Allison submitted an Ask Roni question about this not too long ago and I agreed that it would make a great question of the week! So here goes…
I think we are “trained” at a young age that food is a fun reward and we use eating as the main way to celebrate big events. How many times have we heard, “If you’re good we’ll get some ice cream” or “If we win the big game well go out for pizza” how about, “it’s your birthday, let’s bake cupcakes!” I’m guilty of this myself, recently bribing the toddler with a piece of chocolate if he goes on the potty. There is just something special about an editable treat!
Now I’m not saying we can’t/shouldn’t celebrate with food and I don’t think we should outlaw birthday cakes anytime soon. But overall, I think we need to break the food/reward connection in our brains. There are other ways to celebrate and sometimes food really isn’t an appropriate choice.
Case in point… How many times have you wanted to celebrate a weight loss success with food? Have you said to yourself, when I reach x-number of pounds I’m going to have a slice of pizza? or when I get into those 8′s I’ll celebrate with some hagen daaz.
Come on… I can’t be the only one, can I? Admit it, you’ve done it TOO! (please admit it)
To help break the food/reward connection I ask this weeks question in hopes of coming up with a great non-food list of rewards and celebration ideas for everyone. Soooo here goes…
How do you reward yourself?
Me? Well I have a massage waiting for me when I climb that darn rock wall! I was so close tonight I think next week may be the week! (those that don’t know what the heck I’m talking about check out my goals)
Some of my other rewards include…
- buying a new piece of clothing to help celebrate a size,
- taking a sick day to spend with the toddler. (taking a sick day to spend with myself) ;~P, and
- facials!
How about you? How do you reward yourself?
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One of my favorite splurges is a pedicure. I know I can go out and pay for one any time I want, but I like to reserve it for a “reward”, which makes it even more enjoyable and special.
~Sandy
Today I’m rewarding myself with flavoured water after a tough workout at the gym.
Doesn’t sound like much but the fact that I’m not rushing off to buy a block of chocolate for the second day in a row is reward enough for me.
ZAPPOS.
It’s bad, People.
I love my nike shoes.
:)
M.
(jacquie? that sounds like a lot! a big deal I mean…)
Lululemon clothes! (lululemon.com , but beware. they can be addicting, and they make your bum look great!)
And, since I just lost another 2.2 pounds, I might be up for another trip. Or, maybe MizFit has the right idea with new shoes, my feet are starting to hurt.
I just rewarded myself a couple of days ago by buying myself a pretty new journal. :)
I so know what you mean. Just LAST week I said when I lose 20 pounds (6 pounds away!), I am getting a bagel loaded with stuff from my favorite place. Your post made me rethink that. I will now reward myself with new clothes – a dress for a party I have. Thanks for this post and helping me redirect my reward/food behavior. It will take a lot more work I am sure, but it will be a big benefit to me and my family.
I love to reward myself with something from Bath and Body Works; my favorite store or a new purse. Recently, I needed new workout clothes, so I rewarded myself with a new workout outfit.
My mom likes to reward me with clothes for every 10 pounds. As for me, I prefer something a little more frequent. So if I did really well in a week, kept in my points and did all my activities, I reward myself with a bit of music off of iTunes. Or I buy something cheap from Half.com. Just a little motivation to keep me going.
My mom and I did WW together when I was about 10. We’d go early, weigh-in, eat fast food and then go back for the meeting.
Thankfully now when I do well, it is so motivating that in itself is the best reward.
I have 7 pounds left to my goal and I’m buying myself some Tiffany jewelry to commemorate the event. I think it will also be a reminder everytime I look at my hand or in the mirror of the hard work and dedication it has taken to lose these 50 pounds!
A visit to the salon!
Roni-
You’re not the only one who rewards themselves with food! I have lsot 91 pounds to date and I said when I lose 100 pounds I am going to get a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. I probably won’t but I will have to find something to reward myself with.
