Many people wanting to enjoy the benefits of successful, long term weight loss find that eating food as a way of rewarding themselves is a real and present stumbling block. Their dilemma is that many of our social interactions including celebrations are associated in some way or other with eating and drinking. The food we eat in social settings is often rich in fat, sugar or carbohydrates and not the kind of food we would find on a healthy, calories loss eating plan.
You can probably think of a number of times when you took part in or even arranged some kind of celebration over recent months. In a world where so many of us work so hard, just surviving another week is cause for celebration but where does that leave those people who are overweight and genuinely want to shed unwanted fat? The secret to successfully losing weight without having to become a hermit and missing out on life's fun is important to discover fast.
Maybe you reward yourself for working out every day with a milkshake or a beer at the end of the week or you think that since you have been really good about watching what you eat all week you can have cake on Saturday. The trouble is, all these extra calories and small treats add up fast, and you can sabotage your calories loss diet by using food as a reward. If you really want to change these associations and behaviors, you need to acknowledge your natural disposition to reward your self with food and re-program yourself to celebrate in other ways.
Discover how food has become a reward for your achievements, especially whether or not this has become a behavior you developed as a child or more recently during your adulthood. Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly childhood is often the source of some of our eating behaviors and because these were learned in a different era when puddings with every meal and lashings of cream with cake were acceptable then, they are not always helpful now. When you have determined how you learned to eat food rewards as you do, you will be better able to change them.
Make a point of not rewarding yourself with food the next time you have cause to celebrate. Instead of celebrating an achievement at work, or a special event at home, instead of going for dinner, drinks or even coffee and cake, go shopping instead, pamper yourself with a spa treatment spa or even go to a movie or a play. Rewarding yourself with treats like these will help you feel pleased with yourself and you will have the added bonus of sticking with your calories loss diet and continuing to lose weight.
Choose rewards that last for longer than the time it takes to eat a meal as long-term rewards assist to extend your celebration and help you feel good about yourself over an extended time. Stay committed to your calories loss eating plan as well as your exercise routine and include in as part of these, special treats like buying a new lipstick or eye shadow, a new pair of shoes or piece of software or even going to the travel agent and get brochures to plan a special vacation. It doesn't take long to find a store that has products and staff who want to pamper you so head in the direction of a Wellness clinic for a facial and makeover or a manicure and a pedicure and know that you are going to enjoy these for much longer than a meal.
Find locations for celebrations where food is not a temptation and potentially a way to sabotage your healthy eating and weight loss progress. There are many places where families and friends can celebrate without eating; beach volleyball on the beach, touch football in the park or surfing, body boarding, or even an afternoon at the ice skating rink are fun alternatives to a day of eating. If you set the trend of fun without food, you will probably be amazed at how your friends will be attracted to this idea.
Avoid situations in which food is made the center of the celebration as much as you can and remember that your long term goal is long term weight loss. If you have no choice, on occasions like office parties or weddings, join in the celebrations by interacting with the people around you or enjoying the music, rather than concentrating on the meal itself. Look for food items that can be part of your calories loss diet and enjoy the 'win win' outcome of being part of the celebration without compromising your journey to a healthier body and life. - 15438
You can probably think of a number of times when you took part in or even arranged some kind of celebration over recent months. In a world where so many of us work so hard, just surviving another week is cause for celebration but where does that leave those people who are overweight and genuinely want to shed unwanted fat? The secret to successfully losing weight without having to become a hermit and missing out on life's fun is important to discover fast.
Maybe you reward yourself for working out every day with a milkshake or a beer at the end of the week or you think that since you have been really good about watching what you eat all week you can have cake on Saturday. The trouble is, all these extra calories and small treats add up fast, and you can sabotage your calories loss diet by using food as a reward. If you really want to change these associations and behaviors, you need to acknowledge your natural disposition to reward your self with food and re-program yourself to celebrate in other ways.
Discover how food has become a reward for your achievements, especially whether or not this has become a behavior you developed as a child or more recently during your adulthood. Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly childhood is often the source of some of our eating behaviors and because these were learned in a different era when puddings with every meal and lashings of cream with cake were acceptable then, they are not always helpful now. When you have determined how you learned to eat food rewards as you do, you will be better able to change them.
Make a point of not rewarding yourself with food the next time you have cause to celebrate. Instead of celebrating an achievement at work, or a special event at home, instead of going for dinner, drinks or even coffee and cake, go shopping instead, pamper yourself with a spa treatment spa or even go to a movie or a play. Rewarding yourself with treats like these will help you feel pleased with yourself and you will have the added bonus of sticking with your calories loss diet and continuing to lose weight.
Choose rewards that last for longer than the time it takes to eat a meal as long-term rewards assist to extend your celebration and help you feel good about yourself over an extended time. Stay committed to your calories loss eating plan as well as your exercise routine and include in as part of these, special treats like buying a new lipstick or eye shadow, a new pair of shoes or piece of software or even going to the travel agent and get brochures to plan a special vacation. It doesn't take long to find a store that has products and staff who want to pamper you so head in the direction of a Wellness clinic for a facial and makeover or a manicure and a pedicure and know that you are going to enjoy these for much longer than a meal.
Find locations for celebrations where food is not a temptation and potentially a way to sabotage your healthy eating and weight loss progress. There are many places where families and friends can celebrate without eating; beach volleyball on the beach, touch football in the park or surfing, body boarding, or even an afternoon at the ice skating rink are fun alternatives to a day of eating. If you set the trend of fun without food, you will probably be amazed at how your friends will be attracted to this idea.
Avoid situations in which food is made the center of the celebration as much as you can and remember that your long term goal is long term weight loss. If you have no choice, on occasions like office parties or weddings, join in the celebrations by interacting with the people around you or enjoying the music, rather than concentrating on the meal itself. Look for food items that can be part of your calories loss diet and enjoy the 'win win' outcome of being part of the celebration without compromising your journey to a healthier body and life. - 15438
About the Author:
Rowena French avoids celebrating by eating in her weight loss and exercise programs. Tired of dieting without results? Determined to reach your weight loss goals? My free gifts show you how calories loss is the simple answer. Read my guide, hear my audio book!
