Pat yourself on the back

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Registered: 11-15-2007
Pat yourself on the back
Thu, 09-04-2008 - 2:30pm

Thursday September 04, 2008Welcome to today's edition of Healthy Living with Ellie Krieger.


Today's Small Change: Pat yourself on the back.

The Right Rewards
Inquiring members want to know: How can you sustain your motivation to follow a healthy lifestyle? Whether you're trying to lose 50 pounds or want to maintain your weight but be more active, rewarding yourself can help.

Rewards give you something to look forward to — a reason to push ahead — as well as positive reinforcement so you'll continue your hard work. It's important to choose the right rewards — those that help you move in the right direction rather than away from your goals. For example, if you stayed on track all week, don't reward yourself on Saturday with a big banana split. Instead, try to come up with a reward that helps you feel good about yourself and your accomplishment and that doesn't involve food. That's what jakeandhannahsmom, a member of Healthy Living With Ellie, did when she was trying to lose 85 pounds. Here's what she said on the Message Boards:


"I tried to do five pounds at a time and then treat myself to something that wasn't food, such as a manicure."


Find that special reward that works for you. Perhaps you'd enjoy a subscription to your favorite magazine as a reward, or a new outfit to show off your weight loss. How about giving yourself extra time on the greens or a cool new gizmo for your computer/TV/DVD/stereo? Almost everyone can use a little extra "me time," too — which is a great reward.


Because you know yourself best, you are the person who should decide on your reward. It can be nearly anything (just not food), as long as it's something you enjoy that will motivate you to move forward!


Be like a postage stamp.

Be like a postage stamp.  Stick to it until you get there.

Bob Proctor