Using rewards to motivate yourself

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IAmGoingToTri

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Hi there,

I just shared with you my main strategy to find motivation for weight loss in this thread, but I just thought of something else that I would like to add, something that has helped me a lot with getting motivation in the past: rewards.

This is how I will do it: I will set a concrete goal, and when I have met it, I earn the reward. Simple. However, I will not set goals for reaching certain weight, because I don't want to obsess over those numbers, which would encourage me to do unhealthy things to lose weight like not eating for a whole day. Instead I will focus on habits. Eating better, exercising better, sleeping better, etc. The rewards that I will earn have something to do with that activity. Most rewards won't be expensive and they will all be very useful for doing those activities even better. I will start those activities with only the minimum of equipment necessary, only what I have, and I will require myself to work for better equipment. I have noticed in the past that this works very well, because I feel like I am working towards something, and when I reach my goal I feel like I have earned it. After getting the reward, actually using it for my activities is very motivating too, because I get reminded of my accomplishment every time I see it.

The first series of goals:
1. Start doing strength training at home (lifting weights, bodyweight exercises), do this at least twice a week for a month (4 weeks). Reward: an exercise mat.
2. Start cooking at least once a week (preferably 2 times), do this for 4 weeks. Reward: some laddles.
3. Cycle 15+ kilometers twice a week for 4 weeks. Rewards: a cycling helmet. (note: I will do this using my regular bike. We don't use helmets when cycling on those in my country. If I use a racing bike, I would use a helmet. My race bike is broken at the moment, but I will repair it somewhere in the next months, when I can afford it).

I feel like that is enough for now. I am doing much more to lose weight, but setting concrete goals for all of this would only make it seem to overwhelming.

Curious what you think of my approach. Questions and feedback are always welcome! :)

Kind regards,

IAGTT
 
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