Normally when I achieve a goal, whether it’s getting in exercise for the day or I lost a pound in a week, I like to reward myself. I don’t give myself a mere pat on the back, but instead I treat myself to something tangible and reinforce the good habit.

Like many people I know, I usually reward myself by getting a delicious dessert. Sweets and I have been in a steady relationship for years now (longer than any boyfriends have lasted!). I’ll either get cake from this phenomenal bakery in town or I’ll be sure to ask for the dessert menu when I’m out at a restaurant for dinner.

I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I need to rethink my rewarding strategy. I’ve realized that although desserts are yummy, they definitely can pack on the pounds over time. I began asking myself, “Why am I rewarding myself with sweets after I work out? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose and put me back to square one?”

After coming to this realization (which honestly, I probably knew deep down all along), I decided I need to come up with a different method for my reward system. I’ve wanted a new dress, manicure, and new workout shorts for a while now, why not reward myself with something like this? I’m going to start rewarding myself with something other than food.

I constantly think about what meal I’ll have next, what I’m going to make for dinner, what kind of cookies I can bake to bring to the office, or what kind of dessert I can have after I successfully worked out everyday of the week. This isn’t a healthy mindset to have. One afternoon I inquired about where we’d be going for dinner that night, and my friend said, “You know we’ll figure it out when it’s time for dinner. You think about your next meal too much. Relax. You’re going to have a next meal.”

It took that friend to make me realize how obsessed I’ve become. I’m not on death row or starving, so why do I need to think about what meal I’m going to have? I will have a next meal.

Once I start getting on the mindset that my life doesn’t have to revolve around desserts and food, I think I’ll see I don’t need to rely on these comfort foods as much. Jason Alexander just posted a great video blog about how he has come to the realization that comfort and joy are not the same thing. I could not agree with him more. I’m choosing joy from now on.

I’ve decided that after I RUN this race on Sunday I’m going to reward myself, but not with food. Maybe I’ll get those new workout shorts to prepare myself for spring and get motivated to continue my running…or maybe I’ll opt for that manicure!

Yay!!! So Christmas is literally right around the corner with New Years coming up as well! It’s party time . . . and you know what that means. Food. And not necessariliy the kind you should be eating. But it’s the Holidays, right? Well, here’s some good news for those that would like a special treat. you can have your cake . .make that fudge, and eat it too! This recipe is really good, and although a portion size is small, it’s really rich and enjoyable. And no candy thermometer required! The fun thing about this recipe is that it can be personalized to your taste. You could add extra cinnamon, or even cayenne if you want to make a spicy Mayan fudge. Play around with it! Watch my how-to video and let me know what you think!

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So I’ve made a few recipe videos for you! Jenny Craig has so many recipes on its website and I thought it would be fun to go through them and show you how to make a few. The first video is about making a healthier version of pumpkin pie. I know my family enjoys pumpkin pie throughout the holidays! Here it is! Be sure to comment and let me know what you think!

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Most people do not think “diet” when they see a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. To be fair, most cakes out there in general aren’t considered diet fare. Do not fret however; here is a Jenny Craig recipe for this comfort-food favorite that is tasty without going over top. By the way, if you haven’t already, you can register at the JC site and have access to a ton of healthy recipes.