Hi, I really enjoy this forum. I lost 20 lbs last year, (my goal)but I am still struggling. Food is still a basic reward for me. Instant gratification! Help me find some other things!

Non-food related rewards are hard for me to think of as well. I've only come up with one so far - a manicure. I don't get them very often, and haven't recently at all... I also need some more ideas.
Svetlana3k
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Here's some nonfood rewards!

A Massage (full body or otherwise) or just some time at a day spa.

A good book you've been dying to read

New clothes!!

Some new athletic shoes or a cute workout top (they come in all sizes now!)



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Mrs. Jim

I turn on some great music and dance around to keep from going to the fridge...sometimes it works!?

a matinee- doesn't cost a lot and if you have to eat at the moves take along some frozen grapes!

call a friend

write a note to someone

log onto this site!

I guess I listed some expensive rewards...

Try couples massage with your significant other. There are some good books out there (check the Library or Amazon.com) as well as classes at your community college or local Rec Center. Turn the lights down low, put on some soothing music (or Seinfeld LOL) and massage each other's feet/hands/etc. Not only does it keep my hands busy, but I get so relaxed that who cares about food anyway! Plus gives the both of you a chance for some time to talk!

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Mrs. Jim

Hi. I've been dealing with this myself. I must say nothing soothes like food, so if I must, I have a decaf with skim milk. I go to a nearby coffee shop because just going outside takes me out of my focus on food. I bring a journal or a good book.
roma

[This message has been edited by roma (edited 01-16-2001).]

Hi lostit,
well I think the best thing is to keep yourself busy...idle hands start wandering to teh kitchen cupboards...and idle minds start thinking...mmm maybe I'll have a little something to eat.

Have you ever been so engrossed in an activity or a favorite hobby that you forget to eat? It's a great feeling isn't it.

Another trick that might help is to take a nap when you are feeling particularly peckish...drink lots of water...it keeps you feeling full.

I like the couples massages idea.....

all your ideas were great the first time!

Hi there,
I like all these ideas!
Here are some of mine:
Crochet, I can do it while watching t.v. which is when I tend to snack mindlessly.

I take a hot bubble bath and do my nails.

I try to keep really busy at work.

I read success stories on the WW site or slimfast site..I don't care about the method just the stories really and of course this board helps so much.

I pull out some of the clothes that I am determined to wear by summer.

The funny thing is if I am really hungry I will eat...I try and make it a healthy choice and while I am eating I focus on my goal and what I want. I also repeat that saying," The main cause of failure is giving up what we want most for what we want in the moment." That is so true for me.

[This message has been edited by happy25 (edited 01-25-2001).]

Chai is really delicious and relaxing. Make yourself a cup. Here's a recipe from the web that's easy and yummy:

Chai (Indian herbal tea)

In a pot, combine:

2 c. water
1 c. milk
1 tsp. loose black tea
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
a few whole cloves

bring to a very light boil, adding honey to sweeten to taste.

When the tea has steeped to your liking, strain and enjoy.

It will take you about 15-20 minutes or so to make, you'll enjoy the process, smell the spices. When it's done you can enjoy it's cafe au lait color and then the aroma is great. Allow yourself time to sit, sip and enjoy a small pleasure while you recall your day or plan tomorrow. Enjoy!

Also, you could go antiquing, or go to the museum, go to the library and browse, or take up a fun hobby: I make beaded jewelry for family and friends and it's fun and I love it. It takes my mind off food when I'm not being lazy and actually making jewelry.


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Delia

Don't trade a new life for a donut!

[This message has been edited by Delia (edited 01-25-2001).]

Try to remember that food is a temporary reward and the results of overeating last a long time. There are many rewarding things that can help lose weight. Stop and take a nice long walk and enjoy the beauty of the day, I find that much more rewarding than food and it always makes me feel good about myself. I just returned from a 30 minute walk around my neighborhood and I feel well rewarded, get out, see the beauty of God's creation.

Try to remember that food is a temporary reward and the results of overeating last a long time. There are many rewarding things that can help lose weight. Stop and take a nice long walk and enjoy the beauty of the day, I find that much more rewarding than food and it always makes me feel good about myself. I just returned from a 30 minute walk around my neighborhood and I feel well rewarded, get out, see the beauty of God's creation.

Delia - You just inspired me to walk to Starbucks for a chai tea -- yummy!

Has anyone here read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books? I still love 'em -- find them very inspiring! In one, Pa tells Laura something like "Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was anything else that's worth having".

So what am I trying to say here? I paraphrase that to mean - 'nothing good comes easily'. or "things that are worthwhile take work and perseverence". Losing weight and keeping it off is far from the easiest thing to do - but the rewards of your hard work (most of the work is from breaking years of bad habits IMO) are much more than just being thinner. Even though it's been more than 10 years since I weighed 265, I will never forget what it felt like to gasp upon climbing a staircase...being unable to find nice clothes that fit...feeling like an outcast...not going out or having any friends...all because of my weight! My life has improved 100% because, as a result of my weight loss, my ATTITUDE and SELF-ESTEEM have also skyrocketed. I pray that everyone on this board finds the same rewards I have in their hard work of losing weight for GOOD!

MrsJim
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