Rewards Wanted

I've noticed that I will turn to food in most non-routine moments. When I'm stressed, I will take an "I don't care" attitude and resort to "comfort food". I recently discovered that I will use food as a reward. If I give blood, I will think I am entitled to the food. If I work around the house and accomplish something, my first thought is that I earned the food. In neither case have I done anything to burn sufficient calories to justify the reward.

What about the times where I have exercised? That's the worst trap. In that case, I have actually taken steps to lose weight. Even during the exercise, I think about how I am going to keep at it and lose 25 pounds. I have big goals when I am exercising.

Amazingly, as soon as I get in the house after exercising, I look for my reward and forget about all my thoughts of losing weight.

I need to find a better reward in these instances. New clothes don't inspire me. Actually, nothing related to spending money really inspires me. Rewards are wanted. Identifying a self reward is tough.