How do you celebrate without food?
breefoshee
Posts: 398 Member
Today, I got a raise and my boyfriend said I should get some ice cream or something to celebrate. However, I am trying to break the habit of always celebrating with food because I am an optimist and can always find something to be excited about. That lead us to a brainstorming session on how we can find other ways to celebrate exciting moments in our lives.
Here were some ideas we had:
What are some others?
Here were some ideas we had:
- Have a pampering night with a fun face mask
- Buy a new body wash
- Get a new purse
- Have a dance party
- Rent a movie
What are some others?
4
Replies
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Raises mean new/increased investment opps for me 🤷🏿♀️
* Go house (window) shopping on a nice drive together
But if you're compelled to spend cash now...
* Buy two copies of WSJ or FT and two Hugh Hefner type bathrobes (aka silk n satin everywhere) then discuss the markets while reading the papers in a dimly lit room. End the night buying at LEAST one share of something. Or at least a new ETF if you're not into the stock market.8 -
Maybe do an activity together? More difficult during COVID but things like:
- going for a hike
- Exploring a neighbourhood by foot or by bike (if rent-a-bikes are available in the area)
- If you live by water, renting a kayak or one of those pedal-boats depending on what’s available for an outing
- Taking an exciting fitness class together, I recently started aerial yoga. I’m sure there are other experience type classes you might enjoy.
- Indoor rock climbing
- Go to an indoor trampoline park
- Visit a museum or art gallery
- Day spa or overnight spa visit
Some of the rewards I’ve given myself this year include:
- Bluetooth headphones
- A Big Spend at Lush (soaps etc)
- New pyjamas
- Aerial yoga class
Other items on my list are:
- scented candle from Rituals (my favourite but pricy)
- New watch
- New slippers
Basically any item I want I save to use as a reward. I keep a running note in my phone and then write a date next to it when I reward myself so I can look back and remember it. I don’t have to tick off rewards in order though and I don’t have a set range of every 5 or 10 kg, it’s more of a “when the opportunity presents itself” situation.3 -
Congrats on the raise! Personally, I'd opt for a nice dinner out in lieu of ice cream but whatever you choose, consider the long-term sustainability of that choice within the scope of long-term maintenance rather than focus on the temporary process. Celebrating with food is such a culturally systemic facet I suggest trying to learn how to navigate that sooner than later.
Finding the threshold for celebration is probably necessary given your comment but in the grand scheme of pursuing weight loss and/or health, an occasional meal or treat doesn't make or break your goals; it's what you choose to do the other 95%+ of the time. I'm a big fan of the 80/20 rule - if you're make the choice that contributes to your goals 80% of the time and allow for a 20% "failure" rate for sanity the thinking is that you're more likely to do that consistently for a longer term than attempting to be overly restrictive 100% of the time.7 -
Raises are best celebrated by a fun session with the budget to see how the extra money can be best utilized to improve one's financial situation.
I am likely from a different generational mindset. lol.15 -
my husband got a raise recently and we celebrated in a way we never have before - by adding a little more each month to our savings. that made us happy, but it's not very celebratory.
how about these?
go for a walk somewhere wonderful
buy some audio books you'll enjoy, and start listening
buy some kindle books from one of your favorite authors
rent 3 of your favorite movies and make a night of it
listen to your favorite music while lying in a bubble bath, then have your BF give you a massage
it probably wouldn't work for most people, but depending on the raise, i might buy a new bass or bass gear or fitness equipment to celebrate
4 -
Congratulations personally I would head out for a nice walk with the kids. Then head to a Play centre2
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Covid has really restricted what we can do, but under normal circumstances, I'd opt for an experience over accumulating more stuff:
-Go to a park for a picnic
-Take a class (online or in person) for a skill you've been interested in
-Get your nails done
-Buy concert or play tickets
-Go to adult night at a museum
-A spa day
-A nice hair cut/dye job
Other options:
-New kitchen utensils - good knives are the best
-Enlist your boyfriend's help in painting a bland room
-Get some craft materials for knitting, notebook-making, etc.
