Okay, so in case you haven’t heard, I ran the LA Marathon last weekend along with three of my friends. (It was on the evening news and everything.) After completing something as momentous as that, we deserve some sort of reward, don’t we? Isn’t that our mentality? Do something big, complete a major accomplishment, or just do a good thing and we figure we deserve a prize, a reward, or a treat of some kind.
Back when I was young and stupid, I always said that I ran and worked out so that I could eat whatever I wanted. And I did just that. I would run, then eat crap. Workout hard, then eat extra French fries and ice cream. I’d earned it, right?
Don’t get all defensive, I’m not going to slam the idea of rewards or treats after doing something big. I like the idea, actually. I just think we ought to examine what a treat or prize should be. It shouldn’t be something damaging to your body. It ought to be good in every sense. If the reward is food, it ought to taste good, feel good and actually be good for you. Why undo all your hard work, slamming crap into your body? That sounds more like a punishment to me.
That would be like getting grounded for bringing home a report card with straight A’s. Makes no sense, right?
One of my marathon-running buddies, the day after our big accomplishment, said something about rewarding herself with no running for the week, eating whatever crap she wanted in massive quantities, and drinking all the beer she could. Now, that doesn’t sound like a reward to me. Her poor body. It did something good for her and now she’s going to treat it like crap.
A couple other friends of mine ran a half marathon the same day we ran our marathon. I think they nailed the idea of how to reward themselves for a job well-done. They treated themselves to a spa day.
Workout hard, take on your goals, push your body to new limits. And, yes, reward yourself. Just remember –
Cut the Bullshit Rewards
Sitting on the couch doing nothing is not a reward. Your body wants to move the next day (or later in the same day). It wants to keep those muscles active. Just take a walk, or do a light workout using some more rested body parts. That will feel good and do your body good.
Crap foods are not a reward. This goes for you and your kids. Sodas, fast foods, processed foods, high fat, high sugar foods with little to no nutrients are how you poison and kill people. I don’t know how in the world anyone can think of them as “rewards.” I think giving this sort of crap, fake foods to your kids as a reward or a treat, should be thought of more like abuse. That’s what it really is. Don’t do it to them, and don’t do it to yourself.
Focus on Freal (for real) Rewards
Say thanks to your body with movement and a bit of pampering after a good workout or big event. Walks, light workouts, massages, time on the foam roller, massage sticks, stretching, bubble baths, spa treatments – these are things your body will love. Lying around doing nothing will just make you tighter, sorer, and have you feeling old and decrepit.
Real foods taste great and give your body everything it needs to replenish, restore, and recover. Yep, I’m talking about REAL stuff, directly from Mother Nature herself. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes. You may blow me off because I’m just a vegan, health nut, but I’m so right on this. I’ve been living this way for over 2 years now, and I can’t even begin to describe how fantastic I feel. I recover faster, feel cleaner inside, am full of energy, and feel stronger and fitter than I ever have before. And by the way – I never feel ripped off, left out, like I’m on a diet, or restricted. I even get to enjoy sweets every day - just never with refined sugars of any kind. That’s right, you heard it here – yummy treats that are actually good for me.
Follow ME!