Life In Pleasantville

Food, Travel, Life

Ten Ways to Reward Yourself For Staying Healthy

by Candace Sampson

I recently came across a friends status update on Facebook that I fell in love with. For every kilometre she ran, she banked a dollar. At the end of two months she had $250 dollars to go buy herself something pretty and, I suspect, a pretty fit body to boot. I really loved this approach to getting fit. Far too often we look at what what we have to deprive ourselves of instead of looking at how we can reward ourselves for being in the best shape we can be.  When Lean Cuisine approached me about their Lean Cuisine Rewards program, it was right in line with this approach, and so obviously I loved it. Eat healthy, get rewarded. What could be easier than this? In an effort to keep myself motivated as I train for a big race in the fall, I’ve compiled a list of ten ways to reward myself for staying healthy. Feel free to borrow any of these for yourself!

Ten Ways To Reward Yourself For Staying Healthy

1) Why complicate things? First and foremost, eating better and working out are a pretty big reward. You’ll look better, feel better and add years to your life.

2) Give yourself a spa treatment for every month you workout.

3) Pay yourself a dollar for every kilometre or mile you walk, run, or bicycle.

money

4) Buy yourself new running shoes after you complete your first 10KM.

new shoes

5) Treat yourself to a destination race after you run for one year! Like maybe a half marathon in Hawaii or Florida.

RaceStart

6) Cross off your workout days with a red X. Five in a row, watch an entire season of a new show guilt-free on your rest day.

x

7) Reach a milestone, try something new. Completed your first 5K? Book that belly dancing lesson! Biked 25K? Maybe a cooking class?

cooking class

8) Find someone to motivate. Sometimes the best reward is helping a friend meet their fitness goals.

workout friend

9) Nothing feels better than buying nice clothes that fit well. Set your goals, treat yourself when you reach them.

Exif_JPEG_PICTURE

10) Collect rewards for eating healthy with Lean Cuisine Rewards . Oh snap, how’s that for a reward? You can collect rewards just by choosing one of the twenty delicious frozen Lean Cuisine entrées and eating healthy. Reward yourself with things like a new cookware set, luggage or gift certificates. With all the convenience that Lean Cuisine offers you, these rewards are no work at all.

Category: , Tag: , , , , ,

About Candace Sampson

Candace Sampson is the founder of Life in Pleasantville and the host of What She Said, Canada’s longest-running women’s talk show turned podcast. A trusted voice in Canadian lifestyle and travel media for over a decade, Candace blends storytelling with sharp insight to connect with women on everything from solo travel to social issues. She’s also the creator of Girl Trips, a women-focused retreat and travel brand. Find her on Instagram @candace_said @whatshesaidtalk and @girltrips.ca

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura at Mommy Miracles

    Awesome! I really wish rewarding myself for working out wasn’t so expensive. (Monthly spa trip? New sneakers? Trip to Florida… okay, I DID just do that last one to run the Walt Disney World Half Marathon). I look forward to NEEDING to splurge on a new wardrobe.

    PS – I hope I win those points. I love incentives like that!

  3. peady

    I love the idea of a non-food reward. *shh* Don’t judge!

    I also love simple ideas like a dollar in a jar for every workout or something small, but I have such a hard time spending money on myself.

    I am trying to just appreciate the fact that I am working out, by noticing the ways I feel better.

    That way I am not in debt to the spa or myself! 😉 Just imagine my jar full of I.O.U.s! Hah!

  4. Shauna Oberg

    Such great ideas to stay motivated. The one that always gets me is clothes fitting better and not leaving the dressing room frustrated with nothing in hand. With this cool spring, I’ve found myself inside way too much. Setting a goal to run or walk every day despite the weather is something I’m going to do (and then reward myself with one of your suggestions!).

  5. Jo-Anna@APrettyLife

    These are such great ideas to keep on track! I really need to be kept motivated when it comes to exercise and eating healthy! I especially love the idea of putting aside $1 for every km for a ‘for yourself’ fund!

  6. Bree Johnson (breejeanjohnson)

    great post I needed this awesome motivation!

  7. @LaCuisineHelene

    You found great way to motivate a person. I love the spa idea!

  8. Hols

    Simple ideas to keep you moving! I love the dollar one, I may just have to try that.

  9. Ashley Macinnis

    I love these reward ideas! I think I could get behind the dollar per kilometre idea – plus it’s an awesome way to save up! Win-win.

  10. Shelley

    I don’t understand why you didn’t add ‘eat a pint of ice cream or a whole bag of chips’ to your reward list. Those just seem like no brainer ideas to me 😉 #sarcastic

  11. Candace Derickx

    LOL! Hey there Shelley, I’ve missed you 🙂 You’re right, those are awesome rewards…just a little self-defeating.

  12. Candace Derickx

    Isn’t that an awesome idea? So smart and instead of a food reward you get a new outfit.

  13. Candace Derickx

    Let me know if you do. I’d love to hear if it helped inspire you.

  14. Candace Derickx

    Thanks Bree.