When I was younger, if I’d have a great report card, my mother would get me the shirt I’ve been wanting, or the video game that just came out. Sometimes, she would even take me, alone, to the restaurant and it would be our night out, just the two of us. When I would help her around the house a few weeks in a row, she would reward me by taking me out to the movies or another night out to the restaurant. This was our treat. This was my reward for being productive or for achieving great things.
5 years ago, my mother passed away and I’ve made a discovery very recently (actually about a few hours ago) while I was listening to my weight loss coach. She was talking about rewards. “How do you reward yourself?” she asked, and I kind of shrugged, not really knowing the answer.
“Reward for what?” is all I could answer back.
She kind of smiled and I started to realize where she was going with that. “You’ve kept the house clean longer than you should’ve. You’ve worked out six times last week instead of three or four. You’ve surpassed yourself in something. How do you celebrate this? How do you reward yourself?” and I already knew the answer.
“Sweets. Chips. Something that tastes good.”
And it’s true. If I would step inside a supermarket and see something I shouldn’t be eating during this weight loss, like a peanut butter chocolate cup (Or Reese’s Pieces) or even chips I haven’t had in a while… If they are on special, I’ll think back; “Do I deserve this? Of course I do! This week I was awesome with this and that so I deserve it.”
So in order to reward myself because of something I’ve done, I’ll sabotage it right back by eating something I ‘enjoy’. Chocolate. Chips. Skittles. Ice cream from Cold Stone. High calories intakes, all the time, every time. The biggest thing would be to go to Boston Pizza and think that I ‘deserve’ the food because I’ve been great at something.
I have not learned how to reward myself properly because I let my mother do it for me.
It’s as simple as that. And so, starting today, I’ve decided that in order to reward myself, I need to put goals. When these goals are reached, I will indeed reward myself. It can be food, but healthy one. It can be things for around the house, but not expensive, and nothing useless.
Something that will make me happy and will leave me feeling happy after I obtained it. Fast food usually has a tendency to make me feel bad after I eat it and then I step back and wonder “Did I really need this?”. So, as of right now, I am setting goals for myself.
Goal # 1 : At every weight loss every week (so, on wednesdays); I get to eat a low fat Subway sandwich. They are delicious and healthy. No side orders, just the sandwich. And believe me, it’s a treat for me! I absolutely love them.
Goal #2 : when I reach my 5% weight loss for my goal; I will get myself a nice material from Fabricville to make a pretty tablecloth.
Goal #3: When I lose 20 lbs from my weight loss start; (Well, I’m not sure yet).
I’ll have to make a goal list and write down things I want to do when I reach those goals.
Oh. As for today’s weight-in? I’ve lost 3.6lbs. I am 2.6lbs away from my 5% weight loss.
I think I can lose that in one week, what do you think?
And how will you reward yourself today?
