This is why we shouldn't even have it in the house...

food IS fun i agree, i love cooking up a delicious meal and enjoying it. obviously i didnt come up with the phrase so i cant tell you how it came about, but i do agree with it. i'm not telling the OP she HAS TO agree with it, but it was something that helped me personally overcome my binges. and trust me i love my cheat meals here and there they help keep me sane. but i dont bust my *kitten* in a workout and then "reward" myself with a cupcake or three afterwards because i think i earned it. i try to load up with a nutritious meal afterwards so i can feel good about what i just did instead of guilty later on for indulging probably more than i needed to.

I asked if you could explain the phrase. You haven't.

because you train a dog with food. there. happy?

something that helped me realize i needed to look at food as fuel not a rewards was this saying. "Don't reward yourself with food, you are not a dog!"

Can someone explain to me why rewarding yourself with food has ANYTHING to do with being a dog? I hate this phrase. Food is fun to eat. If it was just fuel we would all eat bland gruel loaded with vitamin pills. We should learn to enjoy food and fit that into a healthy lifestyle.

You have obviously never had a dog. You train them with food treats. You sit, get a treat.. stay.. get a treat.. *kitten* in the yard, get a treat... so on and so on and so on.. it's called learned behavior and yes it works with humans too.

Jesus, I know dogs are trained with food. I also know that all animals including humans enjoy tasty food. If you all want to pretend like you don't, please feel free.

Ruth, I don't think you were listening or you are choosing to be confrontational. The concept of a dog getting a treat is not far off from what people do to justify unhealthy food as a reward for doing something they have to make a conscience effort to perform ( be it exercise or a good behavior).

Saying food is strictly fuel is like saying sex is strictly for procreation. I don't get those people. My goal here is to learn to eat ice cream in moderation, not ban it altogether. What a sad life that would be...

yup.

I had a fantastic workout today. after, I knew I had the room for a treat. so I got a 24-ounce mtn dew. and it was awesome. oh, I added a strawberry shortcake frosty parfait from wendy's.

something that helped me realize i needed to look at food as fuel not a rewards was this saying. "Don't reward yourself with food, you are not a dog!"

Can someone explain to me why rewarding yourself with food has ANYTHING to do with being a dog? I hate this phrase. Food is fun to eat. If it was just fuel we would all eat bland gruel loaded with vitamin pills. We should learn to enjoy food and fit that into a healthy lifestyle.

THis mentality is why the majority is on MFP in the first place.. Food is just a fuel source, True fun is taking your shirt off and not feeling ashamed.... Thats ok though you can eat your ice cream, I will eat my fuel.

I eat my ice cream and still maintain a healthy weight, but you have fun eating tasteless crap and thinking that food isn't for enjoyment.

I have to disagree, none of the food that I consume is tasteless crap as you refer to it... I baked healthy breads (banana nut bread, pumpkin nut bread, zucchini nut bread) for my Breakfast meals. I eat Beef, Chicken, and Pork, etc.... Prepare Crock pot stews and soups, and casseroles... Eat salads and veggies,..... Cook on the Grill all the time... The point is I eat good healthy food but I choose to look at this food as fuel for my body. I have a daily caloric intake and Macro's that I must hit to sustain my body for daily functions as well as my exercise to build muscle and cut fat (not at the same time). I just choose not to look at food as any kind of a reward in my life, it has become more of a function I do to sustain life... Probably why I am 311 lbs. lighter today... I mean know disrespect that is just my view on food now... Best of Luck

something that helped me realize i needed to look at food as fuel not a rewards was this saying. "Don't reward yourself with food, you are not a dog!"

Can someone explain to me why rewarding yourself with food has ANYTHING to do with being a dog? I hate this phrase. Food is fun to eat. If it was just fuel we would all eat bland gruel loaded with vitamin pills. We should learn to enjoy food and fit that into a healthy lifestyle.

THis mentality is why the majority is on MFP in the first place.. Food is just a fuel source, True fun is taking your shirt off and not feeling ashamed.... Thats ok though you can eat your ice cream, I will eat my fuel.

I eat my ice cream and still maintain a healthy weight, but you have fun eating tasteless crap and thinking that food isn't for enjoyment.

