Treat yourself to weight loss success

culled from:.tescohealthandwellbeing.com

We all know that weight loss brings its own rewards. Better health, a slimmer body, stronger self-confidence and increased energy. But it all takes time. These days, we live in a culture where instant gratification is king. This means that for many, keeping that ultimate goal in sight and staying motivated over a long period of time can be a challenge. We are used to getting what we want right away. So how do we keep going when the road is long and temptation waits around every corner? The answer: Treat yourself.

The psychology of treating yourself

You’ve all heard about the ‘carrot and stick’ right? This same analogy can be applied to weight loss. Psychologically, treating yourself can help to promote behavioural change because it gives you a sense of achievement when working to a long-term goal and it can also help to reinforce ‘good’ habits. By rewarding yourselffor every milestone reached, you can keep on reinforcing that good behaviour, which will help to keep you motivated throughout your weight loss journey.

Setting goals

If you are going to use treats to reward yourself, then you first have to set some ground rules. The most important of all is to set your goals. When do you treat yourself and why? Here are some ideas:

• Treat yourself for every pound or kilo lost
• Allow yourself a weekend treat for staying strong all week
• Enjoy a monthly treat
• Treat yourself only on special occasions like birthdays/social events
• Reward yourself when you drop a clothing size

When you choose one of these options, you can use your reward as an incentive (or ‘carrot’) to keep yourself focused on your goal. Allowing yourself a treat when you achieve your objective will keep you from feeling deprived. This means you are likely to go the distance and will reach your ultimate goal.

Choosing your reward

It’s entirely up to you how you choose to treat yourself. But for a reward to motivate you, it must be something you really want that you will enjoy. Maybe it’s that favourite food that’s high in calories but tastes so delicious. Perhaps it’s that new designer bag you’ve had your eye on for a while, or maybe it’s the prospect of a holiday or special event looming where you want to be able to enjoy yourself and look great. For small achievements, keep your rewards small and simple. For added motivation, choose something big and dangle it in front of you like a big juicy carrot. Whatever works is your choice but here are some suggestions.

Food rewards

If you are a ‘foodie’ who sometimes feels a little deprived on a weight loss plan, then treating yourself with food is a great way to celebrate your achievements. Choose quality over quantity and treat yourself with something you really enjoy the taste of. For example, doesn’t a couple of decadent handmade chocolates sound like more of a reward than a Mars bar? Here are just a few ‘foodie’ ideas to treat yourself with. The rest is up to your imagination!

• A good quality bottle of wine or cocktail
• A meal at your favourite restaurant
• Tea and cake with a friend
• A bar of designer chocolate (see how long you can make it last!)
• An ice cream at the seaside with the kids

That said, we always recommend moderation and to track your calories when it comes to food rewards. For some, using food as a treat can be the slippery slope to weight gain. So, if you feel there is too much temptation down this path, steer clear and take the high road to non-food rewards instead.

Calorie-free rewards

By using non-food treats to reward your progress, you are safe in the knowledge that you won’t splurge on calories and this gives you plenty of scope to splash out. Here are just a few ways you can celebrate success:

• Book a spa day and enjoy a relaxing massage
• Enjoy a manicure, pedicure or similar beauty treatment
• Give yourself a makeover with a trip to the hairdressers
• Dropped a size? Show off that slimmer figure with a new outfit
• Buy yourself a CD/game or a concert ticket
• Have a night out with the lads/ladies

You can also motivate yourself by treating yourself on a larger scale. If you have given up that daily chocolate bar, a packet of crisps or the weekend takeaway and drinks, put the money saved into a jar and watch it add up. You will soon have enough for that new bike, holiday or that pair of Jimmy Choos! Alternatively, you could reward yourself financially for your weight loss. How about a fiver for every pound/kilo lost? Even if you just have a little to lose it still adds up to some extra spending money to treat yourself with.

The ultimate reward

Using treats or a reward system to keep yourself focused is a useful motivational tool. But it’s still good to remind yourself of the ultimate rewards to be had. By losing weight, you are improving your health, being kind to your body and giving yourself a better quality of life. Remember - that's the greatest reward of all.
What motivates you? We’d love to hear your ideas for keeping yourself focused. Tell us about them by leaving a comment below.