Rewarding ourselves with Food

I buy shoes or new make-up! Food is definitely something that I don't want to use as a reward. That's just my opinion.

I disagree. I used to reward myself for achievements with food. And that is one of the ways I gained some of my extra weight. What I am doing for myself is when I hit certain goals. I have one of a new outfit, one a pedicure, and some goals are for things I want. Like I have one for a smart phone, and one for a swimp3 that I want really bad. But I am not allowing myself them until I hit my goal. I have a goal for about every 20 pounds I loose. That is my opinion. I don't think you should reward yourself with a bad day or food. Especially I know for me personally it could possibly set back into old habits.

Food as a reward can work if it is done in a very measured way (though in many ways, it can contribute to the process in some people's heads where food is equated with happiness) so I will often use non-food rewards, like iTunes purchases, clothes, or athletic clothing.

Nope I never "reward" myself with food, I like to think i'm a human and not a dog. For rewards I like to pick things such as new workout clothes, heart rate monitor, sneakers, etc.

I buy some new clothing. Not rewarding with food at all because that was why I'm here in the 1st place....

I rewarded myself with a night out to a Mexican restaurant eating all the things I had cut out during my losing phase because they didn't fit in my goals when I reached my goal weight. I went right back to eating sensibly. I still occasional go out for celebration dinners, and I just fit them into my goals.

If you let yourself have a small treat as a reward for working out or eating sensibly the rest of the day, and fit it into your calorie goals and are sensible about it, I don't see a problem with food rewards.

edit: I reached me goal in Nov of 2011, and have successfully maintained since then.

I hate to use the term "reward" because really I think only dogs get rewarded with food. lol. I'd look at it as a hard earned indulgence, and I definitely do take advantage of that! I just make sure to get in my water intake for the day and some gym time to balance it all out

I don't understand where this comes from? Do you have a special euphemism for peeing and taking a dump because dogs do that?

My opinion is that food related rewards aren't good because then they welcome old habits that we made new habits for. I personally would rather have non-related food rewards like new clothes, manicure, books, or whatever. I've rewarded myself with books and new clothes, but I want to do something big when I reach my next goal of loosing 10% of my starting weight.

I 'reward' myself with a bowl of ice cream every night and a few beers on the weekends.

Hell . . . . life's supposed to be enjoyable.

This! Life's too short to make it boring. I've only been using MFP for a week or so and what it's really done for me so far is make me accountable for my snacking.

Before I started tracking I'd spent all day snacking and then have a mean dinner because I felt guilty. Now, I've got better at eating well. Last night I had some calories left over, so I made popcorn. Simple.

I'm beginning to understand how much of a vice food is for me. Rewarding myself for hitting the 15 pound mark has led to a week long descent into food madness that I'm slowly getting control of again. Until I fully learn to see it as fuel I wont reward myself for it anymore.

Edited to say: with it. I wont reward myself with it anymore.

Food madness is my problem, too. I am trying to treat my weight loss experience the same way I treated cigarettes when I quit smoking. I'm an addict, which includes my thoughts and feelings as well as physical cravings. It's better for me to look at food as fuel and choose other rewards... like an extra-long walk at dawn with a friend, new clothes, a new book, or other nice reward.