We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

List of Things to Indulge In - THAT ISNT FOOD

1234689

Replies

  • Posts: 34 Member
    Manicure, I have found with long nails it makes it more troublesome to eat certain foods, pedicure, massage, one night at a super fancy hotel with a jacuzzi tub, shaving my legs, taking some extra care on some personal hygiene (self facial, shaving, hair treatments, etc), crafts, cleaning, work, playing games, retail therapy, and definitely sex with my husband.
  • Posts: 625 Member
    Hi there,

    I want to reward myself without overeating/consuming my favorite junk foods. Anything that gets in the way of my goal is a hindrance - so what else can I indulge in?

    Here is a personal list of things that make me just as happy as a french fries and a milkshake :)

    Please add on your "look-forward-to's" as well!

    - Watching that new episode of your favorite series
    -Taking a long, hot bath
    -Getting your nails done
    -Meeting up with friends for some good laughs
    -Buying a new pair of shoes
    -ect

    Now, tell me yours!

    I'm not knocking your list, but here's why they wouldn't work for me:

    - Watching that new episode of your favorite series
    Can do that anytime, not enough of a reward.

    -Taking a long, hot bath
    Only take showers because of our plumbing.

    -Getting your nails done
    I don't get manicures, and if I have cravings at 3 a.m., there are no salons open.

    -Meeting up with friends for some good laughs
    Most of my friends are busy and our interactions in person are few and far between. I can't schedule a meeting at 10 p.m. if I feel like over-indulging.

    -Buying a new pair of shoes
    My finances right now don't permit me to engage in purchases don't need. I also don't want to substitute excessive buying for excessive eating.

  • Posts: 974 Member
    Okay, so those are things that don't work. What are some things that will work for you?
  • Posts: 11 Member
    New to group. My worse time is after supper esp. When my husband is out of town as he travels couple weeks a month. Have read a few good tips...will right any I come up with. Thanks
  • Posts: 625 Member
    edited March 2015
    Etherlily1 wrote: »
    Okay, so those are things that don't work. What are some things that will work for you?

    The only thing that works is for me is to keep my hands busy in a manner that doesn't permit heavy snacking. I take very intensive sewing and tailoring classes that require a lot of homework. Often I have to be in a workroom until early in the morning. When I'm being compliant with my desire to maintain or lose weight, I restrict my eating to a Diet Coke and a quick meal outside. When I'm not, I hit the vending machine or at home, eat junk food that someone else has bought.

    It also helps for me to have received a boost from having lost a little weight. Once I see some progress, I'm more likely to stay committed.

    But time of day, still remains a problem. If I find myself bored, or lonely or anxious and food is around I'm much more likely to overindulge than I did in the past.
  • Posts: 13 Member
    I knit. What do you do for a hobby? I'm thinking a fancy yarn, a book, new earrings, a new workout outfit. A cute shirt, get your nails done. So many ways to reward yourself!
  • Posts: 7 Member

    I like to "window shop" online and look at all of the clothes that I would like to fit into! Way to go ^^^ !!! Hopefully, I'll be there soon enough to do it in person! :D

    You know I've actually never done this but what a great idea. I will window shop a store that does not carry plus size! Thanks!
  • Posts: 80 Member
    I use language CD's to stop me from eating. If I am participating in a language lesson, I have to listen and respond. No room for eating. After 30 minutes of a lesson, sometimes the urge to eats goes away. If not, I have at least put it off for 30 minutes.
  • Posts: 7 Member
    Love some of these ideas! I like taking time out to online window shop - Pinterest is brilliant for that. And sometimes a small Bacardi and coke is enough of a reward (I drink very very rarely so when I do I get chilled on a minute amount of alcohol!) I've recently discovered that it's actually rewarding to write a brief note to yourself about how bloody brilliantly you've coped with everything lately (I overeat when I've got a lot of stuff to juggle or am stressed)
  • Posts: 25 Member
    • Book
    • Good movie
    • Getting my hair done
    • Spending time with friends
    • Shopping
    • Online shopping
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
  • Posts: 1,073 Member
    I love listening to music, which is what I do now if I am feeling stressed or depressed. The funny thing is I notice now that when I am depressed I want to eat, but I know from my history that after eating food, I dont feel any better. So I remind myself that eating something that I should not be eating is not going to make me feel any better. In fact, it will only make me feel worse. Whenever I want to eat something that I do not need I always think about how I felt the last time I ate something that i just had to have and usually it dissuades me from eating the wrong thing,
  • Posts: 4 Member
    edited May 2015
    I love to sing and dance with my baby (she's 5 months old). So if I have a good day, I feel good about myself, we load up her playlist on my kindle and we (I) sing and dance to her till I'm so exhausted I can't hardly stand. Then we just sit and chill and I read to her. When she gets older I'm probably going to have to find something else!
  • Posts: 32 Member
    Currently, my non-food indulgences include:

    - black coffee (nearly calorie-free so I don't count it)
    - Netflix
    - HBO
    - my cat
    - Pinterest!
    - writing
    - buying something on one of my online wishlists

    I told myself that I'd start buying one music album I like at the end of every good week. Unfortunately, with finals just around the corner, that hasn't worked yet. :c
  • Non-food indulgences:

