andreap26 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Hey guys, In the past, I have used food as a way to reward myself, even on diets. For example, if I followed my diet consistently for a week, I'd let myself eat dessert on the weekend. I'm trying to move past that, as I don't think it was the healthiest habit. I'm trying to think of some non-food rewards that I could give myself after I finish my first Whole30. My favorite one so far is to go get a massage. Any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staggolee41 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Agreed that this is a habit that should be dismissed. Here are some non-food rewards I've used or heard of others using lately: New pair of jeans New fitness wristband and/or smart scale Bouquet of flowers (doesn't have to be fancy or expensive) Pop into a used bookstore for a few books Massage Haircut The second bullet is the one I did for myself, and I'm loving it so far, though it has to be specific for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rohanna Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Amazing new underwear. That's what I chose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpunkyBug Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Kitchen gadgets: pressure cooker, spiralizer, dutch oven... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firestorm531 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Kitchen gadgets! Though I'm not sure what's left that I haven't already purchased. Scrapbook/paper craft supplies Clothes Tech toys A trip to Magnolia Market in Waco with my husband's credit card (instead of mine). LOLOL More wreaths for the front door. Make a list of things you want, like you used to do when you made Christmas/Birthday/Etc. wish lists for your parents/significant other and use that as your reward list. Think about little stocking stuffers and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess21 Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 I rewarded with kitchen gadgets but I think my fave gift to self was an electric toothbrush! Not sure if it's Whole30 or the toothbrush - my teeth look awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenlar3 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Allocating Time for Guilt free activities, such as.... •pleasure reading or tv watching •sewing or working on a hobby •visiting/phoning a friend •FB or other social media time •going to pool to work on tan (guilt-free means instead of household chores or other 'have-to's you are expected to do) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Food rewards start in childhood. Instead of rewarding kids with candy and toys, the child loves praise from the parent. Food and sugar rewards = cheering and approval and love. Giving yourself those high-fives you may have never gotten as a child is a good place to start. They're all free but worth their weight in gold. Nice job going. You did it. I knew you could do it. A high five and a big smile. Highly effective positive encouragement motivators. Free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeahF Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 For week one my husband bought me a new food processor - changed my meal prep! Week 2 I found a groupon for a spa day. Week 3 I bought myself a dry brush I just finished week 4 last week and haven't bought anything specific to treat myself but I will probably go clothes shopping this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Definitely second the spa day! I gave myself a mani/pedi treat, and also some new tank tops to show off my Whole30 arms! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyRosina Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 manicure, massage, blowouts, beauty/skincare products, new shoes, fancy exercise clothes, long hot showers/baths, TV binging with a cup of tea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcarm77 Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Hi Andreap26, I'm in the same situation, so thanks for starting this thread. The issue I have with setting new rewards is that financially a lot of suggestions are on a totally different financial scale. I mean, my favourite chocolate or a tub of ice cream costs maximum £4, whereas new clothes probably start at £25 and a new fitbit or kitchen gadget is more like £100. I'm not in a position to replace chocolate with much more expensive things. I like the suggestions of allocating time to do things as a reward, but that relies on being disciplined and not letting yourself do those things already. How about replacing sweet food with another healthier food as a reward? It's a similar cost and timescale. For example, things like a really good cut of steak, or a whole duck for roasting, are not on my shopping list every day, so they seem like "treat" foods, even though they are healthy and allowed on Whole30. You even buy them in the same place and at the same time, so it's possible to call in at the supermarket and buy yourself a fancy steak after a hard day at work, when you would have bought chocolate before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Understood and appreciated what you're saying, Alcarm. Eating well never used to be thought of as an award but is actually the norm for those without a food addiction or disorder. As someone who is in food addiction/binge eating recovery....binge eating is a chronic disease of food rewards. So I don't reward myself with food or anything. If I do