Is it ever acceptable to use food as a reward to meeting your weight loss goals? I know it can be a bad idea early on since you might still be trying to detox all the bad stuff that's causing food cravings, but it can also help to make the cravings more bearable when you know you'll have a treat coming soon.

What do you think?

I don't think food is ever a reward for any goal. Food is a basic necessity and we've all become spoiled and fussy about getting 'treat' foods all the time, so I think you should perhaps consider other options for rewarding your dieting goals. Perhaps a new outfit to celebrate your new shape?

I have to agree that food as a reward is not a very good idea.  Ideally the reward should be in how much better we look and feel but being human, that isn't quite immediate enough for most of us.  A new outfit can definitely be a good reward for losing weight and if you think about it, you kind of have to do that anyway since your old clothes won't fit anymore.

I'm guilty of using food as a reward and it does nothing but set me back. Once I get a taste of whatever it is it makes me want to eat more and more. I think a splurge of some other kind is probably more beneficial in the long run.

 Oh I don't know...........if we cut out everything we like we only become obsessed with it and crave it all the more. What's wrong with looking forward to a treat on one day of the week as a reward for going the rest of the week without. After all, if I say "I'll have chips on Saturday" I can go all week without missing them.

 I'm sure I'll be in the majority on this, but I've often made ice cream my reward.  I don't know why it seems to be the one thing I crave when I'm eating healthy, but just knowing I'll be getting it soon makes it a little more bearable.

 I will say that I think the portion of the reward has to be very small.  It wouldn't do any good to work hard at it for a week or two and then go to a fattening buffet to under everything.

 Do you mean you'll be in the minority?  (Not that I'm one to talk since I'd make some kind of dessert my reward in a heartbeat if I didn't think it would mess me up in the end.)

So, I guess I'll say food shouldn't be a reward...at least, not until well after I've figured out how to eat right and keep eating right.