How Should You Reward Your Diet?

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

20 Apr 2006 03:30 PM

Too often we judge a diet's success only in the pounds we lose. This can be great if we're in some fast fat burning diet that drops pounds per week, but there is a better way to handle rewarding your diet. When you can reward yourself regularly, you are more likely to stick to your diet.

So consider the following reward methods for whatever diet program you are following:

• Calendar rewards - Every day that you don't give into temptation and stick to your diet - put a check mark on the calendar. Determine a preset number of checkmarks and reward your good behavior.
• Inches versus Pounds - Diets trim inches as well as pounds. The inches are more likely to fall off faster than the pounds. Keep track of your inches and reward yourself for each inch you lose.
• Reward the Hardest Part of the Diet - For example, if drinking water is something you really don't like doing. Keep track of your water intake, reward yourself for every day that you meet your water goals.
• Nickels & Dimes - When we diet, we often eliminate extraneous expenses for items like Starbuck's mochas, ice cream and other temptations - when you eliminate purchasing some of these temptations - put the change away that you don't spend. Use it to treat yourself to something nice.

What are some ideas you have used for rewards in the past?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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