Last weekend, I was performing some hard physical labor to help stage an event. At lunchtime, when they rolled out the burgers and buns, beans, potato salad, and brownies, I felt a little mental nudge that said: "You've worked hard--you deserve to indulge a little."

Right away, I recognized this old thinking as one of the hazards of ongoing LCE. Deserve, shmerve! What I deserve isn't foods that aren't good for me, but the reward of achieving a healthy weight and the good feelings that go with that.

I suppose "deserve" is leftover thinking from childhood days when dessert was a reward for cleaning up my plate (what a bad idea that is!) "Deserve" is the notion that sweets naturally accompany life's celebrations, and it just isn't friendly not to participate. "Deserve" is a big fat excuse.

I'm going to be on the lookout for the "I deserve" attitude, and try to find ways to substitute better rewards, both mentally and food-wise.

P. S. I ate a burger without bun, a hotdog likewise, and hit the veggies pretty hard. Didn't starve. Had a great day! I deserved it!

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Good example of conquering the beast within us all! Old habits die hard but they can easily be rendered comatose. My course of action is often just to bring a T-bone steak and let's see how jealous I can make them burger eaters.

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my blog

I've been working out 5 and 6 days a week. I will admit a few times I heard the call of "deserve".... so I've decided what I deserve is a big ol' pear, apple, or piece of melon!

And boy, do I enjoy...

thanks for the reminder, bk. No matter how far we go, we can never forget the "basics" - i.e. that we deserve the best food we can give our bodies!

For each person that will be slightly different, and a "treat" now and again isn't horrid, especially if planned. But as for "deserving" things we know don't do us good...

Actually, one thing I've found very helpful is the little "calories burned" display on the cardio machines. I work my rear off for a half hour, and it says "320 calories burned."

and I pick up a "low carb" bar, and it says "270 calories" and I think, jeeze, it ain't worth it!

i TOO have heard those voices...

thanks for the reminder of what to DO with them...:-)

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
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Wow! I gotta tell everyone here, "Y'all are some major sources of inspiration!"

I am just starting to get into the "I choose" and "I choose not" mentality. (Thanks, Goddess) I know the "I deserve" is going to be a hurdle for me too.

I spent my day in the garage stripping some furniture. (We are having a drought and the temps have been around 100) I read this thread just in time.

I deserved some Fruit2O!

Sure beats french fries with the kids!

Thank you!

heh heh.. after cleaning out the RV.. i DESERVED some unsweetened REGULAR ice tea instead of making green tea..*L*... and... i even *horrors!* indulged on NOT picking out ALL of the carrot shreds in the salad i just ate (no dressing) *L*..

what REBELS we are ...

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Well said, Barb!

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How right you are Barb.

I used to think I deserved to eat like other people, but I've definitely re-thought that whole line of reasoning!

Would I tell an alcoholic that she "deserved" a drink? or a heroine junkie that she "deserved" a fix? And while a rare "treat" obviously isn't as dangerous as a fix is to an addict, casually stuffing myself with carbs would most surely have a seriously detrimental effect on my health. I deserve better than that!

I guess it's a matter of not feeling sorry for ourselves for what we don't eat, and feeling blessed that we've found a way to regain our health... and eat LOTS of great stuff in the process.

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Staci

I deserve... is a great way to remember that what we "think" and reality sometimes don't mesh. I earned my way into a LOT of extra weight by cleaning my plate and the dessert bowl too...now I deserve to be healthy...by eating things my body needs, not the things I was trained to think I deserved...I love that way of thinking...great thread barb.

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Sticky! Sticky!!

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

We are working on this very thing in my Dr.Phil group. I even posted about it in my journal. I am currently working on other, non-carbohydrate ways to "reward" myself. I deserve a healthier, slimmer body. Just giving myself sweets as a reward is basically destructive and punishing in the long run.

Good thread, Barb. I hope I can now learn to argue more effectively with those "you deserve...." voices!

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Great post, Barb. I run into the "I Deserve" mentality quite a bit. And it's that mentality that's keeping me from losing those last 1-2 pounds. I usually cave in to too much whipped cream on my berries in the evening, because "I deserve it." While I do not gain, I do not lose. I am going to try your little mind game today!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Good idea, Kim. Thread has been "stuck."

barb-your great attitutude speaks volumes about your success! and you got me thinking...i think next time i feel the "i deserve's" in my head (and i think we all do sometimes), i'm going to replace them...with what i REALLY deserve!

• i deserve to look and feel great!
• i deserve being healthy!
• i deserve a long life!
• i deserve to feel good about my choices!
• i deserve to treat my body with love and respect
• i deserve feeling energetic
• i deserve to be free of sugar and carb addictions
• i deserve the success i've had--and will continue to have!
• i deserve to enjoy social occassions without feeling yucky over the food choices i've made.
• i deserve to feel proud of myself and my accomplishments.
• i derseve REAL rewards, not ones that don't make me feel good!
• i deserve taking care of myself, for me and for those i care about.
• i DESERVE the absolute best i can do for myself!

i've no doubt some of these thoughts are going to visit next time i am having a struggle with "deserving" to make a poor choice, and i know they will make a difference.

thanks barb!

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Excellent point and mental alertness. I've said the same thing after working extra hard sometimes and thought, I can have this or that since I did more than normal. But then, where is the benefit of doing more if I exchange it for sweets? Thanks for your comments. :-)