any of the above for myself, I think about it as just a normal part of living vs. the abby normal way I used to reward myself with food. UP or down, bored or enthused, no particular mood just binge eating as an activity and rewarding myself because I "deserved" it. The consequences of constant food rewards got me nowhere good. In many ways, rewarding myself with non-food rewards is still hitting that reward center/part of my brain...much like SWYPO's do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 SWYPO's don't satisfy. The entire time you're eating one you are thinking how the real thing is far, far better. So the reward center of the brain mulls it over and over until the other shoe drops. Lo and behold, you're on the trail for what you really wanted in the first place. Rewarding myself with SWYPO's or non-food rewards, my brain would still be entertaining thoughts of the food I wanted in the first place. So no rewards, SWYPO's. Breaking the cycles of binge eating and food addiction required going Cold Turkey to heal that reward center in my brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenlar3 Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 MeadowLily, that is some good food for thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 My husband grew up on a dairy farm and he lurves good ice cream. Hard to find these days. Yesterday, he went in search of the frozen yogurt joint. Closed on Sundays. So he opted for the swapped out version SWYPO SWIPE-O at the grocery store and it did not satisfy. Today, he woke up thinking about the real thing. Our mind is powerful and it's a stubborn mule. It will not give you peace or rest until you satisfy it like a spoiled child. He gives into the child that keeps dancing through his life and I'm letting mine become an adult that makes choices and knows the consequences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaLaMeredith Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I am really lusting after a pair of tieks ballet flats, so that will be my non food reward for hitting day 31! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robynshay Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Im thinking of cooking lessons! Since starting W30, Im become a legit cook and never was! You should see me in the kitchen! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtFossil Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 This was my Day 31 reward. Delicious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTNan Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I had been wanting to try out a small group training class at my gym... that was my reward for finishing my first whole 30! It was amazing and changed my outlook on training just like whole30 changed my outlook on food! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trina Jackson Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 A nice hot bubble bath, mood lighting, a good book and sparkling water. Free and rejuvenating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbazaba84 Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 Thanks for this post! It really helped me add to my list. One of the more low-cost ways I reward myself is through apps. I allow myself to purchase an app or game on my phone that I would not otherwise....usually it is about $2-$5. Same goes for in-app purchases; I play a lot of games on my phone and I reward myself with the little purchases that can be done in the app to enhance the game. Cheap, consistent, fun and not food related. Here is my reward list (with some of the suggestions above added): · New shoes (Ross/Marshalls)* · Small kitchen gadget · Small tech gadget · Mani/pedi* · Massage* · Phone app/game purchase <$8 · Flowers · Up band* · Something <$15 off my Amazon wishlist · Something <$30 on Groupon* · Audiobook · Movie on Vudu · Movie theater ticket · New bra/undies* · Bubble bath · A fun class (cooking/art/community/etc)* * = Milestone rewards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators ladyshanny Posted March 9, 2017 Administrators Share Posted March 9, 2017 On 08/02/2017 at 6:20 PM, ArtFossil said: This was my Day 31 reward. Delicious! Whatcha makin'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators ladyshanny Posted March 9, 2017 Administrators Share Posted March 9, 2017 Just a thought about the comment that if you use the "rewards" of a nice hot soak or some tea and tv time throughout the rest of the time, then it stops becoming a reward. What about the fact that if you want a hot bath, you deserve it right then and there. You don't have to be good/pure/dedicated/perfect to deserve doing nice things for yourself. Consider eating protein, veggies and fats their own long term reward towards yourself and then do the things you want to do. Paint your nails, take a bath with epsom salt and lavender oil, light a candle, read a book, go to bed early, wear the cozy slippers and light a fire. You don't have to earn your life. *steps off of soap box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtFossil Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 3 hours ago, ladyshanny said: Whatcha makin'? Playing around with some sewing-collage-who knows what loosely organized around "water." But, will also try my hand at these fabric boxes (Carolyn Friedlander is the fabric designer): http://carolynfriedlander.com/nesting-boxes-green-blue-botanics-and-doe/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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