Last night at my sister-in-law's house, the Halloween Candy was a'flowin. There were also the brownies, cupcakes, etc. I complimented my sister-in-law on how yummy one of the treats looked, and my husband says,

"Why don't you just have one? You've done so good, you deserve it."

He meant nothing malicious by it; he's just simply observed my good habits and thought a treat would be a good reward.

For a split second I thought - yes, I do deserve it! Then I recalled skimming over a conversation on here about rewarding behavior with food is not a good idea. I thought about it for a minute then told my husband that I didn't need one, and that rewarding my small successes with junk food (post-op it could have been a bite, or half, of something yummy, before surgery it very well could have been a whole DAY of junk food) was a slippery slope.

It hit me like a ton of bricks - - these little, insignificant (at the time) "rewards" are really just my form of self-sabotage. I jogged three miles - I'll have a bowl of ice cream. I ate well and lost a couple pounds - I'll get myself a venti frappe from Starbucks. I can talk myself out of exercising and into a Butterfinger in a split second.

Are any of my fellow bandsters able to reward yourself with a treat, and use your self-control to not over-indulge? I tend to reward then feel horrible guilt afterwards.

Dang it, now I really want a Butterfinger and a Frappe!

I never reward myself with food. There are so many other ways to reward yourself. A new outfit, mani, pedi, bubble bath, a nice hot cup of cinnamon roll decaf coffee, food was our sabatoge. I reward myself with things that will still be around long after that moment that I would have had that candy.

i haven't thought about it-rewarding myself for developing good habits...but pre op i did just that all i mean all the time. not now, crazy right? i don't know if a light bulb went off in my brain but i am so glad it did.

i didn't have a hard time last night with all the goodies around either. i was walking around with a very large watered down iced tea and lots of very shaved ice yummy

none the less congratulations for not giving in, it takes work at what we are doing...life changing

I don't reward myself with food. Clothes, manicure, pedicure, etc... Are my rewards.

Now, I do have my treats on occation. They are not rewards...different to the mind!

Proud of you for resisting. That is a big kudos!