Non-Food Rewards

[JinxieKat]

Let's face it, when we do well we all want a reward. At least I know I do! Now for me the first thought I have of as a reward is.. *Drum roll* FOOD! IE: 'I got that big account at work today, I deserve a treat. I'm going to go have some ice cream!' or I like this one even more 'I lost 2lbs this week when I weighed in at Weight Watchers, I can have pizza tonight!' Oh my, is that some major justification for doing something I know is bad for me or what?

The bad part is I found myself doing it again today. I've been struggling with staying raw and was writeing in my journal about it. When I did the math I've been 97.3% (gotta have that .3!) raw since I started 7 weeks ago. Hmm.. that's pretty darn good really! I can cheat a little bit tonight and have that pizza I've been wanting.

ERK! Hey now, that's not a healthy thought there! I want to get healthy, not spend my night wiht a crampy unhappy stomach and be constipated for the next week. Hello! Tummy to brain, tummy does not want cheese! Tummy doesn't like cooked stuff. Yo brain, what are you thinkin?!?!?! Hmm, a life time of conditioning with food rewards that is what I'm thinking!

So, time to break the cycle of food rewards. Sounds easy! Heh, I know better. I've tried this when I was doing Weight Watchers, obviously I haven't managed it.. YET! I'm thinking a trip to the bookstore is in line for me today. I need a new book! And I will not go to the book store that has the cafe in it so I will not be tempted to have a hot chai tea. Nope! Not today!

Sooo.. anyone else out there struggling with this concept? or better yet defeated it? If so please share!

Jinx

[squidly]

Oh boy do I hear you. This is day one of my 30 day challenge (again!!) but I am finishing it this time. I so always reward myself with food and even when I se tup other rewards food calls me I remember when I first started on my raw journey and was not eating junk I actually thought to myself "well what am I going to look forward to today then" WOW! How sad is that - binging on junk is the highlight of my day - very sad if you ask me so some good rewards:

* a new book - oh yes!!
* the movies with a great raw snack to munch on
* a bubble bath
* a manicure, pedicure, facial, massage etc
* a night out at the theater
* a new adventure or something you would not mormally do
* lay on the grass and gaze at the trees - no guilt that you are doing 'nothing'
* buy / pick some flowers or a new plant and put it somwhere prominent to remind you all the time how gorgeous you are

Am sure you can think of many more. Revell in your successes and learn from the mistakes. Food is not the enemy - our mind can be at times though.

[Jamie]

Very good post. This is what ALWAYS MESSES ME UP!!! I get to a certain point, have lost weight, feel great, made my 30 days or whatever,, and I think.. I should splurge and go out for a yummy cooked dinner!

Then the next day I'm off raw and struggle to get back on, while in the meantime, start feeling like crap, gaining the weight back that I have lost, and getting more and more depressed by the day! Until I start the cycle all over again.

So I am learning to reward or celebrate with something other than food, or at least a yummy raw desert!

Jamie:)

[swingbolder]

I don't think the problem is using food as a reward per se, but using unhealthy food as a reward. If you live near a raw restaurant, you can treat yourself to a delicious raw meal. If not, you could splurge on something raw but expensive that you normally maybe wouldn't spend money on, for me that would be that $14 bag of organic purple grapes.

The other suggestions were good though. I would add getting a massage to that list, that would be a lovely reward for say, 30 days raw.

[juliebove]

When I was growing up, we were very rarely rewarded for anything other than being given praise. My dad did once try a chart on which he put angel or devil stickers. It had a list of various things like cleaning our room on it. I suppose the angel stickers were supposed to be considered rewards. But it made my brother and I angry and he took it down after a few weeks. I do remember gold stars being put on our hands in Kindergarten if we took a nap. I never napped and this was very tough for me. I finally just gave up and faked it one day and got a sticker. I was not at all excited about it, but annoyed that I'd had to do what I thought was akin to lying to get it. Food was never used as a reward. As such, I've never sought out rewards.

These days, it seems food is used as a reward a lot in school. My daughter used to come home with her backpack filled with candy. She doesn't like most candy, so she took to collecting it. I got her a jar and she would fill it up, going through it every once in a while to examine things. Now that we know of her food allergies, there is very little candy she can eat to begin with. I have sent approved treats in for her and when the occasion comes up, she is given one of those or a sticker, little book or something inedible.

What I do with my life (and what I try to do with my daughter) is not to deny ourselves those things we can afford to have or do. Now granted we are not wealthy and of course there are some things we will never have or will have to save up for. I feel that by not denying myself these things, I am treating myself well. Of course we also discuss the matter of excess. I do not feel that a girl needs 27 different Barbie dolls. She does have several Barbies though because as she pointed out, people come in all different colors and she feels she needs one of each. My daughter is also not one of those kids who clamors for things every time we go shopping. I have a niece who is this way. I can't take her into a store without her begging for something. Sometimes my daughter asks for something. Sometimes she gets it. Other times I tell her to save her money and she can buy it herself. Or that she just doesn't need it. That's usually the end of it.

I do remember a time in my life when I was single, somewhat broke and working very hard and a lot of hours. Friday was payday. And every friday, I'd stop at this store that had a huge salad bar. I'd get salad for dinner. Now this was back in the days before premade bags of salad. I didn't so much look at this as a reward, but more like I was exhausted, didn't want to make dinner and had some money in my hand. So I'd get the salad. I did look forward to this each week and I did wish I could do it more often. But I couldn't afford to.

