How do you Celebrate LB or health-related victories? The old me celebrated with special meals or food-related treats? Do you buy something special for yourself that you've had your eye on? Just rejoice in the victory itself without a tangible reward? Thoughts????

Thanks!

Rejoice. One step closer to the goal!

Sometimes I just rejoice but sometimes I buy clothes. I figure I should enjoy the smaller me and getting new clothes is a great way to do it.

Depends on the what the victory is...but clothes are a big part for me. I hate to look dumpy, wearing oversize clothes, so as soon as I shrink enough, I buy the next size down clothes. Exercise victories seem to be their own reward and I am able to do more and more, although I have a wager with my wife that when I do my 100 mile bike ride (Century), I get a new grill. When we made the bet, I was thinking next year, but there is a good chance that I will get it done before riding season is over this year.

It may seem expensive but, even with the clothes and the grill, it is a net savings based on how much less we are eating out.

Rejoice! I even like the sound of the word "rejoice",lol.

I don't believe I need to reward myself for something I should have been doing all along.IMHO

BTW, Thats how I got fat in the first place, rewarding myself for whatever I had to suffer through.lol

Had a bad car accident, I deserved a doz donuts for my pain and suffering. Gained 30 lbs.lol

I love the idea of new clothes! I've got boxes of smaller sizes I can't wait to get into. For major milestones I might choose a bigger reward, but otherwise I post it and reap the good jobs, and atta girl comments and feel pleased as punch.

Thanks you all!

I purchased a charm bracelet and add a charm for every 5 lbs lost. Some are sterling silver charms, some are pretty-but-cheap craft store beads, but they all serve as a visual reminder of where I have come from and points to the ultimate goal.

I'm approaching the big ONE HUNDRED POUNDS LOST milestone. Looking for a keepsake, but perhaps the mental and emotional satisfaction is more than sufficient.

Thanks you all!

I purchased a charm bracelet and add a charm for every 5 lbs lost. Some are sterling silver charms, some are pretty-but-cheap craft store beads, but they all serve as a visual reminder of where I have come from and points to the ultimate goal.

I'm approaching the big ONE HUNDRED POUNDS LOST milestone. Looking for a keepsake, but perhaps the mental and emotional satisfaction is more than sufficient.

Congratulations! You do whatever keeps it real.

Great thread.

A little update...I finally hit the 100# lost mark! I bought a bicycle;)

This was/is a hard one for me. I grew up in a very strict Baptist church, where just about everything was "not allowed." The list of "don'ts" included:

• dancing
  
• movies
  
• mixed swimming
  
• of course alcohol
  
• of course smoking
  

However - whatever the occasion - food was appropriate. Party = eat. Funeral = eat. Wedding = eat. Graduation = eat. Church function = eat. Family gathering = eat. Lost your job = eat. Baby born = eat. Holiday = eat (the bigger the holiday, the more you eat). Celebrating anything = eat.

I'm truly not bashing "religion." I have a very strong faith and even though I've come to have different standards than those I was taught as a child, I still very much identify with my small town, Baptist culture.

The problem is, I have had to (and am still learning to) change my approach to just about every life occasion. Learning to Celebrate or mourn without food is a struggle.

Some of my new favorite ways to celebrate include getting a massage, shopping, and dancing. It's a challenge, but I'm learning.

I LOVE the charm bracelet idea! May have to steal that one! :-)

Shelly

Excellent idea, about the charm bracket. I've lost 13 lbs so I'm going to buy myself and Pandora bracelet and will buy a charm for every 5 lbs. .

I typically do a little dance, drink a little wine and buy some new clothes.

Wine is good...

the odd ball that i am , when i have a NSV or a (good thing) i call and tell my hub who is my #1 support....sharing is caring and when you are doing well, its nice to have that feedback...

I'm not banded yet, so I'm not celebrating yet either, but when I was doing well on a diet plan a couple years ago, I had a friend who wanted to buy me something for every 5 pound increment. She asked me if I wanted chardonnay! !!! Haha. I told her I would end up losing the same 5 pounds over and over. I suggested instead she get me a new bottle of nail polish!! I do like little shiny "treats" like beads or earrings too