall health!
Try not to do it. If you do, limit it! Again, I didn’t do a very good job of this when I was losing weight. My first major goal in 2002 was to lose 50lbs. My reward for this goal was to have a Springfield, IL original: a horseshoe! And on the day I hit 50lbs I had not one, but two—one for lunch and one for supper. Now if you’re not familiar with a horseshoe, I won’t go into the details, but suffice it to say it may be the single-most worst food you could possibly eat. I’m serious! It’s terrible for you. So I splurged that day and did the same when I hit the 100lb mark. Again, I shouldn’t have done this. I would have been better off to plan on having a horseshoe for a cheat meal (more on this later).
Let me say this: if you insist on using food as a reward, attach it to a big goal. Don’t use it for a weekly or even monthly goal. Just be careful!
Set your goals
Whatever they are, make sure you have your rewards firmly in mind and focus on them. There will be times when you get discouraged. When those times happen, focus on the reward and press on!
So, what are some rewards you are going to use to motivate you?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
