rewards for losing the weight...

Any one here ever give themselves a food/candy reward for losing "X" amount of weight and then can?t bring themselves to eat the reward...LOL! I told myself once I lost 15 lbs. that as a reward I would eat the candy bar that I have been saving here since Jan. (it helps keep me motivated to eat better) Anyhow I have hit 15 lbs..But can?t bring myself to eat the dang candy bar.... HOW SILLY IS THAT...LOL! Don?t get me wrong I do treat myself but with healthier treats now.. but why cant I just eat the dang candy bar... after all I earned it fair and square right?!...LOL

This is kind of a silly post but maybe I?m just a little weird.. Odd over compulsive or something!

Well, I'll tell ya...all of my rewards seem to have fell to the wayside and here is why.

My first reward was going to be a manicure. But, I bought me some nice polish and emery boards and started doing my own nails to help keep me from thinking about snacking.  Now my nails are beautiful and I don't need a manicure. 

My second reward was going to be new clothes but I realized that I have clothes from size 16 girls to 16 womens in a storage unit and I should probably take stock before I spend any more money. 

Third I was going to get a massage.  But as aches or pains have cropped up from exercise I have had hubby giving me massages.  And his massages come with extras I wouldn't want from a stranger!

So, I guess the only reward I have left is watching myself get healthier and trimmer.  You know what?  That is plenty for me!

I screwed up last night and I regret it today.

I was at 1,550 calories for the day (slightly over my daily target) and I thought I was done for the day, then my roommates decided to throw a party because of St Patrick's Day.

The next thing I know I had a shot of whiskey, 4 beers, 2 oz of potato chips, a small slice of DiGorno's pizza, and a few Bagel Bites.

I felt terrible about it when I finally went to bed and hope this didn't mess up everything I have done so far.

I guess I havn't had a problem with rewards yet, maybe because I havn't been "dieting" very long?  I usually reward myself with sushi every 5lbs.  I have 22 to lose total and I'm down 7.

I cheated and had sushi the other day because I had been so depressed over pretty much nothing, I think my hormones were all wacky because of the weight loss.

I havn't rewarded myself with candy yet, I almost picked up a York Peppermint patty the other day, but the 160 calorie label made me put it down.  Before I started this, I could have easily brought home 5 and downed them in one evening. 

Every few pounds I lose I'll eat a Chipotle borrito, yumm T___T.

Even when I have "rewards" I usually only hit my "break even" point for calories.  So I don't even risk gaining.   I don't feel guilt over eating it, maybe that's why? dunno

I used to do that but then I found that one candy bar turned into a weekend of gluttony. Good for you for turning it away!

My hubby and I are dieting together and the two of us usually try our best to encourage each other. But, we both have the same bad habits so we'd end up eating bad for a loooong time just from one bad night. This time, we made it a contest between the two of us. A nice long term goal. Whichever of us loses the highest % by Sept. 1 gets a $2000 prize. He'd choose a flatscreen tv, I'd choose a laptop. So, now when he asks if I'd like to go out for burgers for lunch, I tell him he can have whatever he wants, but I'm not eating a burger. So I have a reason to say no and he thinks about what he's eating b4 he eats it. (He's not counting cals, I am) If either one of us gives up on the diet, the bet is still on! Pretty good motivation for for both of us.

I think rewarding yourself with a candy bar for losing weight is equivalent to spanking a child for hitting. Or the death penalty for a murder charge. What is it teaching?

If you want a candy bar, you can have it! You just have to count it. I always try to think b4hand...What do I want more? The candy bar? Or to be successful losing weight?

i rewarded myself with a non-food item last night. i bought a 30 inch HD TV to reward myself for the 14 pounds i have lost! i don't even want the bad foods anymore, so this was a better reward!

aren't you supposed to learn to reward yourself with non-food items because using food as a reward is emotional eating?

huggitbear-   I think it depends on the person, I can't afford a $2000 labtop for losing 20lbs lol =)

I will be buying new clothing as a reward, but as for now, I'm using food as an inspiration to eat better for myself! I don't see anything wrong with that personally.  I can control myself now, I didn't use to be able to. 

