Whenever you embark on the journey to face a difficult challenge, it is important to recognize the small successes along the way. This is especially true in the battle with weight loss, with all of the emotional ups and downs that accompany it. Below are my personal milestones and how I intend to celebrate each success. I've also included my reasoning behind each reward, as these are as important, if not more so, than the reward themselves.

160 LBS - Join Weight Watchers

Not really a reward necessarily, but definitely an important starting point. Weight Watchers has been something I've wanted to try for a very long time and now that I've started I am incredibly confident it will help me reach my goal, once and for all. So, in a way I guess I am rewarding myself - I'm rewarding myself with the tools for success. The tools to finally get this done!

150 LBS - Swedish Massage

My back is a mess. It has always been a mess, a consequence of sleeping on hand-me-down mattresses ever since I was a little girl (until recently when my Tempur-Pedic came into my life). I have a knot in my left shoulder that I've never been able to get out. I've always wanted to get a professional massage, but they are always so expensive. Recently I discovered Groupon and was able to purchase a 90-minute, $90 massage for only $19. I'm going to wait until I hit that 10-pounds-lost goal before I cash it in, though. It will make it even that much more enjoyable!

140 LBS - Jekyll & Hyde Tickets

I have been involved in musical theatre for years, and very early on I discovered an amazing musical called Jekyll & Hyde, which immediately became my favorite show and still is to this day. A new production of the show just began touring the country and will hit the Broadway stage next summer. But before it hits home on the Great White Way, it will make a two-week pit-stop in Chicago through a company called "Broadway in Chicago." I am hoping I will reach this goal within enough time to order tickets - and if not, I guess I'll be road-tripping it!

130 LBS - Designer Swimsuit

I have never been thin. I have never felt comfortable in a bathing suit. For me, bathing suits have always been purchased at Kohls, Target, Walmart ... places that wouldn't charge more than $50 - a price that I still looked at as high, considering the uncomfortability that accompanied the garment. At five pounds above my goal I think I will be the right size to finally order a bathing suit I can be proud to wear. For some reason I envision a black bikini. That's right. A bikini.

125 LBS - New Set of Headshots

Here it is. That dreaded number. That number that has danced in my brain for years, and years, and years. A number I have never reached. A weight at which I've never seen myself. So far this number has been nothing more but a dream, but not for long! As a musical theatre performer, especially in a city like Chicago, it's important to keep an up-to-date set of headshots. However, headshots are incredibly expensive, and so I have only ever invested in one set (taken in the fall of 2011). This set is very basic and not the greatest quality either. When I finally reach that magic number, I will buy myself a brand new set of professional, amazing quality headshots.

5% Club - Trip to Las Vegas

The 5% Club is a very elite group of individuals. Those who are actually able to join the club, compared to the amount who attempt to join, are very few and far between. These are the people who have met their weight loss goal and maintained it for one year. It's commonly believed if you can maintain a weight loss for one year then it's very likely you will maintain that loss for life. So, naturally, this milestone deserves an incredible reward. I've never been to Las Vegas. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I need to get it done before it's too late! Therefore, if I am able to maintain my goal for one year, I will finally get to cross this one off my list!