what do you do to reward yourself?

I'm trying to think of ways to reward myself for making smaller goals that don't involve food! I'd like to lose about 50lbs in total but I want to set up rewards along the way...I was thinking something like once i lose 10-15lbs I'll get my nails done-things like that. I want to do things that will make me feel good but not have "free food days" and that sort of thing!

what have you used for motivational rewards for reaching goals??

new clothes(work out clothes to be good, fun clothes to FEEL good)

tattoos are pretty commonly used

a trip to the hair salon

mini vacations

jewelry

So far things that I've done for myself:

New pair of jeans

New shirt

Hired a babysitter and went for a walk alone

Got a massage...best thing ever!

great topic!

I've never had a massage - when I get to my goal weight (13lbs to go), I'm gonna get me a head to toe massage. 

Mini goals along the way - hard one.  Think I'll try the manicure idea - thanks for that one.  Or a trip to the movies - that would really get me motivated as I don't have a TV. 

When I reach 150, I'm going to get a pedicure.

I totally tend to use food as rewards, so I've been trying to make my goals things that are healthy or encourage health and exercise.

New sneakers.

New running clothes.

A nice townie bike.

A hiking/camping trip.

A new book

New shoes

Trip to the mall

A trip to the movies(maybe a little popcorn too)

A free food day 

The last two I usually only use after I've lost enough weight to remain motivated. If I don't, then I'm tempted to skip on my diet for a few days afterwards.

Ok, so rewarding yourself for a job well done wether it's .5lbs or 2lbs lost is important!!  I love to reward myself by going to VS and purchasing a super sexy bra/panty set.  It defintely boost my confidence even more and makes me smile.  My last reward was going to the Aveda Salon and get a micro w/a facial.  It was nice!!  I think whatever you love to do is a reward (as long as it doesn't get you in trouble ).

If I lose these last 3 pounds then I'm going to get my 4th tattoo done, on my ribs. And maybe even get myself a pedicure if I keep the pounds off.

I know what you mean. I used to reward myself with ice cream...now that I look back, I laugh at my logic. Although last night, I phoned a girl friend who was rewarding herself with ice cream because she just got back from the gym.

I think any little service (or a full day) at the spa works. As long as you don't bust your budget.  To reward myself, I like to purchase a 30-minute session in an infrared sauna. It's great for you skin, your muscles, it feels like a massage, and you burn around 500-700 calories in 30 minutes.

It's quite relaxing and costs $10-$15 for half an hour.

kim,

i have never heard of an infrared sauna. i'll have to google it.

I agree with alot of previous ideas:

mani/pedi

massage - been getting them most of my adult life and they feel great. FYI drink water before and after to help flush out toxins that are released

no new play clothes yet. I just started 21 July but i like the idea of new work-out shorts/tee after I reach 10 lbs.

important for me is NOT to overspend because that will lead me to a mood that might provoke a binge.

Cat

I have sort of just restarted on the whole eating healthy thing.  I fell of the bandwagon for a while.. But I am back!

For my "rewards" I am going to get myself a new charm for my italian charm bracelet (usually about $10) for every 15 days that I stay on plan in a row. Just for the first few months until the habits set back in.

It works better for me if I base my goals on other things besides weight. For some reason # of days seems more attainable.  But I know if I reach my goals; the weight will come off. :)

Today is day 3/15

I've been doing the CC thing since June 26, but I have not yet met any of my mini goals. But three of them are getting closer:

1. to break below the 190 mark (5 more pounds away)

2. to lose the first 20 pounds (12 more pounds to go)

3. to have 7 consecutive "A" days on my food log (2 more days to go)

I have no idea what sort of reward to give myself since food, all my life even as a child, was the reward I was given which then resulted in me seeking the reward. For example, even in elementary school, the school's reward for Honor Roll was a coupon to my favorite hamburger place for a large burger, large fries, and a strawberry shake. And I made that honor roll every six weeks!

I don't know what my rewards will be, but I do know one thing: it cannot and will not be any sort of food or food related activity. How 'bout these:

1. I would like 2 more fish in my smaller aquarium.

2. I want to change all the light bulbs in my bathroom to the CFLs.

3. If the temperature drops below 110 in the day and below 97 at night, if that coincides with any of my goals, then my Chinese Crested gets to take me for a walk to the park. I'm not betting on that though. Wait, I want to take my truck in to get it detailed! Ok, got my rewards. Jeez, they sure don't look like everybody else's.

