If you don't treat yourself with food, what do you treat yourself with?

[GoGoNoGo]

I don't have an issue with food but I am one of those people who does have to constantly watch their weight, mainly because I love food. I really enjoy eating and always have done. If I ever have to go on a diet, I find myself constantly hungry and constantly thinking about food, no matter what diet it is!

I was reading an article the other day that said something that differentiates people like me to other people is that I regard food as a treat, something that picks me up when I'm feeling down or consoles me if I've had a bad day. And it really rang a bell. I have a really tough day at work today so after I walked the dog, I went into the coffee shop and got a take away coffee and bun and it immediately made me feel better!

What it made me think though, is if you don't do that, what do you do that picks you up in such an instant and quick way? I would like to try and change my mindset around this but realise it's not particularly easy and wanted to try and understand what other people did (I'm now nearly 50 so this has been a lifelong thing for me!)

@sadpapercourtesan bitchploppin 😂

For me before Covid arrived it used to be getting a salon wash and blowdry in a small local salon on my lunchbreak. Sadly the salon will not reopen after Covid.

Music. I've recently changed how I see food, and dropped a lot of weight. Now when I would usually treat myself to a snack and a sit down, I put on great music and sit down and read magazines.
I'm really interested to read everyone's replies here, it was a real struggle to find anything that comforted me like food did and I'm looking for other things.

Nice coffee either from a shop or in a nice mug at home
A bath (with nice coffee)
Going for a walk with a good podcast on (and coffee)
Buying a new book (while drinking coffee)
Reading good book (with coffee, on the sofa with a duvet and hot water bottle).

As you can see, coffee is important.

@Ifailed

I'm an adult, I don't need to reward myself with treats.

Honestly one of the saddest posts I've seen on mumsnet. Genuinely sad not sad-sad. Everyone deserves a treat or reward now and again!

A bit of speed walking,running in high heels,or if no-one's looking skipping, dancing and singing gives me an instant mood and energy boost. For a soothing treat I try out ludicrous nail varnish colours and paint pictures of flowers and scenery. I am really bad at all these things.

A hot bath with bubbles or a bath bomb.

Going for a walk alone- I don't see it as a treat as such, but I take my headphones and put some uplifting music on and it really does cheer me up.

Otherwise, I'm the same, it's all about food 🤦‍♀️

I adore food but see it as a pleasure to eat food I wouldn't usually splash out on or don't have the time to cook. Food as a treat doesn't have to mean empty calories. A really decent cut of salmon and fresh veg from the farm shop hits the same buttons for me. I also ascribe to the school of twattery which decrees a couple of squares of high cocoa, expensive dark chocolate is better than a whole bar of shit Cadbury Dairy Milk.

Also exercise but I agree, works better if you're fit already. It used to be a chore but I do love it now. Also baths, a good book, music, podcast, dance round the kitchen, bit of idle pruning of the roses, an aimless walk, wander round a book shop, good film and so on.

Wine. A bath. A binge watch of my favourite TV or a good film.

I do like to cook a really nice dinner though with decent ingredients as ShowOfHands says and that has kept me going through lockdown. It marks the end of another day closer to normality. If I had to choose I would rather have that than cakes, chocolate etc.

bitchplopping might be my new favourite word

And there is something irredeemably miserable about trying to bitchplop on a thread about ways people can give themselves a little lift right now

A book and curling up with my cat. I do love an exceptionally calorific hot chocolate though.

As others have said, more expensive food but not fattening or sweet.

Ready mixed G and T's -usually only one and if you only buy one you can only drink one

A nice book or magazine

Flowers

Buying small things that I don't really need online

Having a lie down in a quiet place

Garden pottering instead of housework - no one is going to see it anyway

Lovely smelling fabric conditioner for my bed...

Bitchplopping is my new favourite word.

I have to remind myself I am not a dog and therefore should not be rewarding myself with biscuits

This needs to go on my wall

Dancing, gaming, bad Netflix films, cooking fancy but healthy long winded meals. If the draw is v strong I have water and a couple of squares of expensive dark chocolate which normally satisfies me.

@sadpapercourtesan You have won the thread with 'bitchplopping'

OP, the treat of not having eaten the unhealthy food is also substantial, and worth considering just prior to eating it. I feel like I sort of reward myself with healthy skin (crap food turns me into a walking blemish) It's still a reward, it's just a bit longer term.

Also, a whisky, from time to time. A really good one.

Oh, and flowers. And lying flat without guilt in the middle of the day.

Laziness

If I need a reward, it’s usually because I’ve been working hard...and laziness is my reward. Which mostly involves tv, books, podcasts, a nap

I have a bath every evening and read for a while.
I also treat myself by buying myself hair oils and luxurious skincare.
I’ll have a spoonful of Greek yogurt with berries - feels like you’re treating yourself but it’s healthy.

I'm not sure that I reward myself with treats as such but I do justify hobby and clothing purchases by telling myself I have earned them in some way. I think my free time is my daily treat. I love getting to the after dinner part of the day and deciding what to watch on TV, listen to, do etc.

Books
Long baths
Online clothes shopping
Nice non-alcoholic drinks in a posh glass
A film in the middle of the day
A lie-in

A magazine, something escapist & calming like interiors/country living type of thing not a ‘women’s magazine’ which I don’t find calming at all! Also ‘trash tv’ something lightweight & frivolous that perhaps no one in else in the family likes which makes it feel like extra special ‘me time’.

& yes, definitely flowers & dark chocolate (food but healthy in small amounts) ☺️

Luxury hour - hot scented bubbly bath, with music and candles, followed by early night in crisp newly-ironed cotton bed linen, with hot water bottle if a cold night

Bliss

Books, tv, films, make up, skin care, hair care, clothes, shoes, jewellery and time to exercise and wind down everyday, nice coffee.