I am as confused as you are. I do not usually reward myself with food though. I usually get myself something... like 2 new pairs of capris (on clearance) cause all my clothes fell off. Food is because I WANT IT! If I want a candy bar and I have eaten fairly good that day, by the gods, I have it. I try to compromise and make my indulgences healthier, but I am with you. I don't understand the "dont reward yourself with food bit." If I worked really hard and I have the calories for something really insane, I have it. That is all. LOL

something that helped me realize i needed to look at food as fuel not a rewards was this saying. "Don't reward yourself with food, you are not a dog!"

Can someone explain to me why rewarding yourself with food has ANYTHING to do with being a dog? I hate this phrase. Food is fun to eat. If it was just fuel we would all eat bland gruel loaded with vitamin pills. We should learn to enjoy food and fit that into a healthy lifestyle.

THis mentality is why the majority is on MFP in the first place.. Food is just a fuel source, True fun is taking your shirt off and not feeling ashamed.... Thats ok though you can eat your ice cream, I will eat my fuel.

You know, it is possible to fuel your body deliciously. The nectarine I ate today was amazing!

I have learned that I cannot have cheddar cheese in my house. So I don't buy it, which is how I avoid eating it. Really simple.

p.s. Regarding some nasty-grams posted above (and you know who you are), BEING A NICE PERSON IS SEXY!!! Try it.

something that helped me realize i needed to look at food as fuel not a rewards was this saying. "Don't reward yourself with food, you are not a dog!"

Can someone explain to me why rewarding yourself with food has ANYTHING to do with being a dog? I hate this phrase. Food is fun to eat. If it was just fuel we would all eat bland gruel loaded with vitamin pills. We should learn to enjoy food and fit that into a healthy lifestyle.

I completely agree. Food is fun and awesome and should be enjoyed for it's own sake as far as I'm concerned. The strict food = fuel thing does not work for me. It's cold and joyless. Food IS fuel but it's also a source of pleasure, and this is OK! Personally, I take pleasure in the tastes and textures and interesting combinations of "healthy" foods as much or more, if they're prepared well, as anything else. I will take a fresh peach over a twinkie any day. For me part of the pleasure of food comes from knowing it is nourishing me. When I eat well I feel a deeper pleasure than the kind of momentary buzz a donut offers. The trick for me is to figure out how to prepare foods that both excite and nourish me. This might involve retraining your taste buds, but healthier choices can be just as pleasureful and satisfying as junk foods.

The dog thing, well, I think the point is that we give dogs food as a reward for good behaviour. If we think of food that way for ourselves we're setting ourselves up for self-sabotage because if a run earns you a cupcake, well, that can easily become a problem. If your relationship with food is oriented around transgression and guilt, eating junk as a reward than punishing yourself for it with a run, well it's hard to take care of yourself when that's how you frame things. You're always just bouncing back and forth between reward and punishment instead of sidestepping the whole mess and reframing how you relate to food in the first place. Treating your body with love and care and nourishing yourself with nutritious food you enjoy can a pleasure in itself, not a punishment.

Just my opinion... and by no means does anyone have to adapt or take it on....


I was surprised reading the words " tasteless crap" when referring to healthy choice foods. That really saddened me to see that. On MFP, there are people from all walks of life, we've all grown up differently, and many of our diets growing up and to the present have been detrimental to our health in some way or else we would not be here. (This does not apply to those who are fit and tracking).

For myself, food is my fuel, and that is the truth. I eat Clean (cert.organic), Whole (one ingredient items, everything made from scratch so I know what is in it) Foods and my entire eating habits, cravings and life has been changed by doing this.

I read above the comments about cup cakes, mountain dew, and dairy queen and all I can see is those are things that were hindering ME from true freedom. I had to cut out the processed, pre-packaged foods as much as possible.. and when I did, my cravings left me completely. I sat in front of fudge-O's today, my absolute fave cookie.... Not only did I not care (and no, I wasn't convincing myself, I genuinely didn't care) but I also couldn't wait to enjoy my own Clean Whole treats when I got home... Nothing was worth that cookie, my health & my family are not worth that stupid cookie. I am worth this good food, I eat like a queen, and I've never enjoyed such delicious wholesome food in my life.

My name is Rachael and I am an addict. Sugar had a hold on me, and I had to kick it's Ace out the door.


Remember, we all have our own opinions to everything and I respect yours just as I'd hope you respect what I did for ME.