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115 Brilliant Non-food Rewards for Weight Loss

Non food rewards for weight loss

115 Brilliant Non-food Rewards for Weight Loss

Losing weight can be difficult, but it’s definitely worth it in the end for the way you feel and for your health. One of the best ways to stay motivated throughout your weight loss journey is to set goals and rewards for yourself.

Non-food rewards are a great way to celebrate your accomplishments and stay on track. In this blog post, we will provide you with a list of 115 brilliant non-food rewards for weight loss.

Why You Need to Reward Yourself

Although you know you will feel fantastic when you have reached your weight loss goal,  it can be a long road to get there. Rewarding yourself often for scale and non-scale victories can help you stay on track and keep you motivated while you are losing weight.

Why? It’s all about feeling great. When you’re expecting a reward, the dopamine in your brain spikes and gives you pleasure as you accomplish the task. This results in further motivation.

The way to do it is to break down your overall weight loss goal into smaller targets and set non-food rewards for reaching them.

For example, if you have to lose 20 pounds, reward yourself at the end of each week if you lose weight (any amount). Set an additional (and nicer!) reward for every 5 pounds you lose.

Also, celebrate non-scale victories; they are important for weight loss too. For example, reward yourself if you pack a healthy lunch for work or if you get your workouts in consistently during the week.

Giving yourself plenty of non-food rewards can help to break the habit of using food as a reward, which can be detrimental to your progress.

115 Brilliant Non-food Rewards for Weight Loss

For Your Mind

Taking a break allows your mind to rest and recharge so that you can approach your goals with fresh energy and enthusiasm.

  1. Take one hour for yourself. You don’t have to do anything; it’s a matter of having peace and destressing without worrying about other people’s needs.
  2. Take a day off from work for yourself.
  3. Take a long walk in nature — go slowly and enjoy being in the moment!
  4. Go for a leisurely bike ride.
  5. Get your groove on — put your favorite music on and just dance!
  6. Get an extra hour of sleep.
  7. Take a short nap — but avoid naps over 30 minutes to make sure you can sleep at night.
  8. Connect with friends and family offline.
  9. Go on a date with your significant other.
  10. Cuddle with someone you love. Yes, the dog or cat counts too.
  11. Get out the adult coloring book, scrapbook, or paintbrush. Get creative and relax your mind.
  12. Sit down to watch the sunset with a cup of tea.
  13. After reaching a significant milestone, such as losing 10 pounds, take a weekend off. No work, no cleaning, just relaxation. Get away if you can.
  14. Laugh at your favorite comedy show.
  15. Watch your favorite show (Netflix, HBO, etc).
  16. Watch cat, dog, or baby videos — there’s a reason they’re so popular.
  17. Listen to a relaxation podcast.
  18. Listen to your favorite podcast.
  19. Take time to journal.
  20. Walk around the mall to do some window, or actual, shopping.
  21. Get someone to clean your house.
  22. Play with a pet.
  23. Sit on a porch swing or bench.
  24. Catch up with friends in person or on social media.
  25. Take a mini vacation.

For Your Body

If you’ve been working out consistently, it’s time to let your body recover. Reward yourself for the hard work!

  1. Take a relaxing bath with Epsom salts or essential oils.
  2. Do you belong to a gym with a sauna or steam room? Take advantage of it!
  3. Get a message — even better if you can get a group of girlfriends together and enjoy time chatting before or after the massage.
  4. Buy a foam roller and practice learning how to use it.
  5. Give yourself a spa day.
  6. Jump into the cool sculpting trend.
  7. Book a silhouette body contouring.
  8. Get a hydrating body wrap.
  9. Get a firming anti-cellulite treatment. 
  10. Try facial yoga or gua sha.

Feel Pretty

Looking your best is important at any weight because if you feel confident about how you look, that confidence will help boost you mentally too. This is especially true when you’re carrying around a few extra pounds.

When you feel good about how you look, you’re more likely to take better care of yourself and to make healthy choices.

