What do you eat when you feel the NEED to treat yourself a l

Dark chocolate or frozen yogurt.

For us, sushi is a treat. We eat it every once in a while and limit how much we eat. It used to be In N Out once a month (protein style!) but not anymore since every time the burger has been pink inside. I don't buy chocolate or cookies - even though I love them, I feel like I have to finish the bag if they are in the house and that is really derailing.

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I haven't treated myself yet--am afraid I will lose control. I'm glad you started this thread. I'm interested in what others have to say.

I have tried (and failed) to lose weight numerous times, and it's my hypothesis that celebratory consumption was a main cause of my failure. It's my belief, now, that celebratory consumption should be avoided until you are 100% set in your new lifestyle. My rewards, this time around, are very different than before. I will be rewarding myself with energy, increased social activity, and, of course, lean mass increase and overall weight loss. I will reward myself with the energy I need to make it through the final 4 years of my education. I will reward myself with the energy to make it through my internships and residency. I will reward myself with a longer life. I refuse, this time, to reward myself with Taco Bell, McDonald's, Steak N Shake, Applebees, Pizza Hut, chips, cake, ice cream, etc. If I eat these things it will be as part of my day's intake, and I will not feel as though I am celebrating anything.

That's just me.

Edited to add: I quit smoking just over 3 months ago. I wonder where I would be if I celebrated 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months smoke-free with a cigarette. I thoroughly enjoyed smoking just as I thoroughly enjoy food despite my medical knowledge which told me that I was slowly, but certainly, committing suicide. I believe that had I celebrated quitting smoking by smoking that I would be smoking right now, and I very likely wouldn't have had the drive to get into this new and improved weight loss routine.

I eat a nu go bar if I feel weak. It's like a healthy candy bar.

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I haven't treated myself yet--am afraid I will lose control. I'm glad you started this thread. I'm interested in what others have to say.

Thats what I'm afraid of also! Chinese food was my big weakness... and I'm afraid if I let myself even have a little bit as a "treat" that I'm done for.

I've lost almost 100 pounds knowing this about myself. I don't "cheat" (mostly because who would i be cheating? MYSELF!). I do allow myself flexibility in the foods I eat, while staying within my calorie goals and sometimes my choices are not as healthy as they are other times. Sometimes I eat some exercise calories, but mostly I don't (on advice of my doctor and nutritionist). I know myself well enough to know that if I look at food in terms of "treats" or "cheats", it is a very slippery slope for me. This isn't the case for everybody, but for some of us, it is. The funny thing is that I've lost most of my cravings for unhealthy food!

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I'm actually buying my "treat" tonight after work [after my 1hr hike] - I'm treating myself to Kernels Popcorn. I havent put anything "off limits" because I dont think that's realistic for me - for now I'm trying to change my thinking - think portions and focus my main meals on high quality food - food that will fuel my body. Anything else is a treat.

For during the week i will eat a 90 cal choc chip cookie granola bar. If it is my cheat day on saturday it will be a hot fudge sunday with extra hot fudge from mcdonalds.

I have tried (and failed) to lose weight numerous times, and it's my hypothesis that celebratory consumption was a main cause of my failure. It's my belief, now, that celebratory consumption should be avoided until you are 100% set in your new lifestyle. My rewards, this time around, are very different than before. I will be rewarding myself with energy, increased social activity, and, of course, lean mass increase and overall weight loss. I will reward myself with the energy I need to make it through the final 4 years of my education. I will reward myself with the energy to make it through my internships and residency. I will reward myself with a longer life. I refuse, this time, to reward myself with Taco Bell, McDonald's, Steak N Shake, Applebees, Pizza Hut, chips, cake, ice cream, etc. If I eat these things it will be as part of my day's intake, and I will not feel as though I am celebrating anything.

Agree. I never celebrate a weight goal with a food treat. If the food is not part of my lifestyle change I do not eat it. It would be like a recovering alcoholic having a glass of wine (or several) to celebrate being "clean" for 6 months.
My treat would be new clothes (for my now slimmer body).

Lauren,
I agree and I disagree.. My Husband and I also quit smoking recently, partly why we are having to lower our calories and get out more. Although I am happy not to smoke anymore, I do find myself replacing that cigarette with food. I think that is a natural occurrence, I tried to chew gum, but it didn't really do anything for me, except make my jaw ache!

I treat myself all the time. I am not concerned with how fast I lose weight as much as I am concerned with how much I am learning about food choices when I track what I am eating. My husband just had surgery yesterday and I haven't been to the gym or exercised all week.. a difference of 1.2lbs... this week... I feel like knowing and choosing will work better for me ( I am such a rebel, if I know I can't have something I have to have it). I think we all just need to figure out what our triggers are and how we can counter balance them into a healthy lifestyle.

I try to keep snacks lying around like 100 calorie packs, crackers, hummus. If I am craving salty I usually will make steak fajitas or using ground turkey to make tacos. My guilty pleasure is eating taco bell once a month (I use to) because well we are women and we just have wacky cravings. I find that cooking your cravings is alot better than going out and eating it! You know what you are putting in your body and you know how much you are aloud to have with moderation. For instance I was craving something creamy so I made beef strognofe using sour cream, cream of corn (or cream of mushroom soup), fat free shredded cheese mix with hamburger seasoned with cumin, salt, pepper, and some oregeno over pasta(whole wheat; the healthy stuff) Ofcourse adding vegies, peppers, onions. All of that was only 480 calories! and yes it was creamy and delicious! I also love chocolate so I will treat myself so a cookie or like i said those 100 calorie packs does its justice!! When I do go out to dinner I will log in to what I am allowed to have at that resturant if it is a food chain like chillis or outback before I go out. That way I am not tempted to eat something thats unhealthy! =D.

I hope all this was helpful! =D

To me grilling out (yep even in the winter) makes anything taste 10x better so my favorite "splurge" is throwing something on the grill. Sometimes it's salmon or turkey burgers but sometimes it's a nice steak. Nothing really big and nothing very fatty but it's the only time I have beef.

Skinny Cow ice cream cups! After a few weeks of dieting, I will have a cheat meal every Friday. Usually Mexican!!