19. Reward yourself for success – in a healthy way
Anything that reduces stress is a reward for us. Many reward themselves for diet success with food, true to the motto, “I lost a pound last week, now I can treat myself to a donut.” When you reach a goal, it’s nice to reward yourself for it.
On tough days, it motivates you to keep at it. But to reach a healthy weight and maintain it long-term, you need to change your attitude about food.
Thinking of food as a reward is a big mistake. Instead, reward yourself with other things that are good for you. For example, if you cook at home for a month instead of eating out, calculate how much money you’ve saved yourself and buy yourself something nice – sports clothes, concert tickets, new headphones – anything that doesn’t have calories.
