Tomato, I really didn't feel as if you WERE picking me out. So there's absolutely no need to say that it's not personal. I'm truly aware.

I'll say it again, *For me*, a food reward for losing weight really is a totally and completely different thing then a "splurge".

I don't think it's the same at the end of the day. Not even close. Nuh - uh, not even a little bit. Lisa described it quite well and I don't think it's necessary to rehash it again.

I'll just leave it at - I am one who agrees with Jays analogy of comparing it to a drug addict shooting up as his reward for staying clean"

These are my feelings, they work for me. I need to have my terminology be my terminology, because quite frankly, I am the one that matters here, because I'm the one who has to live and deal with me ;).

I am more then happy to agree to disagree with you. :smug:

I dunno...I have had moments where I go "you know I've been doing really well with things I think I'll have a splurge treat" but for me that means something like hummus or a piece of raw cheesecake (which I really lurve, but I think my last slice was 3 and a half months ago lol.) Though to be honest, when I say doing well with things it isn't about weight loss. Maybe it is like I've been working hard at a project, or blah blah. But I don't think it is a food reward though...I don't remember ever giving myself a junkie reward for loosing weight. Mostly I'm just splurging on something like a night out on the town, or going out to do this or that, or having a night full of horror movies and a few raw movie snacks haha (hummus usually with veggies). Same kind of mentality for me...meaning it isn't always about food.

I have rewarded myself with clothing, which I have to buy in order to you know clothe myself. It is exciting to get a new top or something and now THAT is a reward for me and the reason is really because I don't have a lot of funds to go out and buy things. So, when I feel great and see the weight coming off and my clothes becoming more and more like tents, well going out and getting a few new duds makes me feel like I've been rewarded. I really enjoy it.

I definitely reward myself with food when I've met a goal, or have something to celebrate. But I reward myself with on plan food! It's not chocolate cake, but it can be just as good. The thing that I'm really sad about on this thread is the idea that to be special/a reward, the food has to be high calorie or off-plan...it doesn't!

Let's say I've lost weight or met some other goal and want to celebrate that with food. I might plan myself some fabulous meal at home, maybe including an ingredient that's normally outside of my food budget (like a nice piece of sustainably caught fish, for example, or a gorgeous 4 oz grass-finished filet mignon), and that takes extra care, time, and ingredients to prepare. I'd indulge in a little saffron and make a Spanish brown rice to go with the fish, maybe, or get some fingerling potatoes to roast with the filet. Maybe I'd even buy an artichoke (they're so pricey here!) for my veggie. If I had the calories in my budget, I'd have a glass of really good wine. Then I'd take the time to make myself an on plan, homemade dessert that feels like a celebration... a few layers of phyllo dough, twisted and seasoned with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and baked into cookies, and served with a bowl of SF ice cream, or my pear upside down baked pancake (basically, whole grain pancake mix sweetened up a tiny bit with some splenda, baked on top of a layer of fresh pears with a touch of brown sugar to caramelize them, then turned out for a pretty presentation).

Or maybe I treat myself to a big grocery shopping run at a gourmet food store, buying things I wouldn't normally buy or, again, that might make my meals more exciting (I buy a lot of spices as rewards).

I honestly have no problems rewarding myself with fabulous food. I try not to reward myself with off-plan food, but food can be amazingly tasty (but outside the budget/time availability to be eaten every day) and still healthy and on-plan, and using THOSE special meals as a reward is a GOOD thing to me...it both allows me to reward myself with something I love (I'm a foodie) and teaches me that healthy food can be a wonderful treat, both things that help me in maintaining.

Me too, I couldn't have said it better! ;)

I definitely see your point and I actually like the idea. I DO like the idea that you are using HEALTHY on plan food, as opposed to UNhealthy-ish on plan food. Because for me, well UNhealthy food is part of my plan occasionally and I since it IS only occasionally I don't see that PRACTICE as being unhealthy. But to use those particular foods (the unhealthy-ish) ones as reward..... oh yes, we've covered that already. ;)

:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy: Wait a sec. I don't "reward" myself anymore for staying on plan, now that I'm in maintenance (although I know some do). It's just what I do and so automatic to me. All this "reward" stuff worked for me at the start of my journey. Now, it's lost its usefulness. :dunno:

Right now cake. Cake more than a free day at a spa. CHOCOLATE!! But I wouldn't do it for losing weight. For instance I keep some small 140 calorie ice cream bars in the fridge. If I don't snack during the day, have a healthy dinner and have 150 calories left over I can have one. Otherwise I might have a few chips or a granola bar at work and use up the calories earlier and then I don't. It's part of training myself to save for the calories I want to spend on.

Clothes for me. My goal is way too far for me to not shop before I reach it! As far as cake or spa. Well I'd just feel guilty about the cake and I don't like people touching me, so neither.

ooo, unless it's one of those little weight watchers chocolate cakes... i eat one every day. Ha!

Actually recently I have decided to 'reward' myself for having an onplan day. I really don't consider it a reward though but it something to look forward to at the end of the day and I really do enjoy it.

If I follow my plan perfectly for the day, after dinner, I have some dark chocolate (90 calories worth). I savor the melting and tasting of it. It also helps me that it occurs at the end of the day so that I know I have it to look forward to if I get cravings/urges earlier in the day.

That fat girl down deep inside me would love to say cake but I think I would much prefer a spa day :D

thanks, Robin.

um, I want you to come cook at my house! :D wow, that sounds good.

salsa chip, I admit I haven't been to a spa either :p we have little store front spas in my neighborhood. the idea always sounds so good. I feel a little shy about it. maybe I'll start with a chi chi haircut and move on from there.