Best Diet Advice: Non-Food Rewards
Not to be too doomsy, but it’s no secret that America is notorious for obesity. Depending on your source, the statistic for overweight Americans is between half and two-thirds of the population over the age of 20. Maybe you are one of those rare Americans who is totally satisfied with your body. Your doctor hasn’t told you that you need to lose weight and you can eat the way that you like to. Bless you, but I am writing today to those of us who are/were “in the red” weight-wise. We are dieting or were told to. We are re-learning how to cook, order when we eat out, and are looking for social activities that aren’t so strongly attached to food.
I am not a doctor or a behavioral expert, but I am a dieter and I know that humans will do things they find rewarding... like eating icecream! Some of the best dieting advice I have received is to set-up non-food rewards. I get little rewards for little achievements and bigger rewards for meeting bigger goals. Now when I’m stressed, I don’t go for the icecream, I got for a scented candle and an electric back massager or a bubble bath. I’ve included below my favorite list of non-food rewards.
1) DIY TONER- Put a few drops of cleary sage (or essential oil of your choice) into a spritzer bottle of witch hazel. Refresh thoughout the day!
2) BATHTIME- bubbles, fizzies, floating candles
3) PAINTING- creativity satisfies the boredom that was so easy to fill with snacking
4) SMALLER PANTS- Buying new clothes is fun but maybe not as fun as fitting in your favorite pair of jeans from high-school
5) Buying a new WORKOUT OUTFIT
6) GIRL TIME- Walking downtown, painting nails, having a sugar-free iced tea
7) WATCHING A FAVORITE SHOW- I watch mine at the gym ;)
8) TAKING A TRIP- feed that wanderlust in your soul!
9) PRAISE- is there someone in your life who will encourage you through your weight-loss journey and celebrate triumphs with you?
10) GO DANCING- or take a dance class, endorphins, endorphins, endorphins!