Perhaps one thing that helps me is having a variety of medical problems. I've had people ask me how I can keep such a positive attitude when I have so much wrong with me? And yes, at times it can be a drag. But most of the time I am forced to see the world out of different eyes. I can't move too fast any more. I can't walk very far. So I have to make the most of what I've got. Since I have to look down at my feet when I'm walking (have neuropathy and decreased sensation in my feet and lower legs), I've found a lot of interesting things. Like wildflowers, coins, and even a diamond necklace. As luck would have it, my house was robbed and I no longer have that. Oh well. I'm not a diamond person anyway. But it was cool that I found it!

People often tell me they feel sorry for me because I can't eat this or that. And I'm not just talking raw foods here. I have food allergies. They don't seem to understand. I don't feel bad at all that I can't eat these things. In fact I feel happy because I am NOT eating these things because I no longer feel sick! My daughter feels the same way. I wish I could get my mom to see it this way. Her attitude is that it (it being the allergen) hasn't killed her yet, or she will find a ton of excuses as to why she is eating whatever it is. My daughter and I began to feel immediatly better once we stopped eating what we were allergic to. And that took a lot of work on my part to read any and all nutrition labels and to ask about foods at restaurants. And now that we know how much better we look and feel, you couldn't pay us to go back to the old way of eating.

[squidly]

I get that alot from people - sorry for my daughter and I because we can't eat alot of foods but I think we are the lucky ones. In the long run we are the healthier one, the clearer skin, happier dispostisions and the list goes on. Some things I can eat but I CHOSE not to becuase even if not allergic to them I do not consider them healthy even if the general population does.

Why do they think I am unlucky that I can not eat cream, packaged foods, cheese - unlucky that I can't develop clogged arteries, go to bed wheezing at night, breaking out with hives, headaches, colds, lethargy, stomach aches - all the things these people get but just never relate to what they put in their mouths

Anyway enough of my rambling

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

A reward.

Ah.............just keep doing what you're doing.

Raw is not a fade...it is a lifestyle.

None of this let's have a banana split because I had a great day.

Do what you feel, but please eat an extra helping of greens instead of a Dairy Queen Blizzard.


Peace with Laughter and Joy.
Bless My Middle Eastern friends,

M.B.

[heabrook]

If you must have a reward that is food.. have

raw chocolate pudding.
raw choco brownies.
raw lemon chewies.

Reward yourself with taking time to create a beautiful raw dessert!

Otherwise...
take a walk outside in the fresh air
get a massage
or other things that you enjoy doing but don't take time to do

[JMD]

cool idea..

As a kid i got rewarded with Italian pasteries 24/7 or music tapes!! I LOVED THEM. SO i grew up accustomed to hitting one of our family bakeries when something was wrong/good/ whatever.
Fast forward to today---- I do not use food and KNOW when i want to it is some emotion that is getting to me.

Anywho i LOVE mani/pedicures rewards, a long walk near the beach/shore,and MY FAVE a trip to Marshall's or TJ Maxx for some clearance item browsing or head to a consignment shop. I also find NOT doing my laundry list of chores a reward--i put it off for another day...

The way to break a pattern is to NOT to succumb to it...

JMD

[misslinda]

I have been really trying hard to break the food=reward mentality. Like many of you, I was rewarded with goodies for being good as a child etc. That conditioning to me as I look back was misleading and unfulfilling. One, the type of food (Baskin Robbines) and two, a quick fix way to say "good job" and wait for the next --like a "carrot at the end of the stick" sensation that stuck with me....

I learned to make myself drive around for hours and hours on end to investigate why I want to reward myself with a "treat" if I succeed..........

I am learning to indulge in the physiological/psychological aspects of succeeding whether it be in food,people or things, b/c my fulfillments is rooted within me.

LOL..............simply, "good job Linda" smile and be satisfied ;)

[RawTruth]

Sex!

Rationale: It keeps you away from food (unless you bring out the cashew cream, but, hey, it's raw), you can write it in your exercise log, and it makes at least one person happy (whether you have a partner or not).

[sport]

Fo me success is the greatest reward. To know that I have achieved my goal is enough.
I not mean to sound like a prat and a self rightous one at that.

[Indi]

Fo me success is the greatest reward. To know that I have achieved my goal is enough.

I agree.

Its easy to forget the space that you came from once you have shed the pounds or no longer suffer from the illness that may have brought you to RAW in the first place!

Raw has changed my life for ever.
Thats my reward!

[JinxieKat]

Sex!

Rationale: It keeps you away from food (unless you bring out the cashew cream, but, hey, it's raw), you can write it in your exercise log, and it makes at least one person happy (whether you have a partner or not).


OooO I like that one! I bet my hubby will too. Fun and rewarding and exercise all in one. Great idea Raw Truth. Hehe :D

This board is just wonderful for working through the things going through my head. It is great to get new perspectives on old ideas. Keeps the mind working. Thanks everyone!

Jinx

[JMD]

RawTruth..

I LMAO!! with the sex idea...pretty good one....And it is an immune builder :D

hmm where is that raw fudge recipe when i need it!!! :)

JMD

[RawTruth]

Well .... ???

Still waiting for the report on whether you whipped (hee hee) up some raw fudge.

[PATH301]

RawTruth,
shhhhhhh..........ILMAO!!!!!
Think about it If we all got sex everytime we did something right - we'd all be achieving great things :D

[rawpriestess]

I used to reward myself with food, but only because I saw what I was doing as a sacrafice of some kind.

Now, I see eating raw AS the reward, not as a sacrafice.

so,when I do good with anything, like work hard, or get a big deal, then I reward myself with something I love alot that is raw,

Like fresh raw pineapple mmmmmmmmm

[RawTruth]

RawTruth,
shhhhhhh..........ILMAO!!!!!
Think about it If we all got sex everytime we did something right - we'd all be achieving great things :DDefinitely! Sounds like a great plan! Maybe that's why the U.S. is falling behind in achievements -- not enough ... ?

[PATH301]

Isn't america a great melting pot?