85 Comments

I find this powerful as a parent! Maybe that ice cream for being good for a haircut isn't a great way to reward your 4 year old. Instead spend the money on a new hot wheels car that costs the same! Maybe changing the reward system now will help later on in their life. Lord I know I needed to hear this and more importantly need to APPLY it!

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I love how you write. You feel about food , as a reward, comfort, friend, stress reliever ....just like I do. I need to lose weight for health, joints, breathing easier but most of all for me to get dressed in anything I want...not something that covers me and my extra weight. So I will do this journey with you Melissa.

I live on the face of the Big Horn mountains in Big Horn Wyoming. I am a widow of 12 years who married my wonderful husband at 18. We were married 48 1/2 years when he died of pancreatic

cancer. I have stayed on this beautiful mountain in our 3 story log home with state/ Federal land surrounding me. I got so thin when he was sick and for all the years after doing all the work this place requires but sadness still overcomes me at times and I comfort myself with food so now on this 5’ frame I have 20 extra pounds. We will do this together Melissa 😊

As Always, Margie

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I have always been this way, but for rewards and treating myself to make me feel better. So happy or sad I am eating. Holiday? Food. Birthday? Where do I wanna go to dinner? Promotion? Celebration dinner. Divorce? Oh I totally deserve to stuff my face with candy and pizza. Then feel hella guilty afterwards and wanna eat more to cover the guilt. It’s a vicious cycle.

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Girl, I am SOOOO proud of you! So much of this post resonated with me. Food as reward. I’m doing well, but I have to keep reminding myself “It didn’t go on overnight, so it’s...”blah, blah, blah. I know it’s healthier to take it off slowly. One hour ago, I (gulp) “rewarded” myself for going 32 days with no pasta, rice, bread, sugar and had a small amount of noodles in a Mongolian lunch. I’ll see in one more hour the effect it had on my blood sugar. You know what? I’ve missed noodles, but I didn’t get the reward out of them that I expected. I’ll keep on keeping on and get back on track after this lunch. I so look forward to your writings and am sending you a big ol’ hug. ❤️

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Yes!!!! 25 lbs.! That’s awesome! Good for you!!! I’ve lost 63 lbs. since 1/2/19. I’m not using the scales right now because December was a train

Wreck! I Got back on track on 12/31/20! Yeah I chose New Year’s Eve! I was surrounded my carbs all night! But I

Promised myself I would not go off track & I didn’t! January was a good month! I’m not gonna step on the scales until the end of the month. Spring Break is 1st week of April! Can’t wait for the beach!

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My folks grew up in the Depression, married and went on to have 6 kids. Food was ALWAYS an issue, whether it was worrying about having enough of it, making it stretch, or celebrating a birthday with your favorite cake- there was no emotion that didn’t have some sort of food connection. Worry, joy, sorrow, excitement, heartbreak- it could always be fixed/celebrated with a plate of something. If my fridge and pantry wasn’t full to bursting I’d get anxious! Breaking those emotional bonds and starting to see food as merely fuel is helping me. Praying for all of us ❤️

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You are absolutely 100 percent correct about how we reward ourselves with food! I’m looking right now for a brand new pair of tennis shoes for my long walks that I’m able to take now that I have lost 30 pounds! I’m up to 2

miles a day! I know for some that’s not a big deal. However for me it’s

BIG DEAL! Thanks again Melissa for

Being real !! Nothing but the best for

You!! Shelly

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Proud of you! It is not a diet it’s a life style change. My husband and I started on this journey 6 years ago. We were not well, felt sick all the time. He suffered from gout and I stomach issues. I am proud to say that between us both we have lost 150lbs. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Keep up the awesome work.

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Congrats on your progress!

I need to learn more about how you’re doing this! Proud of you! Inspired by you!

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Trust me. ...You are not preaching to yourself! I needed to hear this more than you can imagine. Thank you!!!

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A big congrats to you Melissa, that’s amazing! I can so very much relate to the issue of using food as a reward. Before starting my weight loss adventure this year I actually made a list of goals and rewards. I’m trying not to push myself to time limits but instead focusing on the end goal. To date I have lost 18 pounds and it’s a daily fight to stay focused through the stresses of life. But you know what, we got this girl! God bless😘

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I sometimes wonder why does weight have to be a lifetime struggle for some of us?! I am 52 and been overweight my entire adult life (except for the divorce diet 20 yrs ago, but that was of course temporary), I now have a mountain in front of me of 100 lbs to lose! I started about a month ago and have only lost 17lbs, my goal was 20, so it is gonna take me a while to climb this mountain obviously! So, I will be right there with ya! I just wish it didn't always feel like such a burden! I agree 💯 with not using food as the rewards, and focus on rewards that will help motivate not sabotage!! I love the massage idea! And ultimately a vaca! We have a beach vaca planned for June, hoping to be down 60! I know it is a lofty goal, but certainly doable if I can just stay on track!! Less calories+more water...

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We are very similar, I'm on the journey now as well. I've lost 17# since January 7th. My 20# reward is new hair. My 25# reward is a new purse. I'm hoping to have lost 30# by May because we've already planned that reward, a trip to Vegas! When I hit 50#, I'll go to the beach!

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I fight the food reward almost every day. I try to escape it, but it calls to me like taking a breath of air.

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I adore you and I can 100% relate to this post! I'm on the journey with you ❤️

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I struggle as well and have fallen off the food wagon over and over. Please share your health advice and what is working for you. 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼

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