Rewarding Yourself- Changing Your Thinking

So here's the weight loss thing I hinted about on Annette's blog:

The last time I got my hair done, I read an article in a magazine about how to lose weight and be happy at the same time that really just hit home for me. It talked about changing your thinking about what is rewarding yourself and what is not in terms of the things you eat. A lot of times when I eat unhealthy, I justify it by thinking that I'm rewarding myself for having worked out earlier that day (twisted thinking I know...) or that I need some extra chocolate love because it's been a crappy day or because it's the weekend and I deserve to splurge a little bit...the list goes on and on. Anyway, I'm sure you've all noticed where that thinking has gotten me- 35-40 pounds heavier than I was when we got married! But the article talked about how you should change the way you think about rewarding yourself and what you consider "rewards." The unhealthy stuff I was telling myself was a reward really just made me feel crappy, fat, sick, and guilty an hour later. Some "reward" huh? (Not to mention all of the other fun health side affects that have come along with those extra 35 pounds...) Instead of that way of thinking, we should be telling ourselves and our bodies that the things that are going to make us feel good (now and in the long term) are the things that are rewards. So, I've been trying to implement that thinking and I think I've noticed a difference. Instead of taking chips and cookies to work with me, I take trail mix with a few m&m's mixed in (mostly because all women need a little chocolate fix right?). Instead of binging, I carry something in my purse to keep me from getting to the point where I feel like I would eat anything I'm so hungry and reward myself with something healthy. Instead of eating Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, I eat my favorite flavor of yoplait yogurt. Instead of bringing pizza to work for lunch, I've been trying different flavors of the Lean Cuisine meals to find the best ones. (Don't believe they're good and good for you? Try their Sesame Chicken!!) Instead of grabbing those oreos in the cupboard, I've been trying to grab an apple from the fridge and you would be amazed at how good a really good apple can taste and just how well it can fill the void of junk food... Well, I guess that's the long explanation. In short, I've been trying to think of healthy things to reward myself with instead of reaching for the bag of cookies. I still haven't been completely converted, I did buy a plain bag of m&m's over the weekend and almost down the whole thing, but I don't feel guilty anymore because I'm treating myself better. So, let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for true rewards! The more ideas, the better! This thinking might not make sense to anyone else, but it's helped me. I just wish I had written down where it came from so I could read it again.