-Buy a board game or fancy puzzle to kill time in quarantine
-If you're into vinyl, get a new album
-New nail polish or other beauty products3 -
Some couple celebrations my husband and I like:
* Take a walk
* Buy a piece of art/home decorative item together
* Get matching tattoos (this is a high commitment tier, advance with caution!)
* Wander around IKEA doing imaginary home decoration
* Plan a mini-film festival for movies we've been meaning to see and/or old favorites
* Couples massage
* Tickets to a sporting event (not now, but you know, in normal times)
I have to say, I love the suggestion from @MaltedTea for the satin-robed stock research session.
Congratulations on your raise!1 -
i've really been thinking about this thread. i think the best ways to celebrate something are personal - i bet no one else on this thread would love to get a short scale stingray bass, but i'd be thrilled. and then i could celebrate that raise or event over and over by playing that bass.
so celebrate with something you love that makes you excited and happy. whether that's a walk, spiffy face scrub, a museum trip, a new desk, audio books, a spa day, buying a purse, an exercise bike or getting your nails done, it's all about making you feel celebrated!
btw, congrats on your raise 3 -
I generally celebrate things by getting myself something I have wanted or to get more of what I enjoy or something to go along with it.
So, for example, I may buy more horseback riding lessons or pay for a horse show. Maybe an extra trackday on the bike I wasn't planning on at a favorite track. Super special would be a trip someplace (covid aside of course).2 -
I struggle with this question too. So much of my life revolves around what food I was looking forward to.
I think my replacement is the desire to strengthen love between me and my partner, my family, and my friends. When I started getting too bogged down in excitement or anxiety around food (during holidays, celebrations, parties, etc), I have to consciously remind myself:
“Food is not the meaning behind this holiday/celebration/party/gathering. You will be spending wonderful time with your friends. You care about them. You want to catch up with them. You want to hear about their lives, their struggles, and their happiness. You want to connect with them. You want to show your affection and love towards them. You want your presence to be a good thing in their lives.”
Repeating these things (positive self talk, and interrupting food-based overthinking) really really helps me take some perspective on all the worries around food and holidays. Food is fun, but its not the meaning behind celebration.
And getting that perspective really helps me take a step back, quickly plan what I’m going to eat and enjoy at the celebration, and then move on to looking forward to connecting with my loved ones (thinking of other fun things for us to talk about, catch up on, play, and do).
Give it a good practice and see if it works for you!6 -
You can still celebrate with food just change which food. How about some jumbo shrimp, scallops, a lobster, an expensive cut of beef, etc. All these can be eaten within calories and celebrated as a splurge.7
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Love these suggestions! They are super helpful because I'm such a happy eater... when I feel excited I eat. Maybe because in the moment, I am feeling so optimistic that I'm not thinking about fitness goals.
I'll definitely be putting more in savings each month but maybe I'll splurge and buy something this weekend along with a fun activity.1 -
HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »You can still celebrate with food just change which food. How about some jumbo shrimp, scallops, a lobster, an expensive cut of beef, etc. All these can be eaten within calories and celebrated as a splurge.
Bought the BIGGEST steak last night before I knew I got the raise lol! I still have half left, so I'm definitely going to be eating that tonight. But it was already in my plan lol!5 -
gallicinvasion wrote: »
“Food is not the meaning behind this holiday/celebration/party/gathering. You will be spending wonderful time with your friends. You care about them. You want to catch up with them. You want to hear about their lives, their struggles, and their happiness. You want to connect with them. You want to show your affection and love towards them. You want your presence to be a good thing in their lives.”
So true. At events, I often have to remind myself that I am not there for the food. I am there because I value people-- I can eat anytime.4 -
Raises mean new/increased investment opps for me 🤷🏿♀️
* Go house (window) shopping on a nice drive together
But if you're compelled to spend cash now...
* Buy two copies of WSJ or FT and two Hugh Hefner type bathrobes (aka silk n satin everywhere) then discuss the markets while reading the papers in a dimly lit room. End the night buying at LEAST one share of something. Or at least a new ETF if you're not into the stock market.
