Don't treat yourself like a dog....

I never really thought about it this way until I read this blog by Shay Sorrels from Biggest Loser...

January 5, 2012
Don’t “TREAT” yourself like a dog…

Warning: this may get ugly. This is a very touchy subject for many people. But of course that means we should entertain a discussion on it right? Okay…Just consider yourself warned..,

When people ask me about cheat days or cheat meals or rewarding yourself with a “treat”. I cringe at the thought. Don’t shoot me.. just yet. Let me explain why…

First, I am a Social Worker- not the kind that comes into homes and removes kids. I actually have a degree in Social Work (MSW) and I teach graduate school psych classes and actually practice therapeutic methods (yes I could be a therapist, but thats another blog). SO I could bore you with a lecture all about behavioral approaches and conditioning… some skinner and watson and chomsky.. and don’t forget Pavlov and his dogs. But I won’t do that!

All you need to know is the basic principal of behavior is that humans learn through consequences (punishment and rewards). A consequence increases the chance that a behavior will or will not happen again.

SO… when it comes to creating a healthy lifestyle and changing what you eat and how you think about food using the principles or behavior using “treats” or junk food as rewards (consequence) can really be hurting you.

On the biggest loser ranch we had set calories to intake and a calorie burn goal every day… except one. We always had a “high calorie” & Rest day. Now what “high calorie” meant on the ranch was that you can eat up to double your daily calories for one day- but with ONLY healthy, clean food and leisure activity was encouraged. So on those days we had steak or we had a cereal that was higher in calories, we had frozen yogurt or we used butter in cooking. It did not mean all out war path eating and it did not mean hitting your closest drive thru. Having the high calorie days is supposed to keep your body guessing (homeostasis hates this) and keep you from going into “storage mode”. This is very different from having a cheat day or having a “treat”. It was not a reward. It was a part of the process.

Here is my educational mumbo jumbo on why “treats” are different. Treats are generally a “reinforcement” for a job well done in order to make the behavior happen again. Reinforcers are POSITIVE consequences for behaviors. The human mind thrives off of positive reinforcers… think toddler going potty. Would you reward your toddler who went potty with alcohol? HECK no. So why do we reward our efforts of kicking butt all week with crappy food.

This is especially true if you think you are genuinely dealing with a eating disorder/food addiction. Research shows that sugar, fat, salt in processed foods reacts in the brain similar to heroin. Would a junkie who’s been clean all week earn a hit or two? I think not.

Try to make your rewards things that you will benefit from like a spa day, a massage, workout gear, saving for a trip etc.

We all have a lot of un-learning to do in this journey to health and happiness.. Don’t reward your awesome rockstar hard work to get healthy with a “treat” that is not good for your body mind or soul.