10-Pound Carrots.

I believe in rewards. I have always been a person that performed well with the promise of prizes waiting at the finish line. Dangle the right carrot, and I will run. I like pats on the back, attagirls, and little gold stars.

New shoes are wayyyyy better than all of those things.

I get a shiny new toy every five pounds I lose. This is a delightful and appealing carrot. With ten pounds gone, I can replace my tired old Shox with fun Nike Free X-Trainers. Pink ones, at that.

This is the type of carrot that appeals to me.  I like shoes.  Things like this keep me going.  Mani pedis and massages, while they work for some people, are not the sort of incentive that keep me going when I want a cookie and to hit the snooze button through work-out time.  They are nice rewards, but they don't motivate me to an extra ten minutes on the treadmill, or swapping salad for fries.  I know myself, you know?  I know what I want.  I like getting what I want.

I like carrots.  I really like 15-pound carrots, don't you?