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If you are a teacher or a mom, chances are that you have used a sticker chart to reward behavior. You can create them yourself, or buy cute pre-printed school houses, treasure boxes, or vehicles showing off their empty boxes, just waiting to be filled. When all twelve boxes contain those coveted stickers, the child wins a prize. Maybe lunch with the teacher, a new ball, or ice cream. As a kindergarten teacher, I also used a marble jar. The class would hear the joyful clank of the marble hitting the glass when they obeyed all the way, right away, with a happy heart. As the marbles climbed to the top of the jar, they knew that soon they would pick from a hat to discover their reward-- a pizza party; a visit from my dog, Mussoorie; or a pajama day.

I'm here to tell you that stickers aren't just for kids. I have my very own sticker chart hanging in my kitchen. I choose cute, girly stickers, since I am the only female in the house. Sometimes, I even get to put two stickers on my chart in one day! I save the biggest stickers for special occasions.

Why do I have a sticker chart? Easy. It makes me work out! It is a visual representation that cheers me on. Last month, my chart with filled with stickers. However, June is pretty empty and the boring empty boxes glare at me, waiting to be filled, while by body groans in lethargy.

So ladies, if you are struggling to work out, I want to encourage you to spice up your routine. Find something that works. My doctor chuckles at me, my husband thinks I'm silly, and my kids think that it is awesome that I have a sticker chart like them. It is silly. But it works. My sticker chart motivates me to move my body.

Did I hear you say, I don't have money to go to a gym. Guess what? Neither do I! But one thing that I have learned from The Biggest Loser is that you don't have to have a gym! You can work out at home. Sometimes we walk to the post office. Other times I sling one of my three son's and we walk to the playground. A few months back, I spent some big money and invested in a Netflix membership that costs a little less than $5.00. This enables me to rent two workout DVD's a month. This way I get just enough variety and know if a DVD is good enough to ask for as a present.

There you have it. That is my secret. Stickers.

I'm going to get my sticker today. Are you?





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