  1. Allow yourself time to update your skincare routine.
  2. Use a sugar scrub to exfoliate your body.
  3. Spend an evening pampering yourself.
  4. Have a facial.
  5. Get your eyebrows done.
  6. Get your teeth professionally whitened.
  7. Spend an hour watching make-up or hair tutorials.
  8. Try a new hairstyle.
  9. Attend a makeup class.
  10. Get a professional makeover.
  11. Buy a lipstick set.
  12. Update your makeup.
  13. Enjoy some new moisturizing face masks.
  14. Update some of your other beauty products.
  15. Give yourself an at-home mani or pedi. Soak your hands, trim your cuticles, apply nail polish, and feel prettier.
  16. Get a professional manicure or pedicure at your favorite nail salon.
  17. Buy a pair of dishwashing gloves to keep your manicure intact.
  18. Get a new hair color or cut.
  19. Schedule a hair blowout.
  20. Buy a new outfit that makes you feel pretty.
  21. Buy a cute pair of shoes.
  22. Get fitted for a bra.
  23. Buy a new pair of shoes or earrings.
  24. Treat yourself to some sexy underwear.
  25. Buy some sexy pajama (even if you don’t have a partner).
  26. Buy a flattering swimsuit.
  27. Try a new perfume.
  28. Get a pair of chic sunglasses.
  29. Spend time figuring out how to dress for your body type.
  30. Create an amazon wishlist of personal items to help you feel great.

Fitness

Are you looking for a way to reward yourself for all your hard work exercising and sweating in the gym? Buy those items that will make working out better and more fun.

  1. Get a fitness journal.
  2. Buy new bluetooth headphones.
  3. Get a new workout outfit — something cute that fits well.
  4. Invest in a good sports bra.
  5. Buy an activity tracker.
  6. Splurge on a more expensive gym.
  7. Buy a cute pair of running shoes (make sure that they’re comfortable).
  8. Get a hands-free dog leash to enjoy a workout with your best friend.
  9. Treat yourself to sports sunglasses.
  10. Find comfortable running socks.

Activities

It’s time to have fun!

  1. Take time to explore a new part of town or a place you have not been in a while.
  2. Attend a paint-and-relax event.
  3. Visit an art gallery or a museum.
  4. Enroll in a flower arrangement class.
  5. Explore national parks in your area.
  6. Go to karaoke night.
  7. Attend a spiritual event.
  8. Join a book club.
  9. Do a bike tour in your city or a city nearby.
  10. Have a photo session to celebrate your current body.
  11. Hire a riverboat, kayak or row-boat, if it’s available to you.
  12. Go to an arts festival or a carnival.
  13. Take salsa classes.
  14. Sign up for a webinar or seminar you have wanted to attend.
  15. Pick up a random class to attend. For example, photography, quilting, scrapbooking, or crochet. Have fun!
  16. Go to a pole dancing fitness class.
  17. Get a tarot reading.
  18. Book an individual or group reiki session.
  19. Explore sound healing therapy.
  20. Attend nerd night or a similar event available where you live.

Create Great Spaces

This might not feel like a reward, but you will enjoy the results every day.

Creating a great space for yourself can help reduce stress and anxiety and make you happier, which will enable you to minimize any tendency towards stress eating.

  1. Give yourself flowers.
  2. Buy plants to put in the places you spend the most time.
  3. Declutter your space.
  4. Re-decorate your bedroom to make it the perfect haven to sleep and to have sex. When it comes to weight loss, sleeping is key as it regulates hunger and satiety hormones.
  5. Buy a new set of bedsheets. Get cooling sheets for extra night comfort.
  6. Create a meditation corner.
  7. Treat yourself to a small piece of art or a nice photo frame.
  8. Buy something pretty for the house without breaking the bank by shopping at Target, Amazon, or Overstock.
  9. Enhance your home with natural scents. Essential oils and beeswax candles are natural ways to make your home smell great.
  10. Get a new throw blanket.

Gifts for Yourself

You’ve been working hard, and meeting your goals, so it’s time to treat yourself to something special.

  1. Buy yourself a subscription box with your favorite items. Here is a list of ideas.
  2. Buy a weighted blanket to sleep better.
  3. Get a fancy water bottle to keep your drinks cold for hours.
  4. Buy yourself a luxury hand cream set.
  5. Update your free Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube subscriptions to Premium.
  6. Buy a plush robe.
  7. Buy that thing that you think is a waste of money, but you really want.
  8. Take a set amount of money with you and walk through your favorite physical store. Get anything you want.
  9. Get a heated massage pillow.
  10. Buy a bath portable caddy.

The Bottom Line

Choose your rewards ahead of time and associate them with specific, measurable goals. When you have a treat to look forward to, it will be easier to keep motivated and stay on track.

Finally, remember to reward yourself for both scale and non-scale goals. Reaching your physical activity goals is as important for sustainable weight loss as lowering the number on the scale.

You got this!

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