    -Spend time in my garden
    -Listen to my favourite playlist while I draw
    -Watch an episode of my favourite trashy t.v. series
    -Look through my old design magazines with drawing pad on hand to sketch any cool ideas (old-school here)
    -Love to organize and re-decorate my house, using some of the decor ideas that I've collected. You never know what old 'jewels' you'll find.
    -Sleep. I love it but don't get enough of it. Going to bed earlier feels good and keeps the cravings away
    -Chill on the balcony with my family when it's a nice day on the weekends and talk about "stuff"
    -Rummage around through second-hand stores
    -Watch comedy
    -Watch funny videos

  • Posts: 49 Member
    Dropping the kids off at the ymca nursery and swimming laps. I really do like working out, if I could get my eating under control I would be doing pretty well!
  • Posts: 138 Member
    Here are mine -
    *garden
    *clean
    *walk with or without my dog
    *mindfulness
    *yoga
    *re decorate
    *travel
    *photography
    *visit family
    *babysit
    *puzzle books (in particular sudukos)
  • Posts: 21 Member
    sweetalker wrote: »

    That last one sounds wonderful and I'd love to try it sometime. Do you think your husband would mind?

    LOL! I am single... clearly I need an ongoing lover to reward myself with!

  • Posts: 17 Member
    I am really just trying to find some new vices. Before I had kids I smoked for a long time. And I worked all the time. Once I got pregnant food replaced the smokes and I no longer worked outside the home so I was more free to eat any time of the day or night. My other vices like TV, the internet, going out with friends all are connected with eating, too. I have really had to trace my steps very far back to find what it is I even love to do anymore.

    So far I have started taking baths again, doing crafts (mostly for the kids scouts and school but I really like it), meditating again, hiking again, reading more, taking more walks.

    I remember how much I loved dolls when I was a kid. So I think I might try making a reborn doll or dollfie and see how that goes. I used to write a lot when I was a teen and young adult so I want to get back to that as well.

    it is truly amazing how much more of yourself you find when you stop covering it up with food.

    I totally get this! I sometimes wonder WHAT I did before I had kids... seems like I should have had lots more time but I don't remember it that way.

    I love to read (if only that burned calories!), and I work and have two young children (5 and 8)... so I feel like I have no other "hobbies" (Can I count Netflix? lol). I am trying to find non-food rewards too. Love all the ideas.
  • Posts: 78 Member
    Deff agree, sex is better than just about anything (: and its hard to think about much else while you're in the middle of it, better yet, why would you even want to try?? lol. When i get bored or upset and just want to eat for comfort and something to do, lately I make myself drink 24 ounces of water and I don't usually want whatever I'm craving so desperately (:
  • Posts: 220 Member
    i try one of 3 things: walk with my dog, talk with my husband, or talk with someone on one of the websites i am a member of.
  • Posts: 80 Member
    I am really just trying to find some new vices. Before I had kids I smoked for a long time. And I worked all the time. Once I got pregnant food replaced the smokes and I no longer worked outside the home so I was more free to eat any time of the day or night. My other vices like TV, the internet, going out with friends all are connected with eating, too. I have really had to trace my steps very far back to find what it is I even love to do anymore.

    So far I have started taking baths again, doing crafts (mostly for the kids scouts and school but I really like it), meditating again, hiking again, reading more, taking more walks.

    I remember how much I loved dolls when I was a kid. So I think I might try making a reborn doll or dollfie and see how that goes. I used to write a lot when I was a teen and young adult so I want to get back to that as well.

    it is truly amazing how much more of yourself you find when you stop covering it up with food.

    LOVE this. Very excellent point and great reminder!!

  • Posts: 1 Member
    Get into arts and crafts. Makes something out of clay or needle felt, there's plenty of tutorials on YouTube ;) it keeps your hand busy and distracts your mind from eating. Plus you've got an end result (and if it turns out bad, practise) and they can make excellent gifts for others!
  • Posts: 4 Member
    I find any sort of self pampering (manicure, facial, bubble bath etc) works for me, there are a lot of suggestions here that I'm going to try as well now :)
  • Posts: 20 Member
    Taking this super cool pole dancing class near me.
  • Posts: 20 Member
    Getting a complete body massage
    Wearing my stilettos again
    Going dancing with my girls (comfortably)
    New tattoo
  • Posts: 1,088 Member
    I like to sit down and spend about 45 minutes a day painting a watercolor picture. I just started a job and have felt too stressed/ tired to do this for about 3 weeks and I notice that I'm stress eating and not as happy. Might get up earlier to fit this in before daily life drains me.
  • Posts: 21 Member
    Love all these ideas! Bottom line, just distract yourself.
  • Posts: 10 Member
    Going for a short walk
    Talking to a friend on the phone
    Journaling
    Coloring in my "adult" coloring book :smile:
  • Posts: 20 Member
    Journaling
    Coloring in adult coloring books
    Zentangle
    Painting
    Knitting
    Reading
    Massages
  • Posts: 30 Member
    A book
    A nap
    Pinterest
    Netflix
    Zumba
    A walk

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.