Edible treats have some nice benefits, in that there’s not another useless piece of cruft hanging out in the house that you need to dust and find space for. I mean, really, how many different scented body lotions does any one woman need?
That being said, I buy myself small gifts at every 5 pounds… the first five, I got a new decorative notebook, the second, some lime lip gloss. I’ve also gotten myself some non-tangible gifts, (buying mp3s or a vanity mount on World of Warcraft.)
This is a really interesting question for me. As I have been making & meeting my fitness/activity goals, I read that it is important to mark these achievements with little rewards.
At first I found this very difficult to do–I realized that I haven’t spent a lot of time really understanding what I like or what makes me feel good. Some thoughts:
1. I think that often we “reward” ourselves with food because we (in my opinion especially women) believe that it isn’t okay to spend time, money or praise on ourselves. For me, food was a “safe” reward because it’s always around, I have to eat and it isn’t as deliberate as other rewards.
I find that I have (and still do) use food as a little “time out” when I’m happy, overwhelmed etc. I now find other ways to have that time out–just without the food part!
2. As I thought about rewards for myself, I have made 2 lists. One is Things I Like. The other is Things that Make Me Feel Better. By writing down these items (big & small), I have some choices.
I’ve also realized that I don’t get a lot of reward from buying stuff–activities or special outings seem to be more meaningful to me. Outings that don’t cost a lot suit my values and my budget.
Examples include:
-trip to the library to get a great book
-a coffee at a fun cafe (my favourite has an amazing patio overlooking the river valley of my town)
-a collection of quotes that are inspiring to me–put them in a nice bowl and draw one if you’d like a little treat
-A new shirt for work from a fun thrift store
-a flower, seeds or plant for my house/yard
-renting a movie
-a class or workshop (art, writing, Pilates, etc)
-Several times, I’ve carried the equivalent of the weight I’ve lost up and down the stairs a few times. “Only” lost 5 lbs? Try carrying a bag of flour around with you for awhile and see how much that weight affects you…
-Maybe, maybe a new bike–I commute about 80 miles a week and am still using a hand-me-down that I got 6 years ago. My husband is encouraging me to buy a new one–I’ve been to look, but have so far talked myself out of it. Any advice?
3. I now believe that these small ceremonies are so important to mark accomplishments. Living well is very difficult and goes against the dominant culture of fast food, fast life, fast everything. I found that if I didn’t mark my accomplishments, I tend to downplay them in my own mind. (E.g. I’ve only lost 10 lbs, anyone can go to the gym regularly, I haven’t come far enough, etc). We deserve acknowlegement for efforts made and goals achieved. These should come from within–compliments from others are nice, but your mind and body are your responsibility and you’re the only one who can celebrate and care for them!
Long post–sorry this is the first time I’ve ever commented on a blog although I read and appreciate this one often. I think I’ll give myself a reward for trying something new!
For me, I have the mindset that once I lose a certain amount of weight, I will be ABLE to eat a cheeseburger or a meal where i don’t count points…which now that I think about it is the same thing as rewarding myself with food.
Leanna I agree! lululemon has the most comfortable pants and they’re so cute! I can’t wait to get to my goal weight and buy myself a new pair…I have two pairs now but I can’t wait to get a smaller size :)
I am like everyone else who has rewarded themselves with food in the past (and the present). BUT, I am a runner and have started getting more serious. My favorite color is orange (I have an orange ipod shuffle that runs with me). Recently I saw a pair of orange running shoes – they were expensive but I rewarded myself for Mother’s Day with these. Now when I don’t feel like going or when I run my next race – these bright shoes will carry me through!
I admit it… I’m a food celebrator too… Big time. However, I have started trying to do other things like buying clothes… Still, its never quite as satisfying!
I can say I reward my self by pampering, I go to salon or spa. Eating is not a reward.
Get in tune with the simpler things in life. Go for a walk,go to your local amusement park and recapture the child in you!