Treating Myself With Food

I do not want to use food to treat myself because in my mind that means if I lose weight then its ok to binge on high calorie foods......WRONG I think I want to treat myself with other things besides food.  Another thing is using food for a treat isn't that still compulsive over eating? I am learning to buy and eat healthy foods. I look at a thin persons grocery cart it isn't fill with high calorie foods.  I think that I have to think healthy all the time and food isn't a treat.  I am going to use things like a massage, a bottle of perfume, a new blouse for a treat for weight loss.  I saw Jack Lelane on TV and he nevers eats ice cream in order for me to lose and stay at a normal weight there has to be somethings that have to be given up.  My GYN Dr  told me she has a hard time with her weight that certain things are just out of her diet completely. I just wanted to share my feelings about using food as a treat I think that is what has kept me FAT.

I used to do that. But I find food helps me. But my treats are low-cal and not often. things like frozen bananas. And I emphasise the health factors in my treats.

BUT! I do have treats that are non foods - massage (me too!), $50 shopping spree (if I stick to my eating goals for 1 month worth of days), buying my boyf a treat, going to bed early, having a bubble bath, reading my fav book, working on my cookbook, working on my sketchbook, a night off from study, a day out with my friends, a movie etc.

Its a good idea that your treats are not food, but remember it doesnt ALWAYS have to be the case. IE your treat should not be "a big hunk of chocolate cake and ice-cream" but maybe your fav healthy meal, shared with a friend, or a bubble bath, whilst eating frozen grapes one by one, or snuggling up with your fav movie with 2 low-fat bikkies and hot choc.

Hope you dont mind me hijaking your opinion. This is just my thought

But good on you!! You're changing your mindset which may have been what kept you fat. :) I hope you go well and ENJOY your treats when you deserve them! :)

I TOTALLY agree with you Marilyn! VERY GOOD points! I like how you said you look at the thin person's grocery cart ... Think thin -- be thin! I think using food as a reward/treat can be dangerous for some! I'm with YOU!

You can have food treats if you do it thoughtfully.  For instance, this week my treat was cherries at $6 a pound, and worth every penny.  Every so often I treat myself to something like this.  It's a big change from my former treats - Krispy Kreme doughnuts, fried chicken.....  you get the idea.

My main reward is money.  I pay myself for each pound lost.  If I gain back weight, I deduct money from the kitty.  When I reach goal, my big reward will be shopping for some new furniture. 

You are on the right track - this is for life, not just a temporary diet.

I did that, too - when I was hitting bottom and getting ready to start this latest fat loss journey. I watched what the thin moms I came into contact with ate where ever I was. It was a salad or chicken sandwich at McDonalds and not the Big Mac combo that I usually got. It was one small serving of lasagna at bunco and not a big one with seconds.

The gears finally kicked into place - If I want to be thin, I have to eat like a thin person. Duh! (What took me so long?  :-)  )

I don't think you have to give up any food you love - you just have to eat less of it. With calorie-count you can plan it into your week. Before I started tracking my foods, I'd probably have fries 2-4 times a week. This weekend I just went back over my log and in the first month I had them 6 times and in the last couple of months I am down to about once a week.

When you start watching your calories you have to be able to come up with foods and meals you are going to eat for the rest of your life. You are not going on a diet, you are making a lifestyle change.

Also, I would recommend starting off making small changes. If your normal fast food meal is a big mac, large fry and a coke then get a grilled chicken sandwhich, small fry, and diet coke. It is still fast food but you are probably eating 700 cals less than you used to. If you make changes slowly then you are more likely to stick to them.

Also, I would stay away from all sorts of food rewards. I think it is too easy to fall off the wagon if you reward yourself with food. Food rewards are easy because they are cheap. Some inexpenisve rewards I do for myself are: new earrings, new songs for my mp3, new workout clothes (bought at Nordstrom Rack for half off), a pedicure.

Good luck - Carolyn