Clothes, although not much because I still have a way to go. I also treat myself to the hair salon.

I haven't really been doing rewards along the way.  I bought myself a nice, new iPod when I had quit smoking for 6 months and was planning on doing diamond earrings for myself when I hit a year this August 18th, but I'm buying myself a condo instead.  lol.  So that's a BIG reward.

As for my weight loss goals, I've been saving up for one big reward when I hit my first goal (150 pounds, which will mean 70 lbs lost) which I'm on track to do in January.  I've always wanted long, beautiful hair and my hair is so fine, it just looks silly long.  Don't get me wrong, my hair is probably my best feature and I get loads of compliments on it, but I've had variations on the same style for about 10 years now and I want something different.  So I'm treating myself to hair extensions.  It's incredibly pricey to have it done right but once I've got a set in, the maintenance shouldn't cost more than I spend now on cut and coloring every 6-8 weeks.  I'm growing my own hair out in the meantime to blend in with the extensions.  I seriously can't wait! 

I just started in June.  I am struggling with it.  I have not thought about making small goals.  I had a massage a few years ago.  It felt good but I was paranoid the whole time about having someone feel all that flab.  

I just started about two months ago and have been working really hard to jump start my weight loss.  I haven't bought new clothes since before December in order to motivate myself to wait until i can buy smaller ones.  Well, I have finally lost enough so that my clothes are feeling a little looser, and I decided to treat myself to a couple of new items for work.  I was extatic to discover that I was able to buy everything a size smaller!  I forced myself to only buy a few things so that I can go again in a couple of months and hopefully buy another size smaller (or maybe two, hope hope hope?)  I feel fabulous right now as I sit at my desk rocking my new pants and blouse (minus a little of the usual muffin top, haha)!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!

Totally clothes for me.  I reeeeeeally need a new wardrobe, and it was my main motivating factor for starting a diet, let alone continuing one.  I've just gotten so tired of hiding, of wearing big shirts because I'm afraid of my spare tire and wearing long shirts because the zipper doesn't stay all the way up on my favorite pants - my belly's too big.  That, and the real kicker was when my boyfriend took me shopping and brought me into a store where every item sold was exactly the kind of style I LOVE.  Standing in there, looking around at the kind of thing I could be dressed up in, FEELING beautiful just for myself, I felt like crying.  But instead I sucked it up, made my decision, and acted.

So, since that's been my motivator for starting my diet, for giving up a 3-soda-a-day habit entirely and permanently, that's my reward as well!  I'm lucky enough that though I'm probably an XXL on bottom, I'm an L on top, so I can still shop for shirts.

So, every 5 lbs. that I lose, I'm buying myself a new pretty shirt from that store!  A few days after I started, I bought my favorite item and threw out one of my old tshirts.  I plan on losing weight fairly slowly but permanently, so I should have the next shirt in a few weeks. :)

When I hit my college weight, I'm getting a bikini.

Once I hit the weight I was in early high school (135, totally doable for someone 5'4"), I'm getting contacts and a high-class salon haircut and maybe some funky purple highlights.  By then my new wardrobe of cute tops will be completely filled out, so I'll be an entirely new me!  A me I CHOOSE to be.

I bought myself a pandora bracelet and each time i reach a goal i buy myself a bead, that way i see my bracelet every day and see each bead and what it represents and it reminds me how far i've come!

Purses!! I love purses. For evey 10lbs I like to go out and get a new purse!

* Mmmm - Scalp or Shoulder Massage - Sounds like an AMAZING treat to me: Perhaps I should treat myself for just... being me? ha ha ha!

* Window Shopping is Pretty Calming - You don't have to think about anything... and there is NO pressure to buy anything

* Camping out in Sharper Image or where ever those massage chairs are... see how long you can last until you're kicked out - ha ha!

* Get you hair washed professionally (sort of like the scalp massage... but you also get your hair washed - wahoo!)

* Buy some underwear! I am obsessed!!

* Get lost in the book store

* Um... have sex? ha ha - I mean that sounds like a pretty SWEET reward to me!