How do you stop eating sweets when you deserve a reward?
How do you stop eating sweets when you deserve a reward?
Dawn,
These are all excellent ideas. I agree eating out isn't really a reward unless the food is excellent quality with Enlita-approved choices. Otherwise the meal you choose as a reward may just set back your progress and it's just not worth it...buying something special to make at home is best, if possible, or choose non-food rewards as you say. I too am addicted to knitting (even though I'm just a beginner) and treating myself to some nice yarn to create something makes me very happy! And I couldn't agree with you more-I wish knitting could qualify as real exercise!
Dr. Winnie Abramson
You know, I am really NOT a sweets person. I *am* a "sweet person" LOL (or at least I try to be!), but I tend to not care for sweets.
Okay. I love chocolate, and CRAVE a good cream brulee or cheesecake, but other than that, I really can do without.
For our rewards, we usually plan a dinner out to celebrate or go to some fun event or shopping somewhere. (My daughter's birthday celebration last year was at a local Barnes and Noble! No cake or ice cream, her special day was to be able to just browse books to her hearts content.)
I can see that I need to change the Dinner Out reward focus because it is still centering on food! And not the good organic, grass-finished, variety we are now committed to eating either. We're talking Texas Road House, Red Lobster, etc. They are my favorite places to go for a special reward.
Well, I have another terrible, terrible addiction . . . KNITTING. It would be no hardship AT ALL to have a reward of a trip to the knit shop or to attend a knitting class.
So, I will strive to have our rewards be of the "trip to the park" nature or to a special event, and NOT to a special restaurant. If we plan on a special dinner, we'll plan to make it a family reward in our own kitchen using good food choices! And . . . if I feel like I deserve an even more special reward than that . . . I'll treat myself to some yummy yarn!
Dawn
^^^^^Colorado (who wishes knitting burned more calories!!)
I haven't figured out how to do this yet. I handle celebration and depression the same way--eating comfort food. So this is all new to me. I guess I'll go shopping.
Along with changing my eating habits, my hubby and I have decided to go on a budget. We give ourselves an allowance to used anyway we want so we don't fee deprived. I can use that money to reward myself.
I'll get a pair of shoes or my hair highlighted when I reach a goal --or go to the Dollar store for reeaching a smaller goal. I don't go all the time and sometimes I find some good stuff--baskets and such.
Tammy
"causing damage to your organs, brain chemistry, blood sugars, GI tract...every part of your body ...... It's a punishment......the pleasure of eating sweets only lasts a few seconds and then you spend a lifetime trying to get rid of the damage."
What a good way of looking at it. I never thought of sweet treats that way. Desserts have always been a reward for me, too. As a little girl, desserts were a reward and have continued to be so. I will TRY to remember the above each time I am tempted. When I attend business dinners, etc. dessert is always part of the meal and I really look forward to it. Any tips?
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Are sweets really a reward?
I don't think causing damage to your organs, brain chemistry, blood sugars, GI tract...every part of your body is a reward. It's a punishment. Besides the pleasure of eating sweets only lasts a few seconds and then you spend a lifetime trying to get rid of the damage.
Why not consider other rewards?
I LOVE to take time out to meditate each day. I love to take walks in nature. I love to call up a witty friend for a laugh. I love to sing along with my favorite Broadway Musicals. Have you seen the musical Wicked?--now THAT'S a reward!
I used to be a huge sugar junkie and I thought sugar was a source of pleasure. But it really isn't. It caused me a great deal of guilt, pain, weight gain, addiction, mood swings, sadness, cravings and poor health.
Please remember that next time you want to reward yourself. You deserve better than that.
Keep me posted on your progress!