If you reward yourself with a non-food item, but it's something that costs money, then arn't you teaching yourself to spend money emotionally?  Seems just as bad to me.

Well.. I have not been an emotional eater... close a few times but didnt give in..

I have cut out all candy & sugary pop drinks since the jan 1st so I thought I would just use the candy bar as my reward.. cant afford much right now with me being a stay at home mom and only living on one income.. works for me.. Im easy to please, but I still have not eaten the candy bar...LOL ;-) ;-)

I like using makeup and such as rewards. I love shopping at Sephora and MAC. Eyeshadows run between $10-$25 on average so after losing a set amount of weight (say.. 10lbs) I'll buy myself a new eyeshadow. 20lbs... a new top or something. I keep my rewards to clothing or something like that.

I used to turn to food when I lost weight.  It was a mental thing.  The weight was falling off, so a few (note I said few instead of one) treats couldn't hurt.  Then, I couldn't get back on track.  Now, if I have a craving, I go for it.  I have found if I don't wait I can control what I eat, how much I eat, and then I am done with it.  If I wait, I feel starved for whatever I wanted and always make myself sick once I give in. 

I don't set a weight loss goal for rewarding myself.  What I do now is when I feel I need something special, instead of food I buy myself something to wear.  What I have found is that if my clothes size hasn't gone down, I walk away, but if it is down I make a purchase.  It seems to be working for me.

I wish I had the mind set that you do, but unfortunately, I am still not able to keep things in the house that I want.

i got myself a tatoo yesterday as a reward for losing weight, but some people might not want to go to that extreme.

how about manicures, pedicures, massages new hair cut?

anything but chocolate and other naughty treats!!!

put a little money away each week, maybe a couple of pounds/dollars and see how much you've got when you reach your specific goal.

my next treat will be a new hair do and im going to have my eybrows waxed and dyed. then for the goal after that im having another tatoo but dont tell my other half lol, ssshhh ;)

raggydoll xxx

I don't really use food as a reward. I just count the calories and eat lower calorie foods the rest of the day. = )

My rewards usually involve clothes. I can wear X when I hit ___lbs. etc

=D

Yeah I would say to chuck the candy bar. I am like some other people here in that when I fall a little off the wagon, it's so hard to get back on. I refused all sweets and extras for 3 months, then I "maintained" over the x-mas holiday but I cheated a lot; just didn't gain, but didn't lose.

Now I cheat almost every day so even though I am excersizing a lot more than before the holidays, I haven't lost a pound- just fluctuating. And not I can't refuse my cheats, when I crave it, I eat it.. I need to get back into my old mentality... Although at least I know I can maintain and eat what I want :)

I don't do food rewards.  I made my first goal, so I got a haircut and a new video game for being a good girl.  The haircut is boosting my morale, and the game is dance dance revolution, so it's a game that will get me up and moving.  To me, food rewards sort of defeat the purpose.  If I want a treat, I have it, I just make sure I can work it in with my alloted calories and fat for the day.

When I get to my goal I am buying crest whitestips. They're around $50 so I don't really have the money for them, but when I get to my goal weight my bod's going to look so good I'm gonna  need a pretty smile to match! That's what's motivating me right now. I've never really liked my teeth so the thought of looking great all over really keeps me going.

Food as reward seems like a slippery slope ... SHOES are my preferred reward mechanism.  (And they still fit at any size) 

I love buying cute new workout clothes, running shoes or more athletic equipment & fittness type gadgets to reward myself...oooooh, and makeup! They're all helping the cause, and shopping makes me happy...its a win-win situation that keeps me motivated!! And of course looking better, and feeling good enough to wear my new workout clothes always helps too!

food rewards quit being rewards for me. they lost their appeal lol my reward for my new weight loss (i already hit reward point a lil while ago) is a new tattoo. waiting for warmer weather though! :)

I've posted this before - I reward myself by depositing $20 per pound in a special savings account.  If I gain back a pound, I transfer that $20 to another account.  I keep track of my kitty every 3 months to avoid too many transactions.  Like my healthy living program, my savings account is long term.  When I've lost all the weight I'll have a nice amount to spend any way I want.

 I did the same thing once and I was afraid to eat the candy bar in fear I would not be able to stop at one.