A few years ago I quit smoking for 6 months. At first, everyday I managed to go without a cigarette, I rewarded myself, with what else but a candy bar.
I still do this today. If I was able to pass up that serving of cheesecake at dinner then I feel very comfortable rewarding myself with something smaller later on.
This diet-blowing habit is started for most around childhood. "If you eat all your dinner, you can have dessert." "If you're good in the store, you can have a treat at the register."
So let's brainstorm with some non-food rewards:
A new book, that cute shirt you've been waiting until you fit into a smaller size to buy, a night without doing the dishes, new shoes!, a day of bowling, hiking or swimming with the family.
Can you think of more?
......

[FONT=\"Verdana,]I know exactly what you mean. Growing up, food always seemed to be a reward for something. Growing up in a family of 4 kids, plus a home daycare run by my mom, it seemed like there was always sweets around. Now, I reward myself with books (I\'m a huge bookworm!)[/font][FONT=\"Verdana,], cds, dvds, clothes I\'ve been eyeing, etc. [/font]

[FONT=\"Arial,][size=2][color=#009900]This can be a difficult one, because food is a generally an inexpensive, immediate reward, and it\'s hard to think of other things that will fit that bill. Books are good, and music. I use iTunes and have bought myself a new song for each pound I lose. Only $1 each, and it\'s a win-win because then I use the songs in my playlists that I listen to while I work out, which burns calories, which drops another pound, which buys another song....and on & on! [IMG]http://72.52.165.

I quit smoking 3 1/2 months ago myself. I decided that I wouldn\'t have a daily goal but a monthly one. The first month I got a manicure. The second I got a pedicure. The third I got a ring. My rewards aren\'t expensive when you think about how much a pack of smokes or a candy bar a day costs. These are ways to pamper myself. I also keep mints and gum around. Believe me the first thing I wanna do when I\'m stressed is to put food in my mouth. Have a back up of something light. I am a stress and comfort eater and its something I have to watch everyday of my life. Right there w/ya.

When I first started on this journey I often rewarded myself with food...Even though they say not too, for me, it was reward for a job well done...So everytime I lost a pound or two, on Friday nights I would go out and eat whatever I wanted...
Then It started being once a month, after a particular milestone...5 pounds, new jean size, I would still reward myself with those french fries I had been skipping or a chicken wing...
But gradually, it stopped. I dont know how, or why, but I just dont do it anymore...I am sure folks here are tired of hearing it, but I have not had a true buffalo wing in over 5 months, and tehy are my FAVORITE thing in the world...I could have one now, and it would not be the end of the world, but I often find myself ordering a salad or grilled chicken because I WANT it...
So now I reward myself a lot with FUN, NEW, HIP clothes!!!
YAY!!!!

I agree with you...this diet-blowing habit started for most of us in childhood. We all reward with food...think about it! Birthdays...a birthday cake, holidays....big meals and drinks, and if my son won a ballgame the team was rewarded with pizza or a stop at the Dairy Queen and so on. We also reward ouselves with the convenience of fast food.We were also taught to clean our plates because they\'re were too many starving children out their and so on. Our habits were started in childhood but thank goodness we all have the ability to change bad habits if we are willing to admit to having! Enough preaching......lol!
I am finally changing and rewarding myself with little inexpensive things that I love instead of food. It can be as inexpensive as a lazy day of lounging in the sunshine to a new outfit. I try to fit my reward to the change I have made or the goal I have accomplished. kayless

I have been trying to reward myself with non food related items. It is helping but I miss my chocolate!!!! Especially when TOM is here!!! [I

I never really use "bad" foods/junk as a reward...I use as a stress or "depression" reliever (which doesn't make sense! LOL)....the only time I noticed I ever use it as a "reward" per se is after a doctor's visit where I have to weigh-in....I almost always go out afterwards for a Starbucks Mocha Venti! But, I think that is usually celebatory: cancer free or whatever!

I agree with the original post about food=reward stemming from childhood. I like to reward myself by getting my eyebrows waxed. May seem odd cause it hurts so much but after the redness goes away, I fell extra pretty.

I do the same thing. I grew up that way and catch myself doing the same with my 3yo. Now Im trying to find other rewards for her. Food is something that is supposed to maintain our bodies, its not supposed to be abused but we do b/c it just tastes good!