Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding on Celebrating Your Successes

Everyone’s weight loss journey is unique. For some, this includes bariatric surgery or other medical interventions rather than diet and exercise alone. Regardless, persisting at eating healthy and regular exercise can be hard work. Some people feel discouraged when they don’t lose weight as quickly as they would like. It is important to reward yourself for the successes that you experience. In this article, Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding shares healthy ways to reward yourself to keep up your motivation.

Active Rewards

As your activity level increases from weight loss, try a high-energy reward. Think about things you would never have attempted before you met a goal or something you always wanted to try.

• Hire a personal trainer.
• Try a new workout or a challenging hike you’ve never done before.
• Play tourist in your own town and visit a museum.
• Begin a new garden or plant a perennial or shrub to represent your success.
• Treat yourself to a sporting event you normally don’t attend in person.
• Sign up for a charity walk or event.
• Plan an adventure trip or a “bucket list” vacation.

Lifestyle Rewards

Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding says some rewards for reaching weight loss goals make your life run a little smoother. Some people enjoy learning a new skill to celebrate a milestone. Other rewards just make you feel better about yourself or take time to enjoy small moments of life.

• Download a new workout playlist.
• Adopt a dog and incorporate him or her into your active lifestyle.
• Treat yourself to new sneakers or workout gear. Ladies, get fitted for a new sports bra.
• Buy the latest fitness tracker or gadget.
• Take a class you’ve always wanted to take (like cooking, martial arts or further your education).
• Invest in a brand-new personal blender for your shakes and smoothies.
• Hire someone to clean your home so you can spend more time on you.
• Clean out your closet and donate your old clothes to charity.
• Eat lunch outside instead of at your desk.

Pamper Yourself

Finally, some rewards are just to treat yourself, plain and simple. They make you feel good about yourself and add a little something to your day. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding encourages her patients to recognize all their hard work in their weight loss journeys.

• Get a manicure and a pedicure (men, this includes you too).
• Take a bubble bath.
• Shop for a new wardrobe for the upcoming season.
• Get a massage.
• Have a home spa day.
• Purchase a brand-new journal.
• Upload a new photo of yourself that you love to your social media page.

When you reward yourself for reaching milestones, it helps you stay motivated and track your progress. Remember that persistence is the key to success. You will feel renewed when you celebrate the big and small victories in life. Being kind to yourself goes a long way.

Consultations with Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding

If you would like to learn about your weight loss options, including bariatric surgery, speak to an expert. Contact Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding at the NYU Langone Weight Management Program.