When I started on this journey my weight was 424 pounds. I had a very long way to go to get to a normal healthy weight. While getting healthy was my ultimate goal I wondered how I would keep motivated along the way. I knew that with my choice of a lap band the process would be slow and steady. There would be no remarkable transformation in 6 weeks as presented on any number of TV shows or magazine ads. I expected it would take me two years to get to my goal.
Getting out on a bright sunny day always helps me feel good!
So for me, who had been a victim of having food used as a reward and punishment system all of my life, what would help keep me going in the right direction for two years? How could I keep my thoughts positive and work so incredibly hard without giving in to old, learned, easy to fall back into habits? In 2004 I didn’t plan my rewards but here are a few examples of what worked for me after setting small yet attainable goals in increments of twenty five pounds:
- Get a facial
- Get a massage
- Get a manicure and pedicure
- Get your hair styled
- Get your makeup done
- Buy a new outfit even though it would get too big quickly
- Take the day off from work of any kind (or a half day) and just sit outside and read – under a tree, at the beach, on your porch, on a park bench
- Watch a movie
- Take a bubble bath (with candles and music)
- Buy something new without breaking the bank
- Plan a vacation or weekend getaway (studies now show that the planning and anticipation are as healthy as the getaway)
These treats just started happening naturally as the weight came off. What had to change was my inner voice. The one that seemed to say, “you don’t really need that”. I learned to give myself permission to have things that I didn’t need, but that I wanted, which were good for my morale. I had to have a conversation with myself that went like this:
“ OK, now breathe and think about this. Yes, you deserve to boost your own morale. You can be your own cheerleader.”
I found that as I started believing in myself, everyone around me started believing in me too. The compliments came, my morale was boosted some more, and instead of downward spirals and eating binges to soothe “the savage beast” I found myself setting my next goal, with my next reward, and planning how to get there.
Ok you guys out there- I know these are mostly things that us “girls” like. Feel free to share your ideas of what will also work for guys.
What’s important is not what you choose for your reward, but actually choosing a reward, setting a goal and having a plan.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey,sandi its susan I just wanted to let u know I weighed this morning and am 1.5 pounds away from being in my two hundreds I haven’t seen that since before I got pregnate with my last and she’s 3 now I feel like this is a whole new thing for me I just can’t wait to see the scale read 299.9 sorry it took so long to get back thanks always susan.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful ideas!! I needed ideas of ways to celebrate the milestones I’m acheiving – ideas that don’t include celebrating with food! I was banded 10/30/09, I’ve lost 70 lbs to date and loving the new energy levels I’ve been experiencing!!
Some of my milestones –
The first time I was on a flight and didn’t need a seat belt extender! Yay!
The first time I was able to walk a beach – with no breaks to sit down! Yay!
The first time I crossed my leg to fasten my sandals – without yanking on my pant leg to get my leg up to my knee! Wow!
The first time the doctor cut my medication list – from 14 prescriptions to 7!! Woo hoo!
The first few clothes I “out shrunk” (as my husband says)!! Yahoo!
The first time I fit into a size 24!!! (down from a 32)
The first time (in over 10 years) I saw the scale go below 300!! Whew!!
So many others….I’m losing track!! And so many more milestones I’m looking forward to.
Again – thanks Sandi for this blog!! You and Gloria are great inspirations to me!