Re: Setting Goals... and rewards

November 7, 2011

My first thought while reading this question was " why don't you buy the flowers

now if you want them?? "

Of course, my second thought was that I like the occasional reward, too....

Well, actually I guess I go more for the " I've been really consistent with my

exercise--I deserve some new workout clothes " , or something like that. The idea

for the reward comes after I've already done something....

If you have a goal for a reward if you achieve your goal for the week, and then

you don't do it, what will you do?

What if you reword it, so you get a reward after you exercise a certain number

of times? So then you *know* you can achieve it, but *when* you achieve it is up

to you. It might be this week, and it might take a few days more....

I think it's a really interesting question. How do you feel, , when you

think about giving yourself a reward? Does it make you eager with anticipation,

or does it make you feel... ugh, something else I have to do on top of my

already busy schedule?

>________________________________

>

>To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss >

>Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 11:18 AM

>Subject: Re: Setting Goals...

>...

>

>On a kind of related note - what are peoples' thoughts on rewards? I was

thinking something along the lines of 'if I achieve my exercise goals for the

week I can buy myself flowers'. Of course the best reward is feeling good and

being healthy, but has anybody found that having a nice reward serves as a

helpful motivator?

>

November 8, 2011

Hey ,

You ask some good questions.

As for why I don't just buy flowers it's because I'm a broke student and I try

my best to only buy things I need. If I did reward myself with flowers, it would

be something quite small, maybe even just one to brighten my room up a bit.

I suppose the reason I'm thinking about it is because I (like most people I

suppose) like instant gratification. Certain foods provide that for me, but of

course I'm trying to avoid those in favor of healthier things. As much as I've

been enjoying eating healthier and exercising, when it gets really hard, it's

usually because I'm missing the comfort or the enjoyment that say, mac & cheese,

has provided for me in the past. I'm trying to think of rewards as a way to give

myself a nice treat that isn't food. Maybe as a way to replace the instinct to

binge with the instinct to do something nice for myself. But as I said, I can't

afford to do it all the time, so tying it to achieving my exercise or food goals

seems like a way I might be able to treat myself, but not give in to every whim.

________________________________

To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss >

Sent: Monday, November 7, 2011 6:04 PM

Subject: Re: Setting Goals... and rewards

Â

My first thought while reading this question was " why don't you buy the flowers

now if you want them?? "

Of course, my second thought was that I like the occasional reward, too....

Well, actually I guess I go more for the " I've been really consistent with my

exercise--I deserve some new workout clothes " , or something like that. The idea

for the reward comes after I've already done something....

If you have a goal for a reward if you achieve your goal for the week, and then

you don't do it, what will you do?Â

What if you reword it, so you get a reward after you exercise a certain number

of times? So then you *know* you can achieve it, but *when* you achieve it is up

to you. It might be this week, and it might take a few days more....

I think it's a really interesting question. How do you feel, , when you

think about giving yourself a reward? Does it make you eager with anticipation,

or does it make you feel... ugh, something else I have to do on top of my

already busy schedule?

>________________________________

>

>To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss >

>Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 11:18 AM

>Subject: Re: Setting Goals...

>...

>

>On a kind of related note - what are peoples' thoughts on rewards? I was

thinking something along the lines of 'if I achieve my exercise goals for the

week I can buy myself flowers'. Of course the best reward is feeling good and

being healthy, but has anybody found that having a nice reward serves as a

helpful motivator?

>

November 9, 2011

I really had to think about this one... My reward is always how good I feel. If

I work out consistently my legs are stronger and I play better tennis and my

clothes fit a whole lot better and I feel better about myself. If I eat healthy

foods there are no mood swings, my energy level is turned way up and it makes me

want to eat more healthy foods.

Rewards like buying things for myself has never worked for me. It actually seems

to backfire.

Sent from my iPhone

> Hey ,

>

> You ask some good questions.

>

> As for why I don't just buy flowers it's because I'm a broke student and I try

my best to only buy things I need. If I did reward myself with flowers, it would

be something quite small, maybe even just one to brighten my room up a bit.

>

> I suppose the reason I'm thinking about it is because I (like most people I