Go ahead, you deserve it, reward yourself!
Losing weight and working on your health some days (in my case, the last several weeks) seems like an uphill battle. To avoid going crazy, feeling deprived, and like your days of fun are over, we need to reward ourselves. I can't condone using food as reward, as I feel like that is a slippery slope to start on, and for many of us 'rewarding' our hard work or tough days with food, is what got us into this mess to begin with.
To reward ourselves, we need to do something that relieves stress, brings us joy, and doesn't contribute to the behaviours that contributed to an unhealthy lifestyle. Lifting weights for me, is a stress release, but because I also see exercise as a necessity, its not enough of a reward.
When financially it is feasible, buying some new clothes to bump up my diminishing wardrobe is hugely satisfying, but money has been tight lately, and it's not always something I can count on. We need to find things that we can do on a regular basis, that don't stretch the budget, and don't require lots of time, because let's face it, we are really really busy!
For me, currently, it's as simple as an Epsom salt and bubble bath with a good book. For you, maybe it's a nice leisurely walk with a friend, or time spent playing a board game with your kids. Whatever it is, you need to carve out some time to do things on a regular basis that make you happy, that isn't directed towards losing weight. I need time to recharge on a regular basis, because I get very focused on the end goal, and I sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. We want to make sure to have time to re-focus and remember that this is a lifestyle, and not just a means to an end.
When it comes to food, it may not be a good idea to see it as a reward for all your hard work, but I do feel like there is a room to fit in the indulgent foods you've been avoiding. Working in a cheat meal can actually benefit you on your journey to lose weight and get healthy. Even the most fit of people I've met, occasionally sit down to a burger and fries. Your goals will dictate how often working in a cheat meal is feasible. For me, my trainer has suggested one cheat meal a week. A cheat meal can do a few good things for your body and your mental health.
Cheating can help you feel like you aren't feeling deprived, and because you do it in a controlled way (by planning out a night, and a meal), you maintain your sense of achievement and you don't let it spiral you downward. By planning it out, you keep control over your food, and you don't let the food control you. The other benefit this has, is that it hits kind of a metabolism reset. The best way I've heard this explained by numerous fitness professionals is stoking the metabolic fire. It helps to feed your metabolism so when you get back to the gym, your body has plenty of fuel to keep burning at maximum capacity.
I'm no nutritional expert, so I will always recommend checking in with a professional to get exact advice and knowledge on how this works but this is advice I've been taking since I started losing weight, and it has worked for me. I don't feel like any food is off limits and I don't feel deprived.
After a cheat meal, I have loads more energy to expend at the gym, and I come away feeling ahead of the game. Eating indulgent foods in this way has taught me that I can eat what I want but I just do it in a controlled way, and instead of letting the food control my life, I feel much more in control of the food.
It really has been a life changer for me and I hope it will for you.
