How to Reward Yourself with Food

There are times when you can splurge and eat a forbidden food, but there are also times when you must stay away from the bad stuff.

Obviously we can't eat whatever we want whenever we want, but good behavior does warrant rewards. Rewards must be allowed at the right times. Rewards are not rights or free passes. Rewards are little indulgences that make us happy. Don't think that an hour of cardio equals a plate full of pizza. Let's say you did an hour of cardio and burned 500 calories. You feel good about yourself and think you deserve a reward. On the way home from the gym you pass a hamburger joint and think, "Sure why not I deserve it." You then order a cheeseburger, fries and a drink. That combined can contain 800 calories. You have just successfully eliminated all the hard work you put in for an intense hour at the gym in a 10 minute meal.

How rewards work.

From the beginning, you must consider logical rewards for achieving your goals. Knowing what your reward is going to be and sticking with it will allow you to choose smarter rewards, rather than determining them after a workout when you are hungry.

Make small daily rewards, larger weekly rewards, and even larger monthly rewards. Daily rewards should be a nice treat to make you happy. The weekly rewards should keep you engaged in accomplishing your goals for the week. Monthly rewards should encourage you to you stay on track with something that would really make you regret not getting by enticing you with something you really want.

Think of non food related rewards. There are some great rewards that will make you happy without adding any calories to your diet. Women can think of things like getting their hair done, getting a tan, or buying a new purse. Men could set their goals on buying a new hat, getting new tools, or buying some new cologne.

If you insist on having food rewards, make sure they are not daily rewards. The calories will catch up to you as one daily reward could ruin a diet. Weekly food rewards are okay as long as you see it as a tasty treat and not a free pass. If you want to make your monthly reward a food reward you can dress it up with a big night of desert and alcohol providing that you have not had weekly food rewards.

Source: Personal Experience as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert