Why is this????
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| Mon, 09-25-2006 - 12:31pm |
Why is it that I feel compelled to reward my good "on plan" days with food (read: junk)??? I just don't get this thinking of mine! I do really well all day long and by evening time I find myself contemplating some sort of "goody" reward for doing so well. Where in the world is my brain? LOL This doesn't make any sense?
I mean, now it becomes abundantly clear why I have issues with weight! ARgh! I don't think I have ever really thought about this before until yesterday. I really had wanted to focus on mindful eating and this little revelation of mine came as quite a shock to me. I am amazed at the amount of food I can eat if I don't pay any attention!
Seriously, am I the only one in the world who thinks like this? I feel like a freak!
~danielle

Danielle, be sure you are NOT a "freak". I think the
I think many of us got here by using food as a system of rewards, punishment and comfort. That being said, there are some of us here who do use food as a sort of reward for being on plan. A lot of experts say not to do this, but it can be very motivation and helpful for a lot of people. I myself plan my days to where I can have a treat every night if I want it. I don't think of it as a reward, I think of it as smart planning, because I make the extra effort to get all my fruits, veggies, dairy and everything in every day but I save the calories so that I can have that one indulgent mini meal. It sounds like this may be something that could work for you, if you like having hte treats. Like I said, don't think of it as a reward, though, think of it as an allowed food that you have worked into your sensible plan. It has really helped me, and I know others who do similar things. Some people will allow themselves one really big meal or dessert every week to keep them motivated with eating super healthy the rest of the time. I prefer the smaller daily treat, but if you work it right, you can really ahve a sweet treat or snack and still have a very healthy diet :). The great thing to me is that I've gradually started making better choices, anyway. When I started, I'd have s'mores every night, or chocolate, now, a lot of times I will have a fruit smoothie made with fruit, yogurt, and low fat milk for my sweet treat. Sometimes it's peanut butter and a cup of milk, etc. You get the idea :).
Staci
Staci,
I have to agree with you on what you've written. I know for me definitely I have used food as a form of punishment but had never really considered that I was using it for a reward of sorts up until this last weekend. My problem has been doing really well all day and after all calories have been consumed, when I should be done for the day, I find myself rationalizing why it's "ok" to have another snack--and usually something carby & junky. I had tremendous success several years back losing weight (80 lbs lost) by allowing myself one meal of whatever I wanted once a week, usually on a Friday night. It really kept me honest thru the week and I knew right away that after that one meal it was right back on plan again. While I let things get out of control and regained that weight, I still think that the process I used was a good one and continue to use that now that I'm trying to lose again.
However, now that I'm thinking about it, I think 99% of the time that I rationalize this snack of garbage, I am not even remotely hungry or not even necessarily craving something, it feels like I almost do it just to do it. I have always said that weight loss is 99% mental and the more I get into the "why's" of what makes me want to eat, the more I believe it!
Thanks for your imput and its nice to know that I'm on the right track of sorts. BTW, the PB and glass of milk? That was a staple when I was pregnant with my 2nd baby! LOL Loved the stuff!
♥danielle
Your story sounds a lot like mine. A few years ago I lost a little over 50 lbs through keeping a very strict diet and allowing myself to eat out 1 meal a week, guilt free. I kept that off only for a short while because I went back to the way I had been eating and started eating out again 10 times a week (no joke!). Sometimes I still have the problem of wanting to eat junk even when my calories are gone, but I have been able to avoid it for the most part. One other thing that has helped me is if I feel a day like that coming on (and usually I can because there's a feeling that just builds inside me, I don't know if it's the same for you or not) then I will plan a super low day followed by a super high day. That means one day I might focus primarily on fruits/veggies and some lean protein, then the next I might plan a 3000 calorie day. Mind you, I do plan every meal and snack on that day and by the end of the day I usually am so stuffed from eating that I am definitely past that urge to just eat, so it's worked so far (as long as I don't abuse my low calorie days like I have been).
Staci
BTW--I sometimes think peanut butter is the best stuff on earth, but it has to be chunky if I'm eating it plain :)!
Love your philosophy about calories. It sounds like this system is really working for you, I wish you nothing but huge success!! It sounds like something that I may consider doing, if for nothing else, my sanity! lol I have kept away from calorie counting per se, since being diagnosed OCD a year or so ago. Numbers are the end of me, but I have come to realize that if I ever want to be able to have success at this I need to be able to gauge my progress some how. Such a catch22 for me, some days I could just rip my hair out in frustration. But like my mother always said, I'm stubborn to a fault, and I refuse to give up on this thing.
Chunky PB is the best! DH hides it from me cause I can't stay out of it. I think I could live on that stuff. :D
♥danielle
Friday night----I had done well all day. I was going to eat a fish filet for dinner. Problem was, I need to thaw it under some running water. Well, danggit...I WAS HUNGRY NOW!!! So, I popped an egg roll in the microwave, ate it, then popped another in....by the time I got finished with my fish...I was hurting!
Why did I do it??? No idea...it is like an evil twin takes over my mind and then leaves me with the body.
TL