Paying myself to get healthy

[Anonymous]

For those of you who’ve made slow gains over time, what are some of the motivational strategies you used to stay the course?

I know, I know, health and strength should be the ultimate rewards, but sometimes it feels like a slog and short term rewards help us to keep going, especially when progress is slow.

Here’s mine: For every week I stick to my program, I tuck some money into my savings account. After 6 months I plan to go shopping for new clothes that fit.

Please share your own motivational tips and tricks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who’ve made slow gains over time, what are some of the motivational strategies you used to stay the course?

I know, I know, health and strength should be the ultimate rewards, but sometimes it feels like a slog and short term rewards help us to keep going, especially when progress is slow.

Here’s mine: For every week I stick to my program, I tuck some money into my savings account. After 6 months I plan to go shopping for new clothes that fit.

Please share your own motivational tips and tricks.

where is that money coming from? i don't get your logic.

[Anonymous]

Other than remembering how good I feel 20 pounds lighter, nothing helps.
I would not punish myself by putting my money into savings be it at 5%. My money earns that on a good day.

[Anonymous]

Signing up for an activity/competition. It's simplest for something like running/triathlon, but it could also be a challenging hike you're going to do on a vacation, for example. (I'm 5 months into an 18-month marathon training program. I definitely wouldn't be nearly as consistent if I didn't have the fear of not being ready.)

[Anonymous]

I don't know but I'm there with you, OP. I have a lot of diabetes in my family and I'm in my forties, so I know my time is ticking and I really should make positive changes now so I can live and feel better later in life. I know this. But that still didn't stop me from drinking too much (two glasses on wine) last night and eating a cookie for breakfast. INSERT HEAD SLAP EMOJI.

Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who’ve made slow gains over time, what are some of the motivational strategies you used to stay the course?

I know, I know, health and strength should be the ultimate rewards, but sometimes it feels like a slog and short term rewards help us to keep going, especially when progress is slow.

Here’s mine: For every week I stick to my program, I tuck some money into my savings account. After 6 months I plan to go shopping for new clothes that fit.

Please share your own motivational tips and tricks.

where is that money coming from? i don't get your logic.

It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul. There’s no logic - just motivational. I’m always reluctant to spend family funds on clothes for myself - especially at my current size. This is an investment in my future self.

I’m not looking for a critique of the games I play with myself. I want to know what motivates others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who’ve made slow gains over time, what are some of the motivational strategies you used to stay the course?

I know, I know, health and strength should be the ultimate rewards, but sometimes it feels like a slog and short term rewards help us to keep going, especially when progress is slow.

Here’s mine: For every week I stick to my program, I tuck some money into my savings account. After 6 months I plan to go shopping for new clothes that fit.

Please share your own motivational tips and tricks.

Honestly, if I had to motivate myself to do something, I wouldn't do it. What works for me is to create new habits, such that I don't have to think about it doing -- I just do whatever it is automatically.

[Anonymous]

My motivation is simple - I hate being overweight. That's enough for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know but I'm there with you, OP. I have a lot of diabetes in my family and I'm in my forties, so I know my time is ticking and I really should make positive changes now so I can live and feel better later in life. I know this. But that still didn't stop me from drinking too much (two glasses on wine) last night and eating a cookie for breakfast. INSERT HEAD SLAP EMOJI.

Help!

OP here and I quit drinking as a 50th birthday present to myself. I’ve never felt better. Alcoholism runs in my family and while I never considered myself an alcoholic, looking back on my former self tells me otherwise. When I told my doctor I drank 2 glasses of wine with dinner, I was lying. It feels amazing to wake up every morning clearheaded, not worry about who’s driving home after a dinner out, never worry about whether the med I’m taking will react with my wine. I lost weight and Im saving money sober. Most importantly, my teenage daughter tells me she thinks I’m cool for quitting and she doesn’t plan to start.

Good luck! You can do it if you want to!

[Anonymous]

I have a lot of great clothes that I want to be able to wear whenever I want and not just when they fit. I also love the new year for setting new goals. It just feels like there is so much possibility.

[Anonymous]

This was very effective for me. I made a list of rewards to get at every 5lbs lost. It looked something like this:
185 -- start
180 -- new Jo Malone perfume
175 -- hike in SNP with dogs and DH
170 -- reflexology foot massage
165 -- new Onitsuka Tigers
160 -- weekend at Williamsburg Inn
155 -- shopping trip to Georgetown
150 -- GOAL Cartier watch

I typed it in a pretty font, put it up on the wall of my office, and at each little goal as it was reached I put a sticker next to it. It was very motivating to see the stickers add up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was very effective for me. I made a list of rewards to get at every 5lbs lost. It looked something like this:
185 -- start
180 -- new Jo Malone perfume
175 -- hike in SNP with dogs and DH
170 -- reflexology foot massage
165 -- new Onitsuka Tigers
160 -- weekend at Williamsburg Inn
155 -- shopping trip to Georgetown
150 -- GOAL Cartier watch

I typed it in a pretty font, put it up on the wall of my office, and at each little goal as it was reached I put a sticker next to it. It was very motivating to see the stickers add up.

I love this!

[Anonymous]

Yes. There's a trip I've been wanting to take. I'm currently 240lbs. Once I'm in the 190's I'm booking it. I haven't been in the 190's in decades.

https://greywolfexpeditions.com/kayaking-tours-vancouver-island/women-only-kayak-retreat/

[Anonymous]

This was all just bulls&t ways I tortured myself before I got on Ozempic honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. There's a trip I've been wanting to take. I'm currently 240lbs. Once I'm in the 190's I'm booking it. I haven't been in the 190's in decades.

https://greywolfexpeditions.com/kayaking-tours-vancouver-island/women-only-kayak-retreat/

I have been these weights and you need to book this trip now. You can do it at 240 and it will be great. I’m 5’10” so I know if you’re a lot shorter it may feel different.

Also, ask your doctor about semaglutide. It doesn’t work for everyone.