Move over Hugh! Satin Robe, here I come!3 -
breefoshee wrote: »Raises mean new/increased investment opps for me 🤷🏿♀️
* Go house (window) shopping on a nice drive together
But if you're compelled to spend cash now...
* Buy two copies of WSJ or FT and two Hugh Hefner type bathrobes (aka silk n satin everywhere) then discuss the markets while reading the papers in a dimly lit room. End the night buying at LEAST one share of something. Or at least a new ETF if you're not into the stock market.
Move over Hugh! Satin Robe, here I come!
What ever you decide on (or if you chose 'em all), enjoy the moments. And, kudos on this raise!!0 -
Plants! Either houseplants or for my garden. Since lock-down I have become a crazy plant lady 5
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Hotel, Coke, hooker(s)
Joking 😂8 -
All your suggestions are very good
We have a lot more things that we can do, like
-Buy a new pair of lifters
-A mini road trip to a cool gym we've been wanting to try.
-A talk by a motivational speaker or author that inspires you.
-Play a favorite game together
2 -
For a big celebration (such as a raise - congratulations) it is champagne.1
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Buy myself something cool. Sometimes just a new t-shirt that is in my new (smaller) size is enough to reward myself!2
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I am always on the go, either working, cleaning the house, helping the kids, grocery shopping, etc. I never take time for myself. So, for me laying on the sofa and watching a movie with a bowl of healthyish popcorn is a huge luxury and a treat.2
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I don't "celebrate" w/food and only moderately w/booze.1
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Wife and I definitely used to binge on food as celebration. Now we binge on online shopping LOL Seriously, though. Those 10 pound increments of weight loss that we used to celebrate at a Chinese food buffet are now celebrated by buying slimmer clothes to fit the new us's, or anything else we feel like blowing some loot on.
I have a theory that the neural circuits that purr when binging on fattening foods are the same or similar ones that purr during a satisfying spending binge. Plus, you can have too many pizzas but it's hard to have too many sneakers.5 -
@lgfrie I still have your post about alcohol up in the marquee lights. The wine sabotage. Cross-addiction or coaddiction, trading in food for alcohol or shopping or gambling or gasp, even exercise addiction or love addiction.
I have a theory about those old neural pathways, deep grooves in the brain. I know we can make new ones but I don't know if we can ever get rid of those old ones. They just lay back in the weeds and wait for their time to pounce like a predator for its' prey. Sneaky snakes.
When I ate it all back the first go-around, I had to dig down deep to the roots of what was really eating me. I was eating all my emotions away. Doing what we've always done will get us what we've always gotten. Mostly nothin'. After all, there's a reason they don't have any biggest loser reunion shows. They ate it all back.
This time, I'm doing everything differently. I can't eat it back this time. We can't depend on others to constantly prop us UP. It's too exhausting and they have their own life to live. I like hearing about you and the wife. How you're doing everything. It's sounds really fun.2 -
Plants! Either houseplants or for my garden. Since lock-down I have become a crazy plant lady
Come join the garden thread!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10708195/garden-thread/0 -
zebasschick wrote: »i've really been thinking about this thread. i think the best ways to celebrate something are personal - i bet no one else on this thread would love to get a short scale stingray bass, but i'd be thrilled. and then i could celebrate that raise or event over and over by playing that bass.
I'm not keen on shortscale myself, but there is a Warwick Corvette 5 I've had my eye on for a long while
0 -
Finding the threshold for celebration is probably necessary given your comment but in the grand scheme of pursuing weight loss and/or health, an occasional meal or treat doesn't make or break your goals; it's what you choose to do the other 95%+ of the time. I'm a big fan of the 80/20 rule - if you're make the choice that contributes to your goals 80% of the time and allow for a 20% "failure" rate for sanity the thinking is that you're more likely to do that consistently for a longer term than attempting to be overly restrictive 100% of the time.
Agree with this. The collective "we" have gotten to the point almost anything is an occasion to celebrate (not talking about the OP's raise, congrats).
Can be an issue with some when the celebrations involve food or other excesses.0
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