photo credit: sunshinecity

I do well with rewards, and now that I’m caring about my fitness and health again, it seems like a good idea to set some goals and tie some rewards to them.

This go-round, I’m going to do three types of rewards: “doing the right thing,” metrics, and performance-based treats. Here’s what I have in mind…

“Doing the right thing”

Sometimes it’s easy to fall off the bandwagon when I’m not immediately seeing results, so I’m going to give myself some rewards just for doing the right things, regardless of results, in hopes that this will keep me doing them.

Here are my daily “right things”:

• Logging my food
• Logging my weight on Physics Diet
• Putting my shoes on in the morning (no excuses for not walking, etc.)
• Maintaining a 500-calorie deficit on non-biking weekdays, break-even on weekends and biking days

Weekly:

• Minimum of two strength-training workouts (the SELF Challenge workouts)
• Minimum of three half-hour cardio workouts (most of my bike rides are significantly longer)

The rewards

I know I’m not perfect, and only rewarding myself when I am will definitely backfire, so the criteria for a reward will be five consecutive days doing the right things. I will get one of the following rewards (in order!) for each successful round:

• “Skin care shopping spree” made up of Neutrogena® Summer Glow Daily Moisturizer SPF 20, Neutrogena® Build-a-Tan™ Gradual Sunless Tanning Face SPF 15, and the Clean & Clear Advantage kit
• Anarchy perfume (a cheap knock-off of Donna Karan’s Chaos, which Daniel liked but is discontinued these days)
• Weleda Baby Pregnancy Body Oil (it’s supposed to help prevent stretch marks!)
• Levenger Circa Bookcloth notebook (Junior size) + Desk Punch
• One book from my wish list (for all future weeks until I come up with other rewards )

Metrics

These are a little more straightforward: I hit the goal, I get the prize. For each number, the goal is considered “hit” when I maintain it (according to my daily average on Physics Diet) for seven consecutive days. (For the record, these rewards are all going to be modified if I get pregnant!)

• 145 pounds: Bra Cup Racerback Tank
• 140 pounds: Tempered Short
• 135 pounds: Side Sheer Bottom
• 133 pounds (my goal weight): Dipper Pant
• 29% body fat: Bra Cup Vee Neck Tank
• 27% body fat: AT Short
• 25% body fat: St. Martin Wedge
• 23% body fat: Reversible Tie Back Tankini
• 21% body fat: Layback Linen Pant
• 19% body fat (my goal): Solid Reversible 2-in-1 Tow-In Top

Performance-based

This is the most nebulous, just because I need some input from Daniel. What I’m thinking: when I can do the road ride up to the local ski hill in a certain number of minutes, we get a mountain tandem. (But that’s why he needs to be in on it, too.)

I’ll update this post as needed.

photo credit: Dafydd359

Feeling much more upbeat this week. I think a little legitimate discontent was exactly what I needed to push me in the right direction.

I tend to do life in cycles. Right now, I’m moving into a fitness phase where I care again about being healthy, so I’m going to shift some of my time and activities around to fit that goal. It helps that the weather is getting nicer, making it much more appealing to venture outside.

I’m shifting the format of my plan a little, too, to reflect the areas I’m working on.

Business

The goal

My big business goal is to get on top of it, stay on top of it, and then replace myself.

We’re planning on getting pregnant and having a kidlet (no particular time frame, as these things happen when they happen, but could be sooner rather than later) and I don’t want to be tied to a job at that point.

That’s not to say I won’t work; I’m pretty sure I’ll always work, just because I like it so much and find it interesting. I just don’t want to have to work.

My coach, Marla, helped me a ton last week by proposing a schedule. I’ve been having trouble balancing the big projects (that need regular effort to move forward, but don’t have the same sense of urgency as the little ones) and the quick, “it’s just a little change” jobs.

The path

• Stick with the schedule. Today that means doing the two big projects for two hours each this morning, taking breaks, and doing the small projects in the afternoon.
• Send invoices! (Meant to do this last Thursday…)

Health

The goal

I’m stuck around 150 pounds and 30% body fat, and I want to be at 133 and 19%. This will make me faster on the bike (making it more likely the boy will spring for the mountain tandem idea!) and be more congruent with both the things I want to do and my identity. The current disconnect is slightly stressful.

The path (for today)

• Create a list of goals and rewards. These are very motivating to me. (Done!)
• Move during my breaks (2 walks a day) and during phone calls.
• Find and subscribe to a couple of spiritual podcasts to listen to during walking breaks. (Making them spiritual gets two birds with one stone. )

Extra-curriculars

The goal

Other major initiatives I’m involved in right now include the Black Ink Project and singing every other week for music at my church. I need to make a point to devote sufficient time to each of these.

The path

• Participate in the first Black Ink call (and have my headphones handy so I can walk while I’m listening!).
• Buy the three songs I need to practice today, and set them to play while I’m doing less mental work.

Want to jump in yourself?

Just leave a comment saying what you’re going to do today, or post on